Best Practices for Team Brainstorming Sessions

Do you have trouble getting the entire team to participate in group discussions, brainstorming sessions, etc.? To get people talking in group settings, create a safe and inclusive atmosphere. Here's how: 1. Set Ground Rules: Make it clear that all opinions are valued and that it's a judgment-free zone. 2. Small Talk First: Warm up with light topics so folks get comfortable speaking. 3. Use Open-Ended Questions: Questions that can't be answered with just "yes" or "no" open up the floor for more detailed discussion. 4. Direct Invitations: Sometimes people just need a nudge. Call on them directly but offer an easy out like, "Feel free to pass." 5. Silent Moments: Pause and allow silence. This gives people time to gather their thoughts and often encourages quieter folks to chime in. 6. Positive Reinforcement: When someone does speak up, validate their contribution, even if it's just a simple "great point." 7. Anonymity: Use tools or methods that let people contribute anonymously. Then discuss the anonymous points as a group. 8. Break into Smaller Groups: Big settings can be intimidating. Smaller group discussions can make it easier for people to open up. 9. Rotate Roles: Give different team members the role of facilitator or note-taker in each meeting to encourage active participation. 10. Follow-Up: If someone doesn't speak up but you think they have valuable insights, follow up privately. They may be more comfortable sharing one-on-one. Remember, the goal is not to pressure people into speaking but to make it easier for them to do so if they wish. #leadership #teambuilding #communication

Ever been on a team that's too quiet? Not focused-quiet. But hesistant-to-speak-up quiet. I once worked with a leader whose motto was: "Silence is 100% agreement." We would chuckle politely. Our silence wasn't agreement. It was fear. Here's what I've learned after nearly two decades coaching people leaders. People don't need to find their voice. They need to feel safe using it. Here are 6 ways to create that safety, without forcing anyone to speak before they're ready: 1. Listen to learn ↳ Pause before responding: "Help me understand your thinking on…" ↳ Reflect back: "Here's what I heard, did I get that right?" ↳ Let people know when their input reshapes your thinking 2. Build confidence before the spotlight ↳ Pair teammates as "thinking partners" to test ideas before meetings ↳ Use 1:1s to help less vocal members frame input as exploratory questions ↳ Normalize iterations. "What if we considered…" often sparks breakthroughs. 3. Model transparent communication ↳ Share your thinking: "Here's my view and why I see it this way…" ↳ Be open about uncertainty. It gives others permission to speak ↳ It's okay to change your mind in public when presented with strong alternatives 4. Facilitate solution-building sessions ↳ Ask: "What would success look like for everyone involved?" ↳ Use "Yes, and…" to build momentum, not shut it down ↳ Try brainstorm rules: build on others' ideas before introducing new ones 5. Disagree without making it personal ↳ Start with: "We're debating the approach, not anyone's expertise" ↳ Use neutral framing: "There are different perspectives here" ↳ Keep feedback focused on outcomes and impact, not personality 6. Make space for the quiet thinkers ↳ End with: "Let's reflect for 24 hours before deciding" ↳ Send pre-reads with clear reflection prompts ↳ Start key conversations with a few minutes of silent thinking When you shift from demanding participation to designing for it, you're not just changing meetings. You're redefining how power flows through your organization. How do you create space for insight that isn't loud? ♻️ Feel free to share if you're working toward conversations where every voice has room. ➕ If you lead people, this space is for you. Follow me, Michelle Awuku-Tatum for insights on: ↳ Human-centered leadership, resilient teams, and intentional culture.

I love a good brainstorming session, especially when working on social media content. But, if it's going to be productive, you've got to set ground rules. Here are my favorites: First off, I set these ground rules like I'm explaining the rules of freeze tag or some game. It's more about boundaries and respect, and less about control. Second, I like to open with a fun ice breaker that gets people thinking. When doing a brainstorm around ambassador programs, we did trivia to guess celebrity endorsements. Activate their curiosity. Ok, now to the rules: 1. One idea at a time. Instead of every one yelling out all the ideas at once, we start with one and move on from there. If folks have multiple ideas, get them to write them down so they don't forget. 2. Encourage wild ideas. Some of my best brainstorms have started with ideas that were not grounded in reality, that could never happen, that were totally out of budget... but they led to realistic ideas that could work and were more innovative. 3. Build on the ideas of others. Don't hold your own ideas precious, but take what others have given and let your imagination run with it. Brainstorming is a team effort, no one is getting individual credit. Work off what you've got. 4. Defer judgment. Especially if you're the 'boss,' it's tempting to shoot things down that won't work or haven't worked in the past. You probably think you're speeding up the process. Instead, let the brainstorm happen organically and flow. 5. Stay on topic. Side conversations often happen in brainstorms. An idea pops up, it relates to another conversation, and all of a sudden you're on a side quest. If you stray, take note of it so you can address it outside the brainstorm. What helps you and your team brainstorm?

‘Group Think’ may be killing your best ideas  You get ten people in a room, two people do all the talking, while everyone else checks Slack. After 15 minutes, the loudest voice wins, regardless of the strength of the idea. That’s groupthink. And if you’re not actively fighting it, it’s likely creeping into your leadership meetings, strategy sessions, and company decisions. In a recent Highland ⛰️ masterclass, I broke down a few of these exact scenarios that can happen, especially in your Leadership Meetings. Here’s a few tips for brainstorming specifically: ✅ Share the problem in advance – Give your team at least 24 hours to think about the problem before the meeting. ✅ Start with solo work – Kick off with 15 minutes of quiet time where everyone distills thoughts ✅ Gather first, then discuss – Get all ideas on the table before anyone starts reacting. ✅ Team ranks ideas, then make the call –Take the team’s input, but as leader, it’s your job to be tie breaker. hope this was helpful!