There’s more to finishing a brainstorm than simply calling the meeting to an end.
The last 15-20 minutes should be devoted to three parallel steps which collectively examines and analyses the initial ideas on the flipcharts, and finds ways to transition them into something useful and tangible.
Using a bit of helpful spelling, the three phases all end in “-fy” – Clarify, Amplify and Verify.
1. Clarify means using explicit and agreed-upon criteria to quickly sort the 10% good ideas from the 90% not-so-good ideas. The post here - from 12 November 2009 explains creative criteria in more detail. The post here from 23 February 2009 explains the 90-10 Rule in more detail.
2. Amplify means to combine and merge the average, mediocre and half-ideas together, creative better ideas. (Click here for the post on this topic.)
3. Verify means to check to ensure the ideas will do what you need them to do. (Click here for the post on this topic.)
