Group Techniques to Generate Creativity

Brainstorming-Groups generate as many ideas as possible,listing ideas on a chart so that group members may modify them or combine them to create additional ideas.
Criticism is not allowed during brainstorming,nor is evaluation of ideas.

Storyboarding-An adaptation of brainstorming,but it is primarily nonverbal so articulate group members are not able to dominate the process.Storyboarding uses a process similar to parliamentary procedure to gain support of an idea before it can remain part of the discussion.Storyboarding allows group members to produce data and solution to problems generating ideas off of previous suggestions.

Nominal Group Technique-Focuses attention on individual members' ideas by having members write down their ideas/solution on their own before sharing them with the group.ideas are all recorded,everyone votes to prioritize ideas,then discussion is held on only the top ones before another vote is taken .This technique allows everyone to participate and contribute ideas before the group reaches its decision.

Roadblocks to creativity
Thinking there is one right answer-Many of us have the tendency to stop looking for alternative right answers after the first answer has been found.Often it is the third,fifth or tenth right answer that is what we need to solve a problem in an innovative way.
"That's not logical" --Logic is an important creative thinking tool when you are searching for ideas ,however,excessive logical thinking can short circuit your creative process.

Following the rules --you often have to break out of pattern to discover another.
Being practical -- practical people know how to get into an open frame of mind,listen to their imagination and build on the ideas they find there.

Avoiding ambiguity --Too much specificity can stifle your imagination!
Being afraid of making a mistake --Errors are a sign that you are diverging from the norm.if you are not failing every now and then it is a sign you are not being very innovative.