Brainstorming as Improv Method

[Another ACT-KM reprint]

I've been thinking a lot about brainstorming & creativity recently. It took me a surprisingly long time to realise that brainstorming is formally equivalent to the improv exercises I had done in some acting classes a few years ago. In some ways this will be hard to understand unless you have done this stuff but here goes.

Many people dread getting up on stage. Many more people dread getting up on stage without a script (or even a detailed set of powerpoint charts). The fear is "I will say something stupid, or not say anything at all, and people will laugh at me & I will feel bad". We developed filters to prevent ourselves saying or doing things that may lead to humiliation.

Improv attempts to create the conditions for group creativity. This involves the application of rules & practice to allow trust to emerge between individuals. If you observe a new group doing improv exercises, it takes them time to develop this trust (generally about 2-3 hours) - esp. if they are novices. And the weird thing is, anyone can do it. Take someone who says "I am not creative / I have no imagination", give them the rules and let them get on with it and they will be amazed with what they come out with.

[N.B. I am coming to believe that trust is a complex responsive process between identities based on a first-fit pattern match - but that's another post & you'll just have to take my word on that for now.]

So what does this have to do with brainstorming? Well here is a definition I found on the web: "A method of shared problem solving in which all members of a group spontaneously contribute ideas."

We (and that includes me) normally do brainstorming badly. Someone will come up with an idea and it will either be ignored or critisized. Now the criticism may be perfectly valid but it tends to stop the flow of creativity. Brainstorming tends to be a painful, unfun activity that ends prematurely. Studies also vary in their opinion of its effectiveness.

I propose that for brainstorming to be truly successful it needs to follow some of the rules of improv:
1. Set the scene & be specific. When you offer your problem/challenge make it as concrete as possible. Give an example. Give slightly too much information. And it should be phrased as a problem or challenge rather than an assertion. Because you can only agree or disagree with an assertion.
2. Say "Yes and". If someone makes an offer (even a ludicrous one) build on it and take that one stage further.
3. Don't Block. Rather than say why an idea won't work, say what is required to make it work. If you ask a question of someone then try to add more information while doing so.
4. Leave the analysis to the end. Analysis of options should be a separate activity. Some passive/unconscious analysis occurs anyway because people will respond more to certain offers than to others.

Some links:
Johnnie Moore
Improv Rules