The key to effective brainstorming is to involve an outsider in the process, a recent Time article advises.
The argument is based on study jointly conducted by three US universities that concluded a new face or dissenting voice can force group members to challenge their assumptions.
The study found groups that included a new or nonconforming team member were generally more productive, but participants often perceived their group work as inefficient or not very collegial.
By comparison, groups without a newcomer were found to be less effective at completing group thinking challenges although members believed the process had worked pleasantly and well.
The researchers say that while adding a newcomer to a group might not always lead to the most feel-good brainstorming sessions, the tension it evokes can translate to brighter ideas.
Comments