If I could change ONE thing about how everyone doing "creative problem solving" worked, it would be to stop brainstorming ideas and start brainstorming questions.

Brainstorming and ranking ideas is the worst and it puts team members in competition with each other to look smart.

But if you get everyone in a room (virtual or otherwise) and say "OK, what are all the things we& #39;re assuming or simply lack information about?" and then "Which of these areas of ignorance are highest priority?" that is both immensely useful and enhances collaboration.

But the idea that "ideation" is a good and productive use of people& #39;s time is so baked into how people think about design and business.

Because it& #39;s easy and fun and everyone secretly wants to "win" at group ideation.

Asking the right questions is so critical to success.

Having a "brilliant idea"…eh, not so much.

Design processes that put ideas ahead of questions are the equivalent of not listening in conversation and just waiting for the other person to stop talking.