What are the three phases of idea generation?

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The idea generation process consists of three key phases:

Inspiration
Individuals and teams gather information and search for new ideas using market research, user feedback, industry trends, and competitive observation. The goal is to create a rich reservoir of ideas that can spark creativity.

Incubation
The individual steps away from the problem, allowing the mind to rest. While the conscious mind wanders, the unconscious mind engages in what Einstein called "combinatorial play": mixing diverse ideas to discover innovative solutions.

Lightning
Ideas become tangible and the team can refine them and prepare for implementation. The focus shifts to administration directors email list assessing their feasibility and potential impact.

12 Techniques for Effective Idea Generation
Let's now look at 12 brainstorming techniques that provide effective solutions.

1. Brainstorming
Brainstorming, or blue-sky thinking, is a creative process in which individuals or groups approach the generation of ideas in a non-judgmental manner. The goal is to produce as many ideas as possible, which can then be evaluated, combined or refined to solve a particular challenge.

This approach stimulates creative thinking, values ​​all contributions equally, and encourages collaboration.

Example: A marketing team is brainstorming for a TikTok campaign to increase engagement among Gen Z users. They need to do this effectively:

Define the problem: How can we create a TikTok campaign that resonates with Gen Z and increases engagement by 30% next quarter?
Encourage members to share tips like creating challenge videos, partnering with Gen Z influencers, and using trending TikTok audio clips.
Jot down all your suggestions on a digital whiteboard, from practical concepts to crazy ideas like a dancing pet.
Group similar ideas, such as collaboration with influencers and challenges, and refine them
Ask members to vote on the top three concepts Brainstorming templates provide structured frameworks that capture and organize all ideas effectively.
For example, the ClickUp Brainstorming Template helps you collect fresh ideas from team members and stakeholders. Plus, its six custom fields—such as “Problem Description,” “Resources,” and “Winning Solution”—help you categorize ideas for further discussion.