Brainstorm in Perfect Form

“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.”  Proverbs 25:2

Definition of template ministry: The process of executing annual programs & events the same way year after year without interjecting fresh life into them.

While template ministry provides significant organizational structure, it can also have side effects that lead to sterile, lifeless, and monotonous ministry programs over time.

One way to balance out some of the negative aspects of template ministry is to run effective brainstorm sessions. Done right, these times can breathe fresh life into programs and events that may have begun to feel “flat” after years of repetition.

3 Key Aspects of Effective Brainstorming Sessions

1. Environment—Fresh environments spark fresh ideas.

Fresh places can enhance a creative environment.

Fresh faces can enhance a creative environment.

2. Enjoyment—Creative ideas flow more naturally when people are enjoying themselves.

Idea: The right food enhances the right mood.

3. Enablement—Give people the resources and authority to make the best ideas a reality.

10 Ideas for Effective Brainstorming Sessions

1. The team leader prayerfully chooses several upcoming events and/or programs to brainstorm during their next session.

2. Each member of a team involved in the brainstorm session should allocate 30 minutes before the actual brainstorm meeting to jot their ideas on a piece of paper

3. The team then gathers at their favorite “brainstorm” place. (i.e. Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Panara Bread etc.)

4. Allow each team member to choose anything they want off the menu—free of charge.

5. Each team member should share the thoughts they have written down.

6. After going through each team member’s ideas, the real brainstorming can then ensue.

7. The team keeps going until they have come up with enough ideas to enhance at least 25% of each event and/or program they have chosen.

8. Each team must have someone whose responsibility it is to write down every idea that is mentioned.

Note: During the brainstorm session is not the time to critique any ideas, just write them down and move on. Keep the spirit positive; this is the optimum environment for creativity.

9. Once all the ideas are on paper they are sifted through, and then with the guidance of the team leader each idea that “makes the cut” is placed on an “action items to-do” list with a team member’s name placed next to it along with a date of when that task must be completed.

10. After the brainstorm session everyone on the team is emailed the action items list from the meeting for accountability purposes. This list is then brought to the normal weekly team meetings for the purpose of keeping track of the progress of each task.

Applications to Enhance Brainstorming Sessions

Mind Jet Mind Manager—www.mindjet.com
Mind Jet allows you multiple ways to retrieve and organize information that is collected during brainstorm sessions with the use of mind mapping and flow charts.

Evernote—www.evernote.com
Capture ideas in any form (pictures, audio, or print files) quickly from any device you are near including your phone or computer. It can even file notes from scrap pieces of paper using the camera on your mobile phone. These notes are then organized for use as future “thought fodder” at brainstorm sessions.

Conclusion: In addition to keeping your ministry programs fresh, the greatest benefit of effective brainstorming is the personal ownership that is developed in team members who participate. When people have a part in personally engineering the practical application of vision, it creates an ownership and passion that is difficult to reproduce any other way.