How often have you used brainstorming to solve a problem? Chances are, you've used it at least once, even if you didn't realize it.  For decades, people have used brainstorming to generate ideas, and to come up with creative solutions to problems. However, you need to use brainstorming correctly for it to be fully effective.  In this article, we'll look at brainstorming: what it is, why it's useful, and how to get the best from it.

If you're not getting enough good quality ideas, try using the approaches below to increase the number of ideas that you generate:

• The Stepladder Technique – introduce one person at a time; good for quiet types.
• Brainwriting –all individuals to generate and develop written ideas.
• Brain-netting – An electronic method often cloud based.
• Crawford's Slip Writing Approach – classic notes on the wall approach.

These techniques help you in specific brainstorming situations:

• Reverse Brainstorming –improve a product or service.
• Starbursting –develop questions to evaluate a proposal.
• Charette Procedure –large groups of people
• Round-Robin Brainstorming – avoid influence of other people.
• Rolestorming –take on other people's identities while brainstorming; reduce inhibitions.

http://www.mindtools.com/brainstm.html

Editor’s Note:  There are many resources for the tools and techniques presented in this series of articles.  A few examples follow:

Mind Tools: http://www.mindtools.com

Learn Out Loud: http://www.learnoutloud.com/Free-Audio-Video/Self-Development

Business Balls: http://www.businessballs.com/

Project Management Guru: http://www.projectmanagementguru.com/index.html