What Is It and Why Is It Useful?
Brainstorming is a conference technique, which rather quickly pools the maximum amount of ideas and opinions on a given problem. This method is not only useful in generating ideas, but is also effective in finding solutions to the problems in question.
Principles of Brainstorming
The success of brainstorming depends on two main principles:
1) Group can produce better quality ideas when joining forces than each participant can produce when working alone. Even an impractical idea can be developed and further improved by the group.
2) To generate new ideas, the environment should be informal and friendly, and people should be unconstrained.
These principles are the foundation for the rules of brainstorming:
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Withholding judgment. Statements are accepted without comments
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Encouragement of ideas. Emphasis is made on the quantity of suggestions, not quality
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Build on the ideas put forward by others
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Equality of all participants and ideas
How to Conduct a Brainstorming Session
Explain the goals of the brainstorming session first: "The goal of our brainstorming session is to develop guidelines as to how the group would like to work together". Articulate this task in full to the group and then note it down briefly as a title on the blackboard or sheet of paper.
Next, introduce the procedure to the group by explaining the main rules, clarifying in more detail when necessary. Emphasize that after completing the list of ideas, each participant will have a chance to discuss any suggestions, and that the process of brainstorming itself is designed to generate as many ideas as possible, not to evaluate their quality. It is important to mention any time limits, so that the group knows how long they have to accomplish the process. All ideas should be noted down in the same words as articulated by the participants.
Upon completing the brainstorming, organize and discuss suggested proposals and articulate each idea in a well-formed statement.
If at some point the group stops generating new ideas, you may move them along by adding your recommendations or comments.
Have one member of the training team organize the ideas and distribute them to the group later in the program. | 
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