It has now been over one year since the WHO announced Covid-19 as a world health emergency. Since then, our daily vocabulary has been infiltrated by previously lesser-used words. Words like “unprecedented, pandemic, PPE, and Zoom.”
The acronym WFH is also part of our societal lexicon now, as professional teams continue to search for ways to maintain and continually build team culture, collaboration, and efficiencies. Corporate leaders have even complained and lamented on struggling in these areas because of the pandemic.
Although there are a lot of unique obstacles in running remote teams, there is one area your team should be thriving in because of the pandemic. Brainstorms. Here’s the hard truth: virtual brainstorms are far more effective than in-person ones. Don’t believe me? It’s in the data.
70% of participants can be expected to perform worse in in-person brainstorms compared to virtual sessions.
A joint study in 2007 compared the effectiveness between virtual and in-person brainstorms. The data showed that virtual brainstorms outperformed in-person brainstorms in the following three categories: Quality Ideas, # of Creative Ideas per Person, and Higher Level of Satisfaction per Idea. The Harvard Business Review also referenced this study and reported that 70% of participants can be expected to perform worse in in-person brainstorms compared to virtual sessions.
So the next natural question to ask is this: did your remote team generate more innovative and creative ideas/solutions this past year during the pandemic? And if not, why?
The good news is, if you’re struggling with virtual brainstorms, you’re not alone. Here are three tips on how to make your virtual brainstorms better.
TIP #1: Brainstorms Need STRUCTURE
Whether virtual or in-person, every brainstorm session should follow a structure. This means that everyone should have a clear understanding of the ground rules and the process. The last thing you want to do is pose a question to the group and have people suggest ideas in a popcorn-style. These type of brainstorm sessions can get chaotic or awkward or both. Studies have shown time and time again that these types of brainstorms are actually counter-productive and a waste of time.
If a structure-less brainstorm is difficult in-person, then it will be even more ineffective for virtual teams. At Flight Club, we have 6 Airspace Rules and a 4 Step Process that we follow for every single idea challenge. Having a consistent framework will greatly improve the output of ideas and discussions for your teams.
Lastly, you’ll need the right online tools. Our team uses two: Zoom (video-conferencing) and Miro (virtual whiteboard). Our team has particularly fallen in love with Miro and we now use it for other functions beyond brainstorming. Whatever tools your team starts to use, create a system and process. Practice it and fine-tune it. Constantly. Which brings us to the second tip on how to improve your virtual brainstorming sessions.
TIP #2: Brainstorms Need DISCIPLINE
You can’t teach a novice the rules of chess and expect them to know how to win. Unless you’re Beth Harmon from The Queen’s Gambit. Just like any skill, brainstorming needs practice and discipline.
There will be a learning curve on how to collaborate virtually. It will be up to you and your team to commit to practicing on how to brainstorm better. Schedule more consistent brainstorms. Once or maybe even two, three times a week. Your brain is a muscle, so it needs constant practice.
A moderator does more than referee a brainstorm.
In order to effectively practice, you will also need discipline. Having a moderator is critical to enforce the ground rules and to keep everyone on track. So designate a team member, perhaps yourself, to be the moderator. A moderator does more than referee a brainstorm. They also synthesize the ideas. They are constantly observant and actively listening. They connect the dots and translate the insights. A seasoned and trained moderator can immensely boost the output of a brainstorm. Furthermore, a moderator is also responsible for following-up and re-engaging the team after each brainstorm. Suffice to say, having an experienced moderator is pivotal for a successful brainstorm.
TIP #3: Brainstorms need ENGAGEMENT
Perhaps the most difficult aspect of running a virtual brainstorm is keeping all the participants engaged with high energy. But how do you share energy when you’re not there in-person?
Our Flight Club sessions are designed with games and warm-up exercises. And each of these activities have an intentional purpose. Try to incorporate icebreakers that may address the topic at hand. Spend a few minutes stretching and deep breathing to prepare the body and mind. Incorporate images and photographs to stimulate the brain. And always remember to have fun. This may sound like a nod to our childhoods, but it’s more than that. It’s a reminder that everyone should feel safe to share anything, especially as we bring out our inner child in how we imagine and play.
When it comes to ideas, the pandemic has brought a golden opportunity for our virtual teams to shine. If you haven’t experienced better brainstorms yet, try these three aforementioned pointers. If you have any more questions or thoughts, contact us here or comment below. You can also follow our social accounts for more resources and helpful tips.
We look forward to seeing your virtual teams collaborate and brainstorm better. My guess is that your teams will continue the practice of virtual brainstorms even after the pandemic. And then perhaps yet another acronym will be added to our daily vocabulary: BFH, Brainstorm From Home.
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