Now that we are in the Closed Beta phase of Fellowstream, we’re discovering a lot of new revelations we never dreamed would happen.  Things that we thought people would understand implicitly (i.e. the notification system) isn’t clear cut to users, while things that we thought would be trouble areas (i.e. understanding the difference between the Workspace and Project space) have gone off without a hitch.

Our biggest challenge is to use all the information we’re collecting from users, analytics, and our own test cases to build something better.  To that end, we’ve been brainstorming more than we have since we first sat down and literally sketched Fellowstream’s workflow out on notebook paper.

Over the course of these iterative designs, we’ve discovered a few tips that help facilitate brainstorming:

Don’t Interrupt

Sometimes we get excited when one teammate mentions an idea, and immediately want to say the first thing that pops into our brains.  However, interrupting people makes them lose their train of thought, not to mention it’s frustrating for the interrupted person.  Instead of interrupting, scribble down your thoughts and wait until the speaker finishes before building upon an idea.

Don’t Immediately Criticize Ideas

Brainstorming is a time for idea facilitation.  It’s okay to critique, but first vocalize the merits of the idea.  What problem is the idea trying to solve.  What are its benefits?  Sometimes, just going through the positive qualities of an idea will lead to more positive ideas, rather than shutting down teammates with negative criticism.

Don’t Just Rely on Your Experience

We all like to see things from our point of view, but brainstorming allows us to step not only into our teammates’ shoes, but also our customers’.  Whenever possible, try to think of how someone else might view the problem.  I find that writing down future questions to ask others not involved in the brainstorming session as if they were there force me to see things from another perspective and keep the ideas rolling.

Don’t Let it go on Forever

If you ever feel like you’re just brainstorming without any direction, it’s probably because you’re letting the session go on too long.  Decide how long you’re going to brainstorm beforehand and/or stop once you’ve reached a predetermined critical mass of ideas (e.g. six different ways to redesign the ticket page.)

Don’t Get Frustrated

Remember, there’s no right or wrong answers in a brainstorming session.  Relax if you feel tense, suggest breaks if you need it.  Sometimes a little silence and time will help the ideas flow again.  Forced frustration, on the other hand, will only halt the entire process.

Although not one of the official five “don’ts,” remember, the buck doesn’t stop here.  Make sure you know how you’re going to use the brainstorming information and who can make the final call implementing some of your great new ideas.

-Deborah Fike

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