15 tips to run a (really) productive in-person brainstorming session

The meetings that matter happen in person. That’s abundantly clear. While teams can conduct some communications over Slack or Zoom productively, as human beings, we need face-to-face interaction to be at our best. 

Nowhere is this perhaps more obvious than when we are trying to drum up new ideas! Sitting behind a screen, it can feel impossible to get into a creative flow with our peers. As more and more organizations switch to remote and hybrid working models, managers are seeing how vital it is to draw teams together in real life for their brainstorming sessions.  

What makes in-person brainstorming a more productive meeting? 

Every organization needs fresh and innovative ideas to stay ahead of the competition. But to give their best, employees must feel confident and part of the group. Breeding the trust and sense of community required for coworkers to share their greatest ideas is hard to do in virtual settings. 

Crucial non-verbal cues get lost when we speak to each other through a screen which is why the creative juices that flow from gathering in person are impossible to replicate online. Or, as our CEO phrased it;

“My core belief: the important things in life happen in person. This belief comes from the magic and the energy that bursts when we get together in person. Bursts of understanding when we can read beyond someone’s words and listen beyond someone’s voice. Bursts of trust when we support each other with honest gestures. Bursts of inspiration when we solve hard problems and create new things together.”

Avi Meir – CEO & Co-founder of TravelPerk

As we will see, brainstorming sessions not only provide an incubator for ideas. They can also act as vital opportunities for team bonding. Hosting these meetings in person can be a chance to draw together different elements of the business, get new perspectives and help remote colleagues network outside their usual silos. 

15 tips to run a genuinely successful brainstorming session

1. Get clear on your goals 

The notion of coming together with colleagues for real-time idea generation is exciting, especially when coworkers are spread out across different locations. But without clear aims, you are unlikely to get the desired results. 

In the new remote and hybrid working world, it’s more important than ever to be able to demonstrate an ROI for your brainstorming session. Colleagues are no longer down the hall, and your organization…