The Holy Grail, Life of Brian, The Meaning of Life and the legendary Flying Circus might never have existed without effective brainstorming. How did Monty Python’s creative process work?
In one lecture, John Cleese told the audience that their early brainstorming sessions looked more like contests for the best idea. Everyone arrived with a finished concept that they wanted to push through at all costs. They soon realised, however, that creating together was far more productive —and that is how their singular style emerged. Over time, they developed a set of principles that helped them turn rivalry into creative collaboration.
If you want to run an effective brainstorming session, here are some tips straight from the legends of British comedy.
1. Set clear rules
Paradoxical though it may sound, well-formulated rules can support participants’ spontaneity and creativity. Ideally, ask someone from outside the group to ensure they are followed. The creative process can then unfold freely while the facilitator keeps it running smoothly. Also, summarise regularly what you have discussed. This gives the session structure and makes individual ideas easier to navigate.
2. Adopt a tortoise mindset
According to Guy Claxton, there are two types of mindset: hare and tortoise. The hare mindset is geared towards rapid responses and problem-solving; we use it most often when rushed or stressed. The tortoise mindset, by contrast, is reflective and associative, making it better suited to generating interesting ideas. How can this way of thinking be applied in a group?
The key factor is enough time to think. If possible, give your colleagues a brief summary of the topic before the meeting. They will have time to reflect and arrive with specific ideas or questions.
3. Brainstorm individually first
Monty Python followed this rule especially when creating new sketches. Each member wrote several ideas independently, which they then discussed and developed together.
This approach is ideal if you want to make full use of each participant’s initiative. Before the meeting, ask them to write down 10 ideas on the topic. The first 4 usually come from the hare mindset, while the 5th or 6th idea is often the best. To avoid working through an enormous number of items, ask colleagues to select no more than 3 that they consider their best. Your brainstorming session will then begin with concrete material and can explore the topic in greater depth.
4. Think like children
Robert Fulghum wrote about it: everything we really need to know, we learn in kindergarten. What is distinctive about the way young children think?
They do not plan an ideal strategy in advance. They work with their first ideas and then improve them. They build one thought on another, greatly expanding the structure of their ideas. In this way, they use the power of the group to create something none of them would have conceived alone.
Kristýna Tabačíková