Brainstorming is a valuable asset in business. It helps gain a variety of perspectives from both within and without your business, and it encourages teamwork and the input of those who may have great ideas they would not share without being prompted with a specific, welcoming opportunity to do so.

Perspectives
Brainstorming can be a vital tool both within your company and with customers and community members. Getting thoughts from employees in the same environment as you can help gather suggestions you may have overlooked, and talking with the community can help your company gain unique perspectives.

Teamwork
Including a brainstorming session allows participants to work together on new ideas and feel they’ve contributed to the progress and success of the company. Setting aside time for brainstorming can encourage employees and community members to share their thoughts and experiences and allow them to feel the company cares to know what they think. Gathering people together for this can allow participants to build off one another’s ideas and generate even better ones. Having such information can be instrumental in growing a business and making updates that will be truly impactful and enjoyable for many.

Getting Started
Creating a visual representation of the brainstorming session can be very helpful. Consider setting aside a whiteboard so everyone can see the session unfolding. Post-it notes can be a great way to color code ideas and move them around easily as the ideas continue to develop. Consider including brainstorming in your upcoming staff meetings and community outreach opportunities.

This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s August 2023 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.