Brainstorming is the best way to exercise the noggin and come up with monumental ideas, map out a strategy, and engineer the bigger picture.
To keep up with all of it, you’ll need the best tools.
Here’s an elaborate guide on brainstorming tools, as well as our top picks!
Table of Contents
What Is a Brainstorming Tool?
A brainstorming tool is designed to gather ideas, generate a strategy, and execute a tentative program of action. These are mostly available virtually as a website, downloadable software, or mobile application. However, a brainstorming tool can be as simple as a pen and a piece of paper.
For people who work from home or in different geographical locations, virtual whiteboards are a win-win deal. That’s because they allow for collaboration via comments, annotations, voting, and sharing.
A brainstorming tool is not to be confused with a brainstorming technique. The latter refers to all the ways of generating ideas. The former provides a method of proceeding with the given ideas so a plan can be executed.
Is Online Brainstorming Effective?
Yes, online brainstorming is quite effective in producing well-structured plans. Also known as brain-netting, virtual brainstorming is a modern effort to make mind mapping intuitive and accessible to everyone.
Employees can collaborate on a flow chart remotely which helps make time for research and revisions. The key benefit, however, of virtual whiteboards is the erasure of judgment.
Everyone can vote on their preferred plan, plug unusual ideas into a sticky note and simply report harsh remarks.
A study reports that online brainstorming generates more ideas than traditional mind mapping meaning it is quite effective.
Seven Free Brainstorming Tools for Innovators
For the thinkers and the creators, brainstorming builds a plan so they need tools that can help them map out a course of action.
Here’s a list of seven free tools to use when gearing up the brain to devise a revolution:
IdeaBoardz
Perfect for comparing the pros and cons of multiple proposals, IdeaBoards allows members to compartmentalize columns and map out plans for different ideas.
To maximize participation, collaborators can vote on the plan they support with a ‘thumbs up’.
This easily aligns with the course of action they should prioritize. To save, simply export the web-based virtual board.
Realtime Board or Miro
A great pick for start-ups and small teams, Miro is a whiteboard space that promotes creative freedom and networking.
With three team members on board and an idea pitched, open up a template and start adding relevant images and documents to the board.
Tack sticky notes to offer ideas and once it’s complete, export it into a PDF or convert it into a presentation.
MindMup
An extension of Google Chrome, MindMup is great for innovators that need a solid eraser. The robust interface allows numerous edits, including changing fonts, embedding videos, adding rich text, and even hand sketching.
MindMup is connected to Google Drive, so your work is available both online and offline.
Bubbl.us
An easy-to-use web tool, Bubbl.us streamlines main ideas and subheadings using different branches that can interlink. You can differentiate with colored fonts, and change the style of text and hyperlinks for easy access.
Once finished, simply save it as an image and forward the final product to your team.
TheBrain
Mimicking the performance of the actual human brain, TheBrain web tool instantly creates and connects searchable subtopics with the main topic proposed.
The network is quite detailed and makes ‘thinking’ almost effortless. It syncs files and is compatible with all operating systems.
Ideament
For those who think of the best concepts in the shower, on the go, or before bed. The Ideament mobile application is perfect.
It has different mapping templates available, options to turn an outline into text and vice versa as well as space to copy-paste an email.
The saved file can then be shared as an image or as an outline on Google Drive.
MindGenius
A great pick for smart workers, the MindGenius application works intuitively with the mobile keyboard to quickly map out and link ideas with designated goals.
You can also search for a specific area you mapped out using the explorer feature and revise the work.
Four of the Best Brainstorming Tools for Go-Getters
For entrepreneurs and business moguls, brainstorming doesn’t come with an agenda. Their thoughts run wild with creativity, so organizing them is key. They need tools that are swift, easy to use, simple to display, and most importantly, reliable. Here are four of the best mind-mapping tools for go-getters:
Mindly
Taking extra work off the user’s hands, Mindly helps curate ideas into goals and actions by erasing distractions such as format issues, editing typos, and branch adjustments.
Mindly fluidly organizes thoughts and works on all mobile devices.
Freeplane
The open-source web application Freeplane allows users to plug dialogue boxes, pair different ideas using customized branches, and then analyze the final result.
Leave comments by sticking a post-it note and open up a reminder by adding the course of action directly to the Calendar. The best part is, all of your work is encrypted.
Mind Vector
Made for traveling entrepreneurs, Mind Vector offers brainstorming maps in a simple mobile application. Design up to three mind maps and show off your creative skills by personalizing them.
The system is perfected by allowing collaborative efforts to shine without judgment and saves files on Google Drive for easy all-time access.
Coggle
Made for visual learners, Coggle is a collaborative tool that provides flowcharts and mind maps to pitch ideas, participate in real-time, branch with subtopics, and upload relevant images.
The best part, however, is that it allows annotations.
Two Trending Brainstorming Tools to Use With a Team
Are you bored with the usual set-up of the brainstorming tools available online?
Do you need an efficient interface for free?
Here are two hype-inducing instruments you can use to organize your train of thought and stylize a unique link of ideas easily.
ClickUp
Considered the world’s best productivity app, ClickUp is a drag-and-drop tool that creates sections for multiple topics. It provides a screen-recordable whiteboard and allows collaboration in real time (even with anonymous votes).
ClickUp allows leaders to host workshops, display their plan as a presentation using over 120 templates and open it up for review.
Canva
A recent addition to the design laboratory, Canva brought out whiteboards that came with hundreds of templates for flow charts, wireframes, seating charts, kanban boards, and expanded presentations too.
The mind maps are aesthetically pleasing, they open for collaboration, and you can edit them easily.
What Are Some Dos and Do Nots of Brainstorming With a Team?
Although brainstorming is quite straightforward, you can make a lot of mistakes while mind mapping.
This can not only disturb the quality of your content but can also lead to monetary losses and creative dead ends.
To make sure your thoughts are aligned and time is spent well, we’ve detailed seven do’s and don’ts to follow religiously while brainstorming ideas:
Collaborate and Don’t Criticise
The number one rule of mind mapping is to focus on proposing ideas. Don’t think about the execution, leave the budget plans out, and forget about your own take on the situation. Simply strategize by creating concept maps under the idea proposed.
Acknowledge the effort, listen actively, and provide feedback. Hone in on the positive elements instead of criticizing a plan outright. Unless it’s out of context for the topic at hand, every idea generated in the brainstorming session is valid.
You may be wondering if constructive criticism is okay. The answer to this question depends on the structure of the team. If you’re at a much higher position, it’s best to refrain from it as placing attention on one in front of the whole table can intimidate the others into silence or forced agreements.
Prepare an Agenda
Because problem-solving is the main function of brainstorming, it’s best to prepare the solution-finders in advance. Get a trainer that is knowledgeable about the subject, appoint a team leader to represent and guide the members, and prepare them with research.
If you’re working remotely, make sure the communication lines are open and everyone is informed of the meeting in a timely manner. If the agenda for the collaboration isn’t decided on, it can lead to ill-structured solutions, as nobody is clear on the subject being explored.
Prior preparation also inspires confidence in team members and allows a healthy debate to transpire, which leads to concrete ideas, goals, and execution of plans.
Lead With a Facilitator
Always ensure that mind mapping time is overseen by an expert or a higher-up. This way the time allotted is spent efficiently, members are productive on the whiteboards, and have a helping hand available to guide them.
Don’t just order the team to brainstorm ideas for a topic, collaborate with them, as shared experiences are known to increase productivity and spark creativity.
Empower Participation, Don’t Force
Every member of the team should get an equal opportunity to participate, but that won’t work if the employees are forced to answer or provide an opinion.
Don’t make the mistake of assigning turns, even if it sounds like it’d help dampen the chaos of argument. Just make sure there’s no space for cruel remarks and judgment, as your participants will speak up eventually.
Some virtual whiteboards and brainstorming tools offer collaborators the option to vote – even anonymously, instead of commenting on an opinion. This is a great way to get honest answers and quickly pursue the most-voted plan of action.
Visualize the Mind Mapping
When brainstorming a network of strategies, make sure to pen your thoughts down on a piece of paper. This way you can come back and make the appropriate revisions.
If there’s no hurry, open up a brainstorming tool and start creating a mind map. Connect the branches, dive deep into research, and share to collaborate.
Having a strategy in front of your eyes can help you visualize the steps needed for prioritization. This erases confusion and gaps in the thought process, as well as streamlines the content for viewers.
If you don’t have a pad or a pencil nearby, or time to download a brainstorming tool, simply open up the Notes application on your PC or mobile and draw a rough diagram with arrows to indicate a connection.
Don’t forget to add reference links and upload relevant images where necessary. You could also create a mood board if the topic allows for it.
Schedule a Sufficient Time
The most important factor in a mindmap meeting is to always ensure there’s more than enough time to introduce the topic, propose ideas, generate feedback, and work on a tentative strategy for execution.
Don’t just mark any block of free space on the calendar as time for brainstorming. Announce the meeting beforehand so everyone can do their due research and help devise a well-structured plan.
Follow Up With Your Follow-Ups
Once the brainstorming is done and you have the map in front of you, it’s time to follow through with your now-organized plan. Don’t waste time, it’s best to strategize the best course of action right after your goals are organized.
If you do wait a week or so, make sure to follow up with the team every day on the solutions designed for the problem.
Leaving it be will lead the members to forget the work done and you’ll probably have to schedule extra time in the meeting to revise the plan details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is brainstorming a tool or a technique?
Brainstorming is generally considered to be a technique. It organizes thoughts into concrete ideas which lead to structured plans. The map is created, however, with the help of a tool.
This could be as basic as a pen and paper, more modernized like Google Documents, or an innovative approach like web applications.
What is the golden rule of brainstorming?
The golden rule of brainstorming is to empower ideas. No idea is ridiculous and no idea deserves harsh criticism. Every plan put forth must be acknowledged.
Although it’s quite difficult and can lead a team astray if not handled well, a brainstorming session should be a safe space for ideas and judgment shouldn’t be entertained unless the agenda isn’t being followed.
What you should not do during brainstorming?
On the list of things to avoid during a brainstorming session, lack of preparedness comes number one.
Make sure to decide on a topic beforehand, the team leader and facilitator are well-versed on the subject and the participants have done their homework.
Does one need skills to brainstorm?
Technically, anyone can brainstorm an idea into a course of action or goals.
However, at a broader level, mind mapping does require a person to have problem-solving skills, a creative outlook as well as the ability to listen to the team actively and respond without judgment.
Brief Summary
Brainstorming tools are one of the most effective ways to come up with concrete plans and strategies for a specific idea.
Whether you’re an innovator, a creative artist, or an enterprise, there’s a mind map tool for everyone.
Try out any one of the 13 above and don’t forget to keep the rules in mind!
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