This is a fast and loud method to enhance brainstorming within a team. Since this activity has more than round ideas that are repetitive can be ruled out leaving more creative and innovative answers to the challenge.

Instructions

1. Break the group into teams of 3 – 5 participants.

2. Ask each team of 3 – 5 participants to sit at separate round tables (the round tables help although are not necessary).

3. Have the topic or idea to be “brainstormed” written on a white board or power point slide - “What can we….?” “What can be done to ….?” ex. "How can we better understand the needs of our customers?", "What can be done to improve the quality of this product?", “How can we increase our throughput?”

4. Each participant is dealt 5 blank index cards.

5. The remaining cards (~100) are placed in the center of the table.

6. Explain that this is going to be a brainstorming session that will be individual as well as team based.

7. Within a brain storming session there are no wrong or right responses and no idea is off limits.

8. 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 (one idea written on one card).

9. If they use more than the five index cards grab another card from the center pile.

10. After an idea is written on the index card the participant slams the index card down on the table face down to their right.

11. The slam is important - the sound and the vibration of slamming the card on the table adds a tangible feeling to the “Mind Spin” that makes the activity more fun!

12. 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.

13. They have 3 options before slamming the card down to their right – (1) simply slam it down to your right after reading it and grab another card from their left; (2) read it, be inspired by it, slam it down to the right and grab a blank card write down your inspiration, then SLAM your idea card to the right; or (3) read it, add to it with a question or comment, then slam it down before grabbing another card from their left.

14. Ask the participants to continue until the time is up.

15. Once round 1 is complete – gather all the idea index cards and shuffle them.

16. Evenly distribute the idea index cards to the small teams.

17. Ask the participants in each team to distribute the idea index cards amongst team members and place them face down in front of each participant.

18. Begin round 2.

19. This time if the participant reaches an idea block they grab an idea index card from the pile in front of them – then they slam it to their right.

20. Not until all the cards from round 1in front of the participant are gone can the participant grab a card from their neighbors pile to the left.

21. Once round 2 is done, gather all the idea index cards.

22. While reading through the ideas, create broad categories for further discussion or choose the top 10 ideas to discuss further.

The slam makes this “Mind Spin” activity even more effective. Encourage participants to keep moving! This is a fast paced and loud activity – if they have no ideas grab the one to their left – some ideas make their way around a table 10 to 15 times! The idea behind the 2nd round is to really wring out the ideas and to encourage the full spectrum of thoughts.