5 Tips for a productive brainstorming session at an offsite location
A good brainstorming session is often the start of something great: fresh ideas, innovative solutions, or a new direction for your team. But let’s be honest, not every brainstorming session generates energy or usable input. Fortunately, with the right approach and location, you can make all the difference.
Want to get the most out of your session? Then it’s smart to consider an offsite location. Step away from your familiar work environment and focus fully on developing new ideas together. In this article, we share five practical tips to make your offsite brainstorming session truly productive.
1. Choose a location that sparks creativity
The environment in which you meet influences how people think and collaborate. A brainstorming session calls for a different setting than a standard meeting. Think of an open, bright space with flexible seating, plenty of writing surfaces, and materials that invite visual thinking. Acoustics, temperature, and lighting also play a key role in the atmosphere and effectiveness of your session.
BCN offers several meeting venues across the Netherlands with rooms specifically designed for brainstorming sessions. Think of creative spaces with ergonomic furniture, digital tools, and, of course, great coffee and lunch. This creates an atmosphere where ideas flow more easily and participants feel truly engaged.
2. Start with a clear goal in mind
A good brainstorming session doesn’t start with post-its, it starts with a sharp question. What do you want to achieve with this session? Do you want to generate new ideas, solve a problem, or make decisions? By clearly communicating the goal in advance, you provide direction and prevent participants from drifting off or being unsure of their role.
Structure doesn’t have to limit creativity, quite the opposite actually. Begin with a short explanation of the goal, divide the session into phases (for example, diverging and converging), and consider working with a schedule. The combination of freedom and focus makes brainstorming much more effective.
3. Keep the energy high with variety and movement
Nothing kills creativity faster than a static session where everyone sits at a table for two hours. Productive brainstorming is all about energy. Vary your methods, use short energizers, and get participants moving. For example, have them discuss a thought-provoking question while walking in pairs, or post ideas on the wall for others to respond to actively.
An external location helps with this because you are not limited by your usual office setup and can use different spaces or breakout zones. At BCN, rooms can be easily rearranged, allowing you to switch between layouts, such as from a circle to a theater setup, or to small group work areas.
4. Use materials that stimulate creativity
During a brainstorming session, you want people to think differently than they usually do. Visual methods can help a lot. Think of flip charts, whiteboards, multi-colored markers, post-its, templates, or even playful materials like LEGO or creative canvases. Anything that challenges participants to approach ideas differently contributes to better results.
Many BCN locations provide these materials as standard or can easily arrange them for you. This means you don’t need to bring anything yourself and can start right away. Digital tools, such as touchscreen displays or hybrid meeting screens, can also support the thinking process.
5. End your session with concrete agreements
A brainstorming session is only successful if something happens with the ideas afterward. Always close your session with a moment of reflection and action. Which ideas have the most potential? What are the next steps? Who will take responsibility, and when will there be a follow-up? By establishing this clearly, you prevent good plans from being forgotten and show that the team’s input is valued.
Tip: Reserve the final fifteen minutes of your session for a group wrap-up. Use a visual board or tool to highlight priorities and create a short action list right away. This increases engagement and makes your brainstorming session truly results-oriented.
Why brainstorm at BCN?
At BCN, we understand how important the right environment is for a successful brainstorming session. That’s why we offer not only practical meeting rooms but also creative spaces designed to help you get the most out of your collaboration. From our extensive facilities to our welcoming service, we make sure everything runs smoothly so you and your team can focus on generating ideas.
Whether you’re organizing a creative session, evaluation, training, or strategy meeting, our venues are flexible, professional, and fully tailored to your goals. And with locations across the Netherlands, there’s always one nearby.
Ready to brainstorm beyond the ordinary?
Contact us and discover which BCN location best fits your session.
Written by
Anne Schroots
Ik ben Anne Schroots, 23 jaar, en ik schrijf voor BCN blogartikelen over vergadertrends en hun aanbod. Schrijven is mijn passie sinds mijn eerste buurtkrantje op 8-jarige leeftijd. Ik heb ervaring met corporate stories, teksten en nieuwsbrieven. In mijn vrije tijd ski ik, doe ik aan ballet, zingen en bakken. Ik kijk ernaar uit om jullie meer te vertellen over BCN!
