Glassboards have revolutionized brainstorming sessions, offering a sleek, modern, and practical tool for fostering creativity and collaboration. A properly utilized glassboard is an integral part of the creative process, helping teams visualize ideas, track progress, and generate solutions.
This guide will provide 12 tips for using glassboards for brainstorming sessions to ensure you get the most out of these versatile tools. Whether you’re a startup or a large corporation, these tips will elevate your team’s brainstorming experience.
Creating a Comfortable Space for Collaboration
Set up your glassboard in a space that is conducive to collaboration. Comfortable seating, good lighting, and minimal distractions are essential. A well-arranged space makes team members feel at ease and encourages active participation. Position the glassboard at an accessible height to accommodate all team members, making sure it’s visible from various angles in the room.
A clutter-free atmosphere enhances creativity by allowing participants to focus on the session rather than their surroundings. A comfortable space fosters positive dialogue and innovation, which are critical for brainstorming success.
Selecting the Right Glassboard
Not all glassboards are created equal. Investing in a high-quality glassboard enhances functionality and presentation. Look for durable, stain-resistant glass that won’t absorb marker stains over time, and choose a size that matches your team’s needs. Larger boards are ideal for extensive ideation, while smaller ones may suit focused discussions.
Consider whether a magnetic feature is beneficial. A magnetic whiteboard enables you to attach papers, charts, or other materials directly to the surface. This versatility can make a significant difference during brainstorming sessions by allowing team members to visualize concepts side by side with written ideas.
Maintaining Cleanliness for Clarity
A clean glassboard is critical for extracting the full benefits it offers. Before starting a brainstorming session, ensure the board is free of smudges, streaks, or ink residue. Dirty boards can blur readability and slow down the flow of ideas. Use a microfiber cloth designed for glassboards and a nontoxic glassboard cleaner to preserve clarity over time.
After every use, set aside a few minutes to erase all content thoroughly and clean the board. Regular maintenance extends the life of your glassboard and keeps it looking professional for future sessions.
Knowing Your Markers
Selecting the proper markers can make or break your brainstorming experience with glassboards. Choose vibrant, nontoxic markers designed for glassboards to ensure readability for everyone in the room.
A variety of marker colors enhances board dynamics. Use different colors to separate ideas, highlight important points, or delegate action items. Clear, multicolor visuals aid comprehension and foster productive discussions.
Encouraging Visual Thinking
Glassboards excel when used for visual brainstorming. Team members often convey ideas more effectively using illustrations, charts, or diagrams. Encourage your team to draw in addition to writing to stimulate creative thinking.
For example, visualizing complex processes through diagrams can identify inefficiencies or gaps that aren’t immediately apparent in written lists. Not every team member needs to be an artist; even simple sketches or flowcharts can clarify abstract concepts.
Setting Clear Goals for the Session
Clear goals streamline brainstorming sessions. Begin by defining the challenges you aim to solve or the objectives you want to achieve. Having a focal point sharpens the team’s creative approach and ensures the session doesn’t veer off track.
Use your glassboard to summarize these goals before getting started. This ensures everyone in the room aligns around the same mission and promotes productive use of the brainstorming timeframe.
Encouraging Equal Participation
Brainstorming succeeds when every voice is heard. Some team members may be more introverted and hesitant to share their ideas. Leaders can foster inclusion by promoting a welcoming environment where all contributions are valued.
One technique for engaging everyone is to allow team members to take turns writing or drawing directly on the glassboard. The physical act of contributing to the board often encourages shy participants to engage actively.
Breaking the Session Into Stages
An unstructured brainstorming session may become chaotic. Organize your session into stages for the most effective use of your glassboard. Begin with idea generation, then move into clustering related thoughts, and finally focus on prioritizing or voting for actionable ideas.
Using headings and dividing your glassboard into segments for these stages keeps the process organized. This structured approach ensures you leverage the board to its fullest potential.
Using the Entire Board
Avoid confining your ideas to one corner of the glassboard. Spread concepts out across the entire surface. The extra space encourages broader thinking and prevents overcrowding, which can make ideas harder to read or follow.
If your team creates clusters of related ideas, tap into the flexibility of a larger board by separating distinct categories. Adequate spacing between points helps teams think clearly and recognize emerging patterns.
Capturing and Saving Every Idea
A brainstorming session on a glassboard is often fast-paced. Ideas are generated rapidly, and important concepts may vanish with a single eraser swipe. Ensuring that no ideas are lost is key to maximizing your team’s efforts.
Keep a digital camera or phone handy to take snapshots of the board at crucial moments during the session. These images serve as references later in the brainstorming process and help you avoid missing out on unfinished ideas.
Soliciting Feedback
After concluding the session, spend a few minutes gathering team feedback using the glassboard. Ask participants to write down their thoughts on what worked, what didn’t, and areas they’d like to see improved next time.
Open discussions based on feedback build a culture of continuous improvement and ensure that your glassboard-driven brainstorming gets results every time.
Wrapping Up With Action Points
Brainstorming should always result in actionable steps. Before ending your session, use a section of the glassboard to summarize key takeaways, delegate responsibilities, and outline the next steps.
Assigning clear actions translates brainstorming success into sustainable outcomes. Sessions may lack resolution without this step, wasting effort and leaving teams frustrated.
Conclusion
Implementing these 12 tips for using glassboards for brainstorming sessions will help you maximize the potential of this versatile tool. Whether you’re enhancing team collaboration, encouraging visual thinking, or capturing inspiration, glassboards are a valuable investment for businesses. For more guidance on selecting and customizing the ideal glassboard for your workplace, contact us directly. Our team of experts is here to help.
