# Brainstorm

#### What you’ll do

Guide your team through a fun, inclusive, and effective process for generating ideas. Some tips for making this session a success: 1) Distribute a brief summary of the ideation topic or central challenge a day or two before the gathering. 2) Go into this agenda ahead of the event and edit the “Getting Aligned” activity to tailor it to the ideation topic at hand. 3) Switch out music videos and other elements if you regularly use this template with the same group of people.

During the session, the group will watch a video on ideation and get aligned on the process. Then, participants will have a block of individual time to come up with ideas, followed by several opportunities to workshop those ideas in pairs and small groups. Finally, the group will work collaboratively to share, refine, and select the ideas that seem especially promising. You’ll walk away with a list of ideas as well as the top contenders to consider for implementation.

#### Recommended cadence

60 minutes

#### Session length

14 activities

#### Number of activities

### Activities

| Activities             | Goal                                                                                          |
|-----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Rihanna - Diamonds    | YouTube video · 5m     
Use videos to set the tone with music, host watch parties, or share learning material.       |
| Status Check          | Poll · 30s       
Get quick, honest reactions with a fun and easy poll.                                      |
| Warm-Up               | Small group breakouts · 5m       
Match people in pairs and small groups and provide prompts to guide their breakouts.           |
| Getting Aligned       | Flash Cards · 2m     
Give instructions, make announcements, or provide context using prompt cards the whole group can read together. |
| Quiet Ideation        | YouTube video · 3m     
Use videos to set the tone with music, host watch parties, or share learning material.       |
| What Would You Do?    | Reflection · 9m      
Give people time on their own to collect their thoughts, work on a solo activity, or take a break. |
| Second Opinion        | 1-on-1 breakouts · 6m  
Match people in pairs and small groups and provide prompts to guide their breakouts.           |
| Listening Hat         | Flash Cards · 1m       
Give instructions, make announcements, or provide context using prompt cards the whole group can read together. |
| What If We…          | Group Share · 10m      
Widen the conversation and give everyone equal time to respond to a prompt relevant to the whole group. |
| Standout Ideas        | Reflection · 2m      
Give people time on their own to collect their thoughts, work on a solo activity, or take a break. |
| Reaching Consensus    | Small group breakouts · 9m      
Match people in pairs and small groups and provide prompts to guide their breakouts.           |
| Idea Advocacy         | Group Share · 8m   
Widen the conversation and give everyone equal time to respond to a prompt relevant to the whole group. |
| Lightbulb Moments     | Photo Booth · < 1m     
Smile for the camera, strike a pose, and make a lasting memory with your team.               |
| Collect Event Feedback | Poll · < 1m     
Get quick, honest reactions with a fun and easy poll.                                        |

#### Tips for hosting

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