Here’s some suggested warm up exercises to do before running the main brainstorming session on your focused topic. Get creative on something that doesn’t matter first before tackling the main objective.
- Word Association Game
- Group Size: Any
- Specifics:
- Form a circle or arrange participants in a way everyone can hear each other.
- The facilitator starts by saying a word related to the brainstorming topic.
- Moving clockwise or around the virtual room, each participant quickly says the first word that comes to their mind in response.
- Continue for several rounds or set a timer for about 3-5 minutes.
- The goal is to encourage free-flowing thought without overthinking.
- Two Truths and a Lie
- Group Size: Small to Medium
- Specifics:
- Participants sit in a circle.
- Each participant thinks of two true statements and one false statement about themselves. These should be creative and not immediately obvious.
- One by one, each participant shares their three statements in a random order.
- The rest of the group votes on which statement they believe is the lie.
- This game helps to relax the atmosphere and gets people talking.
- Idea Sketching
- Group Size: Any
- Specifics:
- Provide each participant with paper and pens/pencils.
- Pose a simple problem or question related to the brainstorming session.
- Set a timer for 5 minutes and ask them to sketch any ideas or solutions that come to mind, without worrying about artistic skill.
- After the time is up, participants can briefly share their sketches and the ideas behind them.
- The Alphabet Game
- Group Size: Large
- Specifics:
- Divide participants into small groups (4-5 people).
- Provide each group with a flip chart or a large piece of paper.
- Assign a letter of the alphabet to each group or have them work through the alphabet in order.
- Groups write down words or phrases related to the brainstorming topic for each letter.
- Set a time limit (e.g., 2 minutes per letter) to keep the pace brisk.
- Story Circle
- Group Size: Small to Medium
- Specifics:
- Arrange participants in a circle.
- The facilitator starts a story with a sentence that is related to the brainstorming topic.
- Moving around the circle, each person adds a sentence to the story.
- Encourage creativity and ensure each contribution builds on the previous one.
- Continue until everyone has had a turn or the story reaches a natural end.
- Mind Mapping
- Group Size: Small
- Specifics:
- Provide a large sheet of paper or whiteboard and markers.
- Write a central idea or problem in the middle.
- Participants draw branches from the central idea, adding related concepts, thoughts, or solutions.
- Encourage them to use different colors or symbols to represent different themes or relationships.
- This visual representation helps to organize thoughts and see connections.
- Object Transformation
- Group Size: Any
- Specifics:
- Distribute an everyday object to each participant (e.g., a paper clip, pen, or cup).
- Set a timer for about 5 minutes.
- Ask participants to write down or discuss as many unconventional uses for the object as possible.
- This exercise encourages thinking beyond traditional uses and fosters creativity.
- Silent Idea Generation
- Group Size: Large
- Specifics:
- Provide each participant with a piece of paper and a pen.
- Ask them to write down one idea related to the brainstorming topic.
- After a minute, have them pass their paper to the person on their left/right.
- Each participant then builds upon or adds to the idea they received.
- Continue passing the papers around for a set number of rounds.
- Rapid Fire Questions
- Group Size: Any
- Specifics:
- The facilitator prepares a list of random, open-ended questions (not necessarily related to the topic).
- Participants stand or sit in a circle.
- The facilitator rapidly fires questions to random participants.
- Participants must answer immediately with the first thing that comes to mind.
- This exercise is fast-paced and should create an energetic atmosphere.
- Role Play
- Group Size: Medium to Large
- Specifics:
- Assign different roles or personas to participants. These could be based on customer types, company roles, or any relevant persona to the brainstorming topic.
- Divide participants into small groups, ensuring a mix of roles in each group.
- Pose a situation or problem related to the brainstorming topic
