Wednesday Work Hack: Can an Exit Sign Energize Your Next Brainstorm?

Ever led a brainstorm that’s lost its momentum? SAME. My favorite hack encourages participants to take a break from the challenge and focus on a random object in the room. (Say, an EXIT sign.) Ask for descriptive words or phrases about the object and vote on three (i.e., electric, safety, mandatory). Then direct participants to break into small teams and tie those three descriptors back to their brainstorm challenge. (“Could we…make our product rechargeable? Add safety features? Mandate it for another industry?”) After teams draw and present their concepts, discuss as a group which one could be a breakthrough idea.