The Mind Spin Technique

The mind spin is an amazing non-traditional brainstorming technique for developing creative thinking, team problem solving.

Ask each team of 3-5 participants to sit at the tables. Each participant is dealt 5 blank index cards.

The remaining cards (~100) are placed in the center of the table. Explain that this is going to be a brainstorming session that will be individual as well as team based.

Within a brain storming session there are no wrong or right responses and no idea is off limits. The participants are going to have two, five minute rounds to write down as many solutions as possible on the index cards – one idea per card.

If they use more than the five index cards grab another card from the center pile. After an idea is written on the index card the participant SLAMS the index card down on the table face down to their right.

If at some point a participant cannot think of any solutions to the topic question they may grab one card from the top of the participants pile to their left. Read it, be inspired and grab a blank card write down your inspiration.

Once round 1 is complete – the facilitator gathers all the idea index cards.

Round 2 – Begins the same as round 1 – this time if the participant reaches an idea block they grab an idea index card from the pile in front of them – then they it to their right. Once round 2 is done the facilitator gathers all the idea index cards.

What does the facilitator do with all those index card ideas? Read through them – there will be several duplicates – while reading through the ideas the facilitator can create broad categories for further discussion or choose the top 10 ideas to discuss further.