Walking Brainstorm

Energiser / Warm up, Kick-off

Brainstorming, Define intentions, Ideation & idea generation, Liberating structures, Problem solving, Vision

Big picture, Creativity / create, Innovation, Introspection

Up to 15 min

6-15 persons, 16 – 30 persons, More than 30 persons

Beginner

Safe

Introduction

This introvert-friendly brainstorming technique helps groups of any size to generate and build on each other’s ideas in a silent but dynamic setting. As the participants keep moving, the exercise is ideal to kick-off a full day workshop or re-energize the group after lunch.

Necessary tools (what you need)

Pick a videoconferencing tool, ideally such that allows you to create breakout rooms.
Pick an online whiteboard tool that allows using a large, zoomable canvas.

Steps

Depending on the aim of the brainstorm, write either a topic or a question at a different area of the board, spread them out just like you would do it on the walls of a room.
Set a timer between 3 and 15 minutes, depending on the Group size in persons and the complexity of the topic. Every participant is encouraged to zoom in, visit each section, and add his or her ideas.
Silently, they look around the board and share their ideas about the topics/ questions by writing them into the sections. Remind participants to apply an open “yes, and” approach which means that they should build on each other’s ideas and try to make them work instead of pointing out weak points or deal breakers.
When time is up, you can either debrief with the entire group or split the group into small teams who work on the different sections/topics/questions and then share their results with the group.

Tips & Tricks

To inspire a wider range of ideas, you may vary the topic/ question on each poster.
Before any brainstorming exercise, remind the participants that “Good ideas come from bad ideas as long as there are enough of them.” (Seth Godin).
Turn on breakout rooms so each group can work on their tasks. If you do not have breakout sessions, keep everyone in the main room, though invite pairs and groups to communicate in private messages or small groups in Slack

Walking Brainstorm

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Introduction

Necessary tools (what you need)

Steps

Tips & Tricks

The exercise is successfully completed when? Conclusion?