The Better Brainstorming Guide

What does science say about the best way to unlock your team’s creativity?

Every manager knows how to run a brainstorming session: Gather a bunch of smart people in room and have them start tossing out ideas. To keep the creative juices flowing, make no judgments – just get every idea down on paper, no matter how crazy or impractical. Later, winnow out the best ones.

But is that really the best way to get new ideas? Research says no.

Studies have identified three flaws in the conventional wisdom about idea generation, and suggest practical takeaways you can apply to your next brainstorming session.