How Question Brainstorming Sparks Your Creativity

1. Core Definition

Question Brainstorming is a powerful creativity technique that emphasizes the use of open-ended questions to stimulate creative thinking and problem-solving.
This dynamic method encourages participants to generate as many questions as possible related to the problem rather than trying to come up with immediate answers and short-term solutions.
Once the list of questions is set, it may be necessary to prioritize them.
Instead of focusing solely on generating answers, this method encourages participants to formulate questions that probe deeper into the problem at hand and unlock hidden possibilities.

2. Creators and Development Timeline

The origins of Question Brainstorming can be traced to mid-20th-century brainstorming techniques, notably developed by Alex Osborn, though its roots echo the Socratic method’s use of questioning to stimulate critical thinking and reveal assumptions.
The concept of “questions brainstorming,” often referred to as questionstorming or questorming (a variant of traditional brainstorming focused on generating questions rather than ideas), was originally described by Jon Roland in 1985 under the name “Questorming.”
It has since been popularized and expanded upon by authors such as Warren Berger in his 2014 book “A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas” and Hal Gregersen in his 2018 book “Questions Are the Answer: A Breakthrough Approach to Your Most Vexing Problems at Work”.
Question Brainstorming became an essential tool in design thinking, business strategy, and education.

3. Basic Functions

• Stimulating Creativity: Encourages participants to think outside the box by formulating questions that challenge the status quo.
• Enhancing Collaboration: Fosters a collaborative environment where team members build on each other’s questions and ideas.
• Clarifying Problems: Helps to clarify and define the problem more effectively through targeted questioning.
• Generating Diverse Ideas: Promotes a wide range of ideas by allowing participants to explore various angles of a problem.

4. Essence of the Technique

At its heart, Question Brainstorming thrives on the belief that the right question is more powerful than a premature answer. Unlike traditional brainstorming, which races toward solutions, Question Brainstorming lingers in the space of “what if?” and “why not?”—deliberately dismantling assumptions, challenging mental barriers, and creating room for unexpected breakthroughs.
By prioritizing questions, participants engage in a deeper exploration of the subject matter, which often leads to innovative solutions and insights that might not emerge through traditional brainstorming methods. Besides, the profound and unconventional questions change not just the answers—but the questioner themselves.

5. Theoretical Framework

• Problematizing and questioning: It draws from Socratic Inquiry, that uses questions to stimulate critical thinking and self-reflection, and aligns with de Bono’s lateral thinking, which sees questions as tools to sidestep conventional paths.
• Cognitive Flexibility Theory: Encourages diverse ways of framing a problem and helps individuals break free from rigid thinking patterns.
• Group Dynamics: Recognizes the importance of collaborative dialogue in generating ideas, where the collective intelligence of the group enhances the brainstorming process.

6. Specific Rules

• Avoid leading questions that imply solutions.
• Shift perspectives and challenge assumptions by posing unexpected or provocative questions.
• Use open-ended phrasing (“How might we…?” not “Can we…?”).
• Encourage building on others’ questions in group settings (“Why does that matter?” after “What if we tried this?”).
• Use prompts like “What haven’t we considered?”.

7. Procedure

Preparation
• Duration: A typical session lasts between 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the complexity of the problem.
• Space: A comfortable, informal setting that encourages creativity, such as a conference room with whiteboards.
• Materials: Whiteboards, sticky notes, markers or digital tools (Google Docs, MURAL); any relevant background materials related to the topic; timer recommended.
• Number of Participants: Ideally between 3 to 10 participants to ensure diverse input while maintaining manageability (individual or group setting).

8. Recommendations

For Facilitators
• Encourage Participation: Ensure that all voices are heard and valued. Encourage participants to build on each other’s questions.
• Guide the Discussion: Keep the focus on questioning and steer the conversation back if it deviates into judgment or evaluation.
• Use Prompts: Provide initial questions to kickstart the brainstorming process and keep the momentum going (e.g., “What’s the opposite of this assumption?”).

For Participants

• Approach the session with a willingness to explore unconventional ideas and perspectives.
• Embrace absurdity—wild questions often lead to breakthrough solutions.
• Emphasize the formulation of questions rather than jumping to conclusions or solutions.
• Listen actively, use others’ questions as a springboard for your own, fostering a collaborative atmosphere.

9. Main Steps

1. Define the Topic (5 min): Clearly state the issue or challenge to be addressed.
2. Set the Ground Rules (5 min): Establish a non-judgmental environment, explain the no-judgment principle and encourage open-ended questioning.
3. Generate Questions (25 min): Invite participants to formulate as many questions as possible related to the topic. This is done in a free manner without worrying about answers. All questions are recorded.
4. Group Discussion (5 min): Discuss the generated questions, exploring their implications and potential answers (optional).
5. Clustering and Categorization (10 min): Group questions by theme (e.g., logistics, emotions) as categorizing questions by theme (e.g., “Why,” “What if,” “How might we”)
6. Prioritize Questions (5 min): Identify key questions that warrant further exploration or action.
7. Action Planning (5 min): Develop a plan to address the prioritized questions and outline next steps.

10. Examples of Using in Practice and Real Life

1. Business Innovation: A startup struggling with growth uses Question Brainstorming to ask, What if we targeted a different audience? or What hidden customer needs are we not addressing? This led to a new product pivot.
2. Marketing Strategy: A marketing team employed this method to revamp their campaign. Questions such as “What emotions do we want to evoke?” and “How can we reach our audience in new ways?” helped them develop a fresh approach that increased engagement.
3. Personal Life and Creative Activity: An artist faces a creative block. Solo session yields: “What if I painted with my feet?” “Why am I stuck on realism?” She experiments with abstract foot-art, sparking a new exhibition series that sold out in weeks.

11. Adaptations & Variants

1. Solo Version: Individuals write down questions independently, then reflect on their significance.
2. Digital Format: Conduct sessions virtually using collaborative tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams.
3. Reverse Questioning: Instead of asking how to solve a problem, participants ask how to make it worse, leading to insights on potential pitfalls.
4. Themed Questions: Focus on specific themes or areas (e.g., sustainability, technology) to guide the questioning process.
5. Timed Sessions: Implement time limits for generating questions to encourage quick thinking and spontaneity.
6. Role-Based Questioning: Participants ask questions from different perspectives (e.g., customer, competitor, investor).

12. Compatibility with other techniques

• Question Brainstorming pairs exceptionally well with other creativity techniques, such as:
•  «SCAMPER»: Use questions to explore how to Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, or Reverse elements of a problem.
•  «Mind Mapping»: Organize questions visually to uncover connections and patterns.
•  «Six Thinking Hats»: Use questions to explore a problem from multiple perspectives (e.g., emotional, logical, creative).
•  «Design Thinking»: Frame questions around user needs and pain points during the empathy and ideation phases.

13. Advantages

1. Helps clarify the problem and explore it from multiple angles.
2. Forces unconventional thinking by avoiding solution traps.
3. Encourages contributions from all team members, fostering a sense of ownership and collaboration.
4. Uncovers root causes and hidden opportunities.
5. Works for any problem, from corporate strategy to personal goals. No expertise needed.

14. Limitations

1. The process can take longer than traditional brainstorming methods, which may not be suitable for urgent situations.
2. A large volume of questions can lead to confusion if not managed properly, making it difficult to prioritize.
3. Requires Skilled Facilitation: Effective implementation relies heavily on the facilitator’s ability to guide the discussion and maintain focus on questioning.