What is brainstorming? How to plan a brainstorm session [Updated for 2026]

What is brainstorming? 

Brainstorming is a creative problem-solving technique used to generate a large volume of ideas in a short amount of time, typically in a group setting. The goal isn't to find the "right" answer immediately; it's to explore as many possibilities as possible before narrowing down to the best ones.

The term was popularized by advertising executive Alex Osborn in his 1948 book Your Creative Power. Osborn believed that groups could generate more and better ideas than individuals working alone, as long as they followed a few key ground rules:

• Defer judgment. No idea is criticized during the generation phase.
• Encourage wild ideas. Unconventional thinking often leads to breakthrough solutions.
• Aim for quantity. More ideas increase the odds of finding a great one.
• Build on the ideas of others. Combine and improve on what's already been suggested.

Modern brainstorming has evolved well beyond Osborn's original model. Today, it includes structured frameworks, digital tools, asynchronous formats, and hybrid approaches, all designed to overcome the limitations of traditional group brainstorming.

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How brainstorming differs from other activities in the workplace

• Workshops focus on developing skills or working through structured exercises, while brainstorming focuses purely on idea generation.
• Focus groups gather feedback and opinions on existing concepts, while brainstorming creates new ideas from scratch.
• Group discussions explore topics in depth, while brainstorming prioritizes quantity of ideas over detailed analysis.

Brainstorming is a group effort. While many of us may prefer to generate ideas on our own, the benefit of listening to others share their ideas is that it can trigger further insightful ideas and future discussions and debates that lead to collaborative solutions.

Why brainstorming matters

Brainstorming isn't just a creative exercise, it's a business-critical skill. Teams that brainstorm effectively are better at:

1. Solving complex problems, by drawing on diverse expertise and perspectives
2. Innovating faster, since more ideas early on lead to better options later
3. Building buy-in; people support ideas they helped create
4. Avoiding group-think, with a process that's structured to include quieter voices

But brainstorming only delivers these benefits when it's run well. Research has shown that traditional, unstructured group brainstorming can underperform compared to individuals generating ideas alone. (A phenomenon known as "production blocking.") The fix isn't to abandon brainstorming; it's to structure it better.

Creating a safe environment for brainstorming

The key to a successful brainstorming session is fostering a sense of inclusivity and psychological safety. Participants need to feel comfortable sharing ideas without fear of judgement.

Fear of judgement is an obstacle that a good brainstorming session will look to mitigate and avoid. It is impossible to stress just how important this element is. Gathering ideas is something that many can do without issue or problem, but the idea of sharing these thoughts with others can be a massive stumbling block. Many participants may enter a brainstorming session feeling that what they have to say will not be taken seriously, or dismissed altogether.

Your brainstorming session should thus be free of criticism and critique all the while assuring people that all ideas are welcome. The goal shouldn't be to critique ideas and to point holes; it should be to think creatively and gather a wide range and variety of unique opinions.

Anonymous brainstorming tools

Thankfully, there are many online brainstorming tools that allow participants to submit responses anonymously. Anonymous idea submission ensures everyone feels comfortable contributing without fear of judgement or social pressure, creating a safe space where employees are more likely to speak up.

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Preparing for a brainstorming session

Following these simple steps can help safeguard against awkward silences and ensure everyone is arriving in the same creative mindset. 

1. Ask participants to generate ideas beforehand

This can help safeguard against awkward silences and ensure everyone is arriving in the same creative mindset.

2. Start with an icebreaker or word cloud

These are simple ways to get the conversation going and start an effective brainstorming session, enabling initial ideas to be grouped together to identify corresponding ideas, responses and trends

Explore how Menti's word cloud works

3. Use a shareable, visual format

Make your slide deck interactive, and ensure everybody can participate at the same time. (This also avoids singling anyone out.). Interactive meeting tools that enable phone-to-screen participation work well, without the need for pens or paper or multiple log ins.

4. Avoid static brainstorming techniques

Brainstorming can take multiple forms, with existing prompts to work with, or interactive formats like polls and quizzes that get people talking and identify the unexpected.

5. Identify a goal or specific problem to solve

This is one of the leading reasons many brainstorms fail; too many conflicting topics to address, with no structure or end goal. Identifying a central focus for the brainstorming session sets a clear direction for participants, who don’t feel overwhelmed with decision or creative fatigue.

A note on hybrid and remote teams

Traditional brainstorming assumes everyone is in the same room, at the same time, comfortable speaking up. That's rarely true anymore. For remote and hybrid teams, find virtual brainstorming tools that work for online meeting sessions, turning static sessions into an interactive collaboration. 

Look for digital brainstorming tools that enable real-time contribution, asynchronous input, instant visualization and anonymous contribution where appropriate. Easy joining is another dealbreaker for remote teams.

You can read more about the benefits of hybrid meeting software or explore Mentimeter’s interactive features in their entirety here.

How to run a successful brainstorming session in 7 steps

Follow these seven steps to build an effective brainstorming framework.

1. Create a good environment for sharing

Set the ground rules. Remind participants: no judgment, no bad ideas, build on others' contributions.

2. Set a focus or clear goal 

Define the problem clearly. A vague prompt produces vague ideas. Be specific about what you're trying to solve to help keep ideas focused and actionable. 

3. Make participating easier

Choose the right format. Decide whether you need in-person, remote, synchronous, or asynchronous brainstorming based on your team and timeline.

4. Prepare for success

Warm up. A quick icebreaker or unrelated creative prompt helps people shift into a creative mindset.

5. Break it up

Structure and session timing is key. Break longer sessions into shorter focused blocks to maintain energy and prevent creative fatigue. Shorter blocks within meetings will help to prevent the group from losing energy or motivation during the session. 

6. Revisit and review

Once ideas are collected, organize them into themes to identify patterns and standout concepts. Prioritize ideas with a voting or ranking method to identify which ideas are worth pursuing.

7. Follow up and assign next steps 

Every session should end with clear owners and actions. Otherwise, great ideas go nowhere. Turn ideas into implemented solutions and make it a habit to assign action items at the end of each brainstorming meeting.

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Popular brainstorming techniques

There's no single "correct" way to brainstorm. Different techniques suit different goals, team sizes, and formats. Here are some of the most effective methods:

1. Mind mapping

Start with a central idea or problem and branch outward with related thoughts, creating a visual web of connections. Great for exploring relationships between ideas.

2. Brainwriting

Instead of speaking ideas aloud, participants write them down silently and pass them along for others to build on. This reduces dominant-voice bias and often produces more ideas than verbal brainstorming.

3. SCAMPER

A checklist-based technique that prompts creative thinking by asking you to Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, or Reverse elements of an existing idea or product.

4. Round-robin brainstorming

Each participant takes a turn contributing one idea at a time, ensuring everyone has equal airtime and preventing any one voice from dominating.

5. Reverse brainstorming

Instead of asking "how do we solve this problem?" ask "how could we cause this problem?" Identifying what makes things worse often reveals surprising solutions.

6. Rapid ideation

Set a short time limit (5-10 minutes) and challenge participants to generate as many ideas as possible without stopping to evaluate them. Speed encourages volume over perfectionism.

7. Anonymous digital brainstorming

Using a tool where ideas are submitted anonymously and displayed to the whole group in real time. This combines the benefits of brainwriting with live collaboration, removing hierarchy and bias while keeping the energy of a group session

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Common brainstorming techniques to avoid

• Allowing criticism during idea generation. This shuts down creativity and discourages participation. Separate idea generation from idea evaluation into distinct phases.
• Not setting a clear focus or goal. Without direction, sessions produce unfocused ideas that are difficult to act on.Build a clear prioritization and follow-up step into every session.
• Letting one person dominate the conversation. Use anonymous submissions or round-robin techniques to ensure equal participation.  Use anonymous idea submission so everyone contributes without fear of judgment or social pressure.
• Skipping the follow-up. Ideas without action items rarely get implemented.
• Running sessions too long. Creative energy fades; keep sessions focused and take breaks. 
• Not preparing participants in advance. On-the-spot thinking produces fewer quality ideas than prepared brainstorming. Have participants generate ideas individually first, then share and combine them.

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How to plan a brainstorm session: Final thoughts

By applying the right brainstorming techniques, you can ensure every brainstorming session leads to actionable, tangible results, instead of leaving teams feeling uninspired and unsure of what's next. Below are some key takeaways to help you transform your approach to brainstorming in 2026 and beyond.

• Create psychological safety by allowing anonymous participation and eliminating criticism during idea generation.
• Set a clear, balanced focus that's specific enough to guide ideas but broad enough to encourage creativity.
• Use the right tools to give everyone an equal voice and make submitting ideas seamless.
• Prepare participants beforehand by sharing the goal and inviting pre-session idea submissions.
• Break up longer sessions into shorter blocks to maintain energy and focus.
• Always follow up with action items and scheduled meetings to turn ideas into reality.