Brainwriting

What it is:
Brainwriting is a silent brainstorming technique where participants write down ideas instead of speaking them aloud. This method encourages everyone to contribute and often leads to more creative and diverse solutions.

How to use it:

1. Define the Problem:
   Clearly state the problem or challenge the team needs to address.

2. Distribute Paper or Digital Tools:
   Provide each participant with a piece of paper or digital tool where they can write down their ideas. If using digital tools, use Google Docs, Miro, or other platforms that allow for easy idea sharing.

3. Write Ideas:
   Ask participants to spend 5-10 minutes writing down as many ideas as possible related to the problem. Encourage them to be creative and think outside the box.

4. Pass Ideas Around:
   Once the time is up, participants pass their papers or documents to another person. Each person reads the ideas written and then adds new ones, builds upon existing ideas, or combines ideas from others.

5. Repeat the Process:
   Continue passing ideas around and building on them for multiple rounds (3–5 rounds works well).

6. Review and Group Ideas:
   After several rounds, review the ideas as a group. Discuss which ones are most viable, innovative, or impactful.

7. Select the Best Ideas:
   Select the best ideas for further development or implementation. Consider holding a group discussion or voting to finalize the solutions.

When to use it:

• When you want to generate a large quantity of ideas in a short time.

• When you want to give everyone a chance to contribute, especially in a group setting.

• To reduce the dominance of louder voices and ensure equal participation.

Why it works:
Brainwriting fosters a non-judgmental environment, allowing for greater creativity and collaboration. It avoids the pitfalls of traditional brainstorming, such as groupthink or a few individuals dominating the conversation.

Expected outcomes:

• A wide range of creative solutions to the problem at hand.

• Equal participation from all team members, regardless of personality.

• Increased collaborative problem-solving and idea-building.

Download The Brainwriting Template