Individual vs Group Brainstorming

Individual brainstorming is when an individual applies the technique on their own. Whereas in group brainstorming, a group of individuals apply the technique.

With group brainstorming, you can take advantage of the full experience and creativity of all team members. When one member gets stuck with an idea, another member's creativity and experience can take the idea to the next stage. You can develop ideas in greater depth with group brainstorming than you can with individual brainstorming.

Group brainstorming can be risky for individuals. Unusual suggestions may appear to lack value at first sight – this is where you need to chair sessions tightly, so that the group doesn't crush these ideas and stifle creativity.

In individual brainstorming, several studies have shown that individual brainstorming produces more – and often better – ideas than group brainstorming. Also there is no risk of criticism or ridicule for the individual.