Yes, brainstorming — if done right (which is rare) — can be immensely productive (and fun!). Maybe a good idea is to do a brief brainwriting session followed by a regular brainstorming one: that way we can take advantage of what’s best in each of the techniques.

Thanks for sharing a link to this post. I always love to consider new ways of approaching problem-solving.

I personally prefer to have a brainstorming session, where we verbally discuss the issue, while making notes at the same time, so I don’t let potentially important ideas slip away.

I also think that there shouldn’t be a limit to the number of ideas people should come up with. They should come up with as many ideas as they can, including any details that come to mind.

I can give an example. At one point I was solving a really difficult problem. It involved deciphering some kind of message and I really had no idea where to begin at. What I did was to write down all my thoughts on the problem. Then continue the next day. Then the day after next. Withing 4 days I solved the problem.

Admittedly, for some other people it might have taken less. However, for everyone there is a problem which they might consider hard. In such a case, this “brain writing” thingie might help. (My name for it, was flow writing).

Thanks for the sharing your experience!