How to Get the Most Out of Team Brainstorms

Have you ever had the best idea pop in your brain at 3 a.m., or sat around with your co-workers slugging coffee and brainstorming at master level 1000? We've all had those invigorating moments. The light bulbs above our heads are flashing faster than a group of paparazzi cameras during a Kardashian sighting.

These idea sessions are fun, motivating, and help you generate a vision full of energy, but then the team walks away asking, now what? The key to bringing those ideas to life is as simple as writing them down in a clear plan. Here are my top reasons why you and your team should never let a great idea go unwritten:

• Make it real.

When an idea stays an idea only, it becomes devalued. Writing thoughts down takes them one step closer to reality and fruition. When you first write something down it's a reality check — your first opportunity to get a gut reaction from yourself about the validity of the idea.

• Get feedback.

If you don't write anything down, how are you going to create a strategy for execution? You need a game plan and marching orders. With your plan in writing, you're now also able to share your document and get team feedback. They can provide comments, observations, challenges or affirmations and seeing ideas on paper could spur new ideas. This is crucial to getting alignment and ultimately gaining traction.

• Keep yourself accountable.

That written document doesn't have to be permanent, but it should guide you. Write in milestones or checkpoints as a part of your go-forward strategy. Create measurable learning opportunities so you know how close you're getting toward your goal, or if you're deviating from the course.

• Check your progress.

Finally, check back into your document early and often to see how you're doing on progress toward your goals.

Remember the wise words of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry the next time you or your team start concepting that next big idea- 'A goal without a plan is just a wish.'