Thought Showers isn’t just for the boardroom. It can be an effective way to get creative and come up with new ideas and solutions for any business. 

But it’s not always easy to get the most out of thought showers sessions – in fact, it can be almightily difficult, with many a complete waste of time. This is especially true for small businesses, who may not have the resources or the expertise to conduct an effective thought showers session. 

So, if you’re looking to make the most of your next session, here are our top tips.

Set the tone 

The most important thing when it comes to thought showers, also known as brainstorming, is setting the right tone. You want to foster an environment that encourages creativity and open-mindedness. 

This means setting the rules upfront and being clear on the objectives. You also want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to have their say, regardless of seniority. 

Pick the right people 

It’s important to make sure that you have the right people in the room. This means picking people who can bring different skillsets and perspectives to the table. 

It’s also a good idea to make sure there is a mix of people in terms of experience, to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard. 

Set a time limit 

, sessions can often get off track and drag on for too long. To avoid this, it’s important to make sure you set a time limit for the session. 

This will ensure that everyone stays focused and on track, and will help to ensure that you get the most out of the session. 

Encourage participation 

Sometimes people can be reluctant to participate in thought shower sessions. This could be for a number of reasons, such as feeling intimidated or not feeling like their ideas are important enough. 

It’s important to make sure that everyone feels comfortable enough to participate in the session, so encourage participation by actively listening to people’s ideas and by praising them for any good ideas they might have. 

Use visuals 

Using visuals during a thought shower session can be a great way to keep people focused and to ensure that everyone is on the same page. 

It can also be a great way to get creative and to ensure that everyone’s ideas are heard. For example, you could use a whiteboard, a flip chart, or even a mind map to help illustrate your ideas.

This can also link into the previous point – after all, some people may feel more comfortable participating when there are more interactive ways of doing so. You could even consider something like an interactive touchscreen table to take visuals to a whole new level!

Follow up 

Finally, it’s essential to make sure you follow up on any ideas that have come out of the session. This could be as simple as making a note of the ideas and doing some research into them. 

It’s also important to make sure you provide feedback to those involved in the session. This could be in the form of praise or constructive criticism, depending on the situation.