How to Conduct a Brainstorming Session

Source: AICPA CPA Insider

CPAs may be skeptical about their abilities to create. But innovation doesn’t require “creative” people. Firms can innovate through brainstorming if they do it right. Here are some principles that should be followed in brainstorming sessions:

• Include people from different departments or disciplines in the sessions.
• Give two days’ notice so participants can come prepared with ideas.
• Create a thought-provoking title for the session. For example, “Annual Fees are $1 Million. How do We Achieve $2 Million?” is more thought-provoking than “How to Increase Fees.”
• Serve refreshments.
• Record all ideas on a flipchart. Assign someone to take detailed notes.
• Don’t allow judgments to be expressed about ideas. Criticizing ideas as they’re presented will be stifling.
• Don’t quit when you think you’ve developed the right solutions. Something better might come along. Keep brainstorming until you’ve either exhausted all ideas or run out of time.
• Send the notes out right after the meeting. Send them to people who didn’t attend and invite their additions.
• Combining ideas can improve them. Be willing to change a plan based on input from others in the firm, clients, etc.

From AICPA CPA Insider, July 30, 2007, www.cpa2biz.com. For the complete article, click here.