• Collect ideas in advance. To get team members thinking creatively, ask each to submit an idea prior to the meeting. Remind them that there is no such thing as a bad idea and that none can be too outrageous. Having a bank of ideas to draw on can break the ice and get the session off to a quick start.
• Set the stage. Meet in a comfortable setting with few distractions. Consider an off-site location, such as a conference center. Ask participants to dress casually to help create a more relaxed atmosphere.
• Morning may be best. Two-thirds of advertising executives surveyed by our company said that the morning hours are the most conducive to creative thought. Typically people feel refreshed and relatively free of distractions in the morning, making it an ideal time for brainstorming sessions.
• Zero in. Closely define the objective, and ask the participants to stay on topic. For example, rather than brainstorming solutions to a general issue such as how to improve business, focus instead on a specific challenge such as how to accelerate your response time to customer requests.
• Invite free expression. Insist that all participants suspend judgment of suggestions that are presented. Encourage employees to come up with the most "out of the box" ideas they can think of and not to judge themselves or others. Ask that only one person at a time speak, and be sure that less vocal employees get the chance to join in the discussion.
• Go for quantity. Challenge the team to come up with 50 ideas in the first hour to get things started and to help them turn off their internal "critics." The focus then becomes "how many ideas can I come up with" rather then analyzing how well an idea may be received before presenting it.
• Encourage teamwork. Ask participants to build on each other's thoughts. One member's creativity will stimulate an idea from someone else. Brainstorming is a group process and won't be effective if people are proprietary about their ideas or fail to listen to suggestions from others. The bridge from an original idea to a workable concept involves several stages and can be accomplished more successfully with collaboration.
• Provide "food for thought." Have light snacks and beverages available for an energy boost, but don't let food become the focus of the meeting.
• Mix work and play. Creativity is fun, and your employees should look forward to brainstorming sessions. It is one of the few forums in which they can offer ideas in a completely safe-to-risk environment.

In a survey commissioned by Robert Half International firm among the nation's top executives, 89 percent of respondents said they believe companies are doing more to promote creativity than five years ago. And brainstorming good ideas regularly is part of that effort. As a manager, brainstorming sessions can help you identify some of your firm's best thinkers. You may be surprised at just how creative your employees can be when given an open forum.

-- Article courtesy of Robert Half International, which has more than 250 locations in North America, Europe and Australia, and offers online job search services at www.rhii.com.