Try the Gestures Icebreaker for More Creative Ideas

It is well known that our physical attitude can affect our mental attitude.  If our posture is more positive then our thinking is more positive.  Researchers Slepian and Ambady report an experiment in the Journal of Experimental Psychology.  They had some subjects move their arms in big fluid movements and other subjects moved their arms in short, precise movements.  Then everyone took a creativity test.  The people in the first group with the fluid movements scored 24% higher in their creativity scores.

So before your next idea generation session try this gestures exercise.  Get everyone to stand up and move away from each other.  They then make gestures following your instructions:

1. “We will be open to ideas.”  Everyone raises their arms and gathers them in as though receiving large bundles.
2. “We want big ideas.” People stretch out their arms as far as they can.
3.  “We want many ideas.” People wave their arms around.
4.  “We want funny ideas.”  Everyone laughs out loud.
5.  “We want wild ideas.”  People show their wildest expressions.
6.  ” We will break the rules.”  People mime snapping a long stick.
7.  ” We will look in different directions.”  Everyone stares at the front of the room, then everyone turns to view the left side, the right side and then the back of the room.
8.  “Thank you.  Please sit down.”

This little icebreaker should be short, energetic and fun.  It will raise energy levels and affect how people think and behave.  You can refer back to it later as you run the brainstorm sessions.  You can use the gestures as you encourage people to be open to ideas or look in fresh directions.  I am sure that you will get more and better ideas.

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Paul Sloane writes, speaks and leads workshops on creativity, innovation, and leadership. He is the author of The Innovative Leader and editor of A Guide to Open Innovation and Crowdsourcing, published both published by Kogan-Page. Follow him @PaulSloane