Looking for a better way to generate creative ideas and drive innovation? Traditional brainstorming often encourages group thinking, where group members may avoid raising ideas that go against the status quo. Plus, the pressure of having to come up with ‘great’ ideas can lead to unoriginal ideas or stifle creativity altogether.
Mindstorming can solve those issues by encouraging team members to think outside the box.
So, what is it and how can you use it? Mindstorming is a spin on brainstorming created by Brian Tracey, a well-known motivational speaker and self-development author. You might also have heard it called the “20 idea method.”
No matter what you call it, mindstorming is a powerful tool for teams looking to drive innovation and turn great ideas into actionable plans using visual charts like mind maps. This post explores what mindstorming is and how to implement it.
Want to learn more about mindstorming? Watch our on-demand webinar to learn how to unlock creativity, drive innovation, and turn those ideas into plans.
Mindstorming in action: 20 questions for better ideas
Brian Tracey outlined the mindstorming process into three, very simple steps:
- Write a question you want to answer at the top of the page.
- Be as specific as possible to increase the quality of your answers.
- Write 20 answers to that question.
It sounds simple, but it drives real innovation because you’re not afraid to throw out off the wall ideas. You need to get 20 ideas down — no one said they had to be logical, possible, or even good!
By pushing yourself to come up with those 20 ideas, you’re stretching your brain. You’re reaching deeper and deeper into your well of ideas to come up with more innovative, creative ideas.
Mindstorming vs. brainstorming: What’s the difference?
Brainstorming and mindstorming are both strategies for generating ideas, but they differ significantly in both approach and outcome. Traditional brainstorming usually involves a group of individuals getting together to generate ideas in a structured meeting.
While brainstorming can be effective in generating lots of ideas quickly, it often lacks depth and creativity, as some users might not be as open to contributing. For example, a younger or softer-spoken colleague might be overlooked. Or, the team might defer to an idea suggested by a higher-ranking member, even if the idea is subpar. It also lacks a process to turn those ideas into plans.
Mindstorming overcomes brainstorming’s limitations by focusing on collaboration and driving unique ideas. In a mindstorming session, participants are encouraged to generate ideas and build upon each other’s contributions in real time, often using a collaboration tool. This creates a flow of thoughts and ideas that can lead to breakthrough innovations.
Overall, while brainstorming lays the groundwork for idea generation, mindstorming uses a specific 20-question format to push the boundaries of conventional thinking to unlock creative ideas.
Mindstorming example: Content manager
Let’s say you are a content manager at an accounting firm and need to come up with new content ideas. You decide to use mindstorming to generate new ideas. Here’s how that might go:
Start by writing your question, for example:
How can I generate more content ideas in the third quarter?
Now, come up with 20 answers. Here’s what this might look like:
- Talk to customer support to find questions customers ask.
- Look at our website search to see what people search on our website.
- Ask onboarding support for pain points they see.
- Look at top competitors to see what pages rank well for them.
- Look for new industry trends.
Five answers in, and we’re getting somewhere. This is where it gets a bit more challenging, but let’s try to come up with a few more.
- Look for new tax laws
- Look for new laws around contract workers
- Consider what features we offer that our competitors don’t
- Talk about customer problems we solve really well
- Discuss how AI is impacting our industry
As you can see, the ideas are getting a bit more specific. Now, however, is the hard part. The content manager still has to come up with 10 more ideas, which requires digging even deeper. That is the true power of mindstorming!
While mindstorming is traditionally done by one person, it can also be done in a larger group. In the content manager example, this exercise might be used in a company-wide meeting or a smaller marketing and sales team meeting.
How MindManager makes mindstorming more effective
One of the core benefits of mindstorming is generating ideas that are more creative and more innovative. However, to be effective, teams need to have a way to collaborate in real-time and make a plan to turn those ideas into actions. That is where MindManager can help. These MindManger templates give your team a place to collaborate in real-time, evaluate ideas, and turn the best ideas into action.
1. Use the brainstorming template to drive action
Despite its name, the brainstorming template is also perfect for mindstorming sessions. The preparation and agenda tab can ensure everyone is prepared for the mindstorming session. Then, use the ideas section to store the 20 answers and collaborate in real-time. The final sections can be used to store ideas for later or track action plans.
Access the mindstorming templates now.
2. Use the SWOT analysis to identify the most useful ideas
After your mindstorming session, you’ll have at least 20 ideas. Now what? The SWOT template makes it easier to evaluate each idea so your team can decide which ideas should be turned into project plans.
3. Use the urgency/importance matrix to prioritize ideas
The Urgency/Importance matrix is another tool for evaluating which ideas should be turned into action plans. During a collaborative meeting, plot out each idea on the matrix so you can narrow in on which ideas should be implemented.
4. Use the problem solving template to turn mindstorming ideas into actionable plans
The problem solving template can be used to structure a mindstorming meeting, gather the 20 ideas, and build an implementation process after. By storing planning, mindstorming, and process notes together, your team can stay accountable and ensure everyone has access to all the documents.
Learn more about mindstorming
Mindstorming helps teams drive innovation and generate more creative ideas. By fostering creativity, embracing diverse perspectives, and encouraging real-time collaboration, mindstorming unlocks the full potential of your team’s creativity.
Using MindManager helps teams mindstorm more effectively, keep ideas organized, and turn good ideas into actionable plans.
Download the e-book to learn more about mindstorming and access free mindstorming templates.
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