Overview

Unlock creative solutions by working backwards. In a Reverse Brainstorm, teams first generate all the ways to cause the problem — then flip those ideas into solutions. This approach reliably surfaces unconventional thinking that forward brainstorming misses, and it's especially effective for problems teams feel stuck on.

Key Features

• Problem statement definition zone
• Reverse brainstorm canvas: "How would we make this problem WORSE?"
• Flip exercise section for inverting each "worse" idea into a potential solution
• Solution evaluation area with feasibility and impact scoring
• Top insights frame for capturing the most promising flipped ideas

How to Use

1. Write the problem statement clearly in the header zone using the Text tool — specificity matters here
2. Ask the group: "How would we guarantee this problem gets worse?" — add ideas as sticky notes using Quick Actions, no filtering
3. After 5–7 minutes, flip each negative idea: if the "worse" idea is "never communicate updates to stakeholders," the flip is "create a proactive stakeholder update cadence"
4. Write each flipped solution as a new sticky note next to the original — use a different color to distinguish them
5. Dot vote on the flipped solutions that seem most feasible and impactful — move winners to the insights frame

Benefits

Reverse brainstorming breaks creative blocks because thinking about failure is easier than thinking about success. The flip is where the magic is — some of the most obvious solutions only become obvious when you arrive at them backwards.

Brainstorm