Working with a creative group that is high energy, productive, and problem-solving can be very exhilarating. Creative problem-solving sessions need structure, even if that sounds at odds with the creative process. Here are some ground rules borrowed from a book by Floyd Hurt called Rousing Creativity: Think New Now that you can apply to your next creative session.

Ground Rules for Creative Sessions:
#1 – Avoid judgment of any kind until the right moment: If you allow the possibility that every idea might be the answer your team is looking for, you open up a whole new, wild, creative, cutting-edge world. Besides, if judgments start, a group will shut down. Fast.

#2 – Everyone is creative: Overcome the limitations that others set, and allow the ideas to come out. No matter how crazy the thoughts, don’t let your logical thinking brain squash them before you say them. Encourage the “less creative” people around you, giving them opportunity to throw out some ideas, too.

#3 – Be aware of your own defenses: An ideal creative setting would not have this issue, but all too often our ideas get shot down, victims of early judgment. Shake off your natural reaction to defend your self, and keep contributing.

#4 – Develop your passion: Commit to your ideas, and the passion will flow.

#5 – Keep it in the room: confidentiality counts: Creative sessions should be safe places, and if the fear is present that a “dumb” idea will get back out to the boss or coworkers, participants aren’t going to want to take risks.

#6 – Build on other’s ideas: It’s an exhilarating feeling when a group members takes one idea and adds to it, and another idea is added, and another. It’s even more exhilarating when you acknowledge the idea you are building on. When a team member is recognized for their idea, they earn a feeling of team spirit and are more likely to continue participating.

#7 – Keep the energy up: Move around. Draw pictures on a whiteboard or flipchart. Stand. Have colored markers available. Play a quick word game. Do anything that ups the energy on the room. Energy is derived from movement, and fosters creativity.

#8 –Stick to the problem/topic: It’s ok to wander away from the problem at hand now and then. It can allow for different perspectives to an issue. Assign a team member to bring the team back, though, when the ideas are no longer moving ahead to solve the problem.

#9 – Keep it fun to keep it productive: An atmosphere of fun allows the mind to relax, and that is a good place to be when creativity is required. Have a good time!

#10 – Embrace ambiguity: Allow for the ideas to be blurry, and some new ideas will likely fill in the gaps.

#11 – Foster constructive dissatisfaction: Don’t limit or eliminate an idea just because it doesn’t “fit”. Instead, try keeping the idea, and building on how to change the space so it does fit.

#12 – Nothing “bad”: Keep the word “bad” out of your vocabulary and replace it with “unique” or “different”. Bad is bad, but different is fun.

Floyd Hurt, author of Rousing Creativity: Think New Now!, has been in every phase of sales, marketing, and advertising, and is a speaker recognized for his expertise in creativity.