To spark fresh ideas, facilitation must create an environment where collaboration flows naturally. Start by understanding team dynamics and context beforehand—this ensures the session addresses real needs. Encourage diverse perspectives by connecting seemingly unrelated ideas and using creative techniques like storytelling or role reversals to challenge conventional thinking. Facilitation isn’t just about guiding the process; it’s about equipping teams to innovate independently. Balance creativity with structure, ensuring ideas are actionable and fostering a culture of curiosity that lasts beyond the session.

Use the Rose-Bud-Thorn method to get feedback AND ideas for improvement in one go. I'm running an internal community for people interested in facilitation. We have weekly sharing meetings; but for the past year, these meetings had the same structure. How to come up with new ideas? For this past Friday, we had scheduled the topic "Rose, Bud, Thorn" method for giving feedback. I realized: "Why not use this to get fresh ideas on how to run our weekly sessions?" The participants shared their "roses" (what they loved), their "thorns" (what they did not like) and - for innovation most importantly - their "buds" (where they saw potential for easy improvements). Lot of great ideas collected in short time!

You could try: Adopting diverse techniques: Use design thinking, brainstorming, or mind mapping to encourage creativity. Challenging assumptions: Pose “what if” scenarios to inspire new perspectives. Encouraging collaboration: Mix cross-functional teams to blend unique skills and insights. Embracing failure: Create a safe environment where risk-taking is valued. Using visuals and props: Incorporate imagery, prototypes, or storytelling to spark inspiration. Leveraging technology: Explore AI tools, idea platforms, or virtual whiteboards for dynamic input.