Bogglestorm

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Generate a wide pool of distinct ideas while identifying novel responses that others missed.

Use it when: Use this during problem identification, post-training reviews, or team brainstorming when standard discussions stall or only a few vocal voices speak up.

Skip it when: Skip when the challenge requires an intricate, multi-step proposal rather than discrete, concise items.

Group arrangement: Individual silent generation followed by whole-room scoring and validation.

Timing: UWT 20-minute allocation adapted from the source framegame format to allow complete scoring for groups up to 24.

Materials and tools

• 1 sheet of paper per participant
• 1 pen or pencil per participant
• 1 countdown timer
• 1 whiteboard or digital flipchart for final capture

Before participants arrive

1. Prepare and display one clear prompt requiring one-word or short-phrase answers.
2. Distribute paper and writing utensils to every participant.

Say this to open

We are going to generate as many distinct answers as possible to one question. Work alone first. When time ends, you score points only for answers nobody else has written down. If someone else wrote your idea, cross it off. Aim for valid but less obvious angles.

How to run it

1. Introduce prompt and rules 2 minutes

   Display the chosen prompt. Read the opening script. Explain the format: write short phrases or single words, one per line. Clarify that duplicate ideas across lists will cancel each other out later. For example, if the prompt is 'What barriers prevent timely communication between project teams?', acceptable entries include 'timezone gaps', 'unclear handoffs', or 'siloed tools'.

2. Individual silent generation 5 minutes

   Start the timer for 5 minutes. Participants write as many distinct answers as possible on their sheets without conferring. Stop writing immediately when the timer sounds.

3. Count and verify read-aloud 9 minutes

   Ask everyone to number their items. Call out numbers descending from 20 to find the person with the most items. Start a 9-minute timer. That leader reads each item aloud. Anyone holding a matching idea raises a hand, and all holders strike it off. Once the leader finishes, call for remaining uncrossed items from other participants around the room. Move in clockwise order, letting each person share one surviving item at a time while others strike matches, until the timer chimes.

4. Debrief and capture 4 minutes

   Each person tallies their remaining uncrossed items to find their final score. Identify the highest scorer. Record up to 5 top novel, insightful items on the whiteboard. Ask 1 or 2 debrief questions to examine common assumptions versus overlooked solutions.

Debrief questions

• Which crossed-out items represent our most common default assumptions?
• Which unique idea offers an actionable approach we usually overlook?

Finished output: A vetted inventory of unique and common ideas on paper, with up to 5 top novel items transcribed to the group board.

Remote

Run in an open video meeting. Participants write lists offline during the sprint. To establish the leader, participants type item counts in chat. The leader reads aloud item by item; others type 'match' in chat to eliminate duplicates. Afterward, call on participants with unread unique items in alphabetical order by first name to share one surviving item each while others type 'match' to cross out duplicates. Transcribe up to 5 surviving novel items into a shared document.

Hybrid

In-person and remote participants write silently on local paper or documents. In-person participants show hand tallies while remote participants type counts in chat to identify the leader. The leader reads aloud. In-person members raise hands and remote members type 'match' to cancel duplicates. After the leader finishes, alternate turns between in-person participants (moving clockwise) and remote participants (alphabetical order by first name), letting each share one surviving item at a time until the step ends.

Access and participation choices

• Participants may use voice-to-text, typing, or an assigned scribe instead of handwriting.
• Observers are welcome to listen and participate in the debrief discussion, but their lists are not scored and their items do not eliminate others' duplicates.

If the session gets stuck

Participants debate whether two differently phrased items mean the same thing.

Ask the room for a quick show of hands. If more than half consider them equivalent, strike both out.

A participant lists overly broad concepts to cover every possible answer.

Remind the room that vague items do not qualify if they fail to address the specific prompt, and ask the group to vote on borderline entries.

Terms used here

• Framegame: An instructional game framework that stays the same while the facilitator swaps in different topics or prompt questions.