Draw out individual ideas first with a silent method such as silent-brainwriting

This is an easy way to get things started for a brainstorming session. Silent brainwriting needs no special materials other than some lined paper or paper divided into a number of equal sized boxes. Have everyone print the question or subject at the top. A question is always best because it opens the mind to think about options and possibilities.

Encourage everyone to come up with a specific number of ideas related to the question or subject. 5 is a good number to start with. Then pass the list clockwise or to the right or any direction that will keep the sheets moving around smoothly.

Each person then must read what is on the list they received and add 5 more either by adding to one already there or coming up with something new. They can't repeat something on the list and can't repeat something they already wrote on another list.

And pass the sheets again until they are full. You can decide if you want the participants to start a new sheet every time they receive a filled in one or once the sheets are filled to stop.

At this point divide into teams and start sorting the ideas into categories to discuss, mind-map or brainstorm further as to how they could work.

Another method is to have someone type up all the ideas into a spread sheet list before trying to organize them. This can be a real challenge as the handwriting often get difficult to read.

The longer you challenge people to come up with more ideas, the crazier and more creative they will get.

The first ideas people write down tend to be the old tired obvious ones. It is only when those are exhausted that the new creative ideas will emerge.

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