Creativity is elusive. To succeed, we need to constantly think of new and innovative ideas.
The problem is, most people simply aren’t the creative type.
Even the most creative people in the world have days where they just can’t think of a good idea.
Well, now you can outsource your creativity. ChatGPT is an incredible brainstorming tool and can help you think of new ideas at a scale unimaginable just one year ago.
I want to use ChatGPT to unlock superhuman creativity…
When you start using ChatGPT for brainstorming, you won’t be able to stop. In this article, we’ll give you 20 entry-level prompts to unlock superhuman brainstorming.
We’ll be covering prompts in relation to each of the following areas (so skip to the bit you’re most interested in):
- Brainstorming and idea generation
- Visualization and mapping
- Analytical techniques
- Analogies and external stimuli
- Perspective taking
- Communication techniques
Pro tip: Bookmark this page and come back to it anytime you want AI assistance to think of new ideas
1. Brainstorming & Idea Generation
Brainwriting
Prompt: “Let’s brainstorm ideas for [topic] by writing down as many ideas as you can, then I can build on them with related ideas. Structure your answer using markdown.”
Reverse Brainstorming
Prompt: “We will use reverse brainstorming for [topic] – coming up with intentionally bad ideas can spark creativity and lead us in new directions.”
Worst Possible Idea
Prompt: “Brainstorm intentionally terrible ideas for [topic] to get the creative juices flowing in new directions. Expand on your answers a little, explaining why these ideas are bad.”
Worst possible idea prompt in action
Idea Spurring
Prompt: “Build on the following idea related to [topic]: [idea]. What does it make you think of? Use it as a jumping off point for more ideas.”
Brainstorming Journey
Prompt: “Imagine you’re on a journey related to [topic]. Describe where you are, what you see, who you meet, what you’re thinking – let the scenario spark ideas.”
2. Visualization & Mapping
Mind Mapping
Prompt: “Please create a complete mind map for [topic] starting with a central concept and expanding outward with connected branches of related ideas.”
Concept Fan
You’re going to need to turn on the ‘Show Me Diagrams’ plugin for this prompt.
Prompt: "Here is my objective: [objective]. Fan out from this concept in different directions to generate related ideas. Explain each new idea in a few words.
Use the 'Show Me Diagrams' plugin to create the concept fan. ”
Concept fan prompt in action
3. Analytical Techniques
Assumptions
Prompt: “List your assumptions about [topic]. Then, how can you challenge those assumptions to come up with innovative ideas? Describe your journey.”
SWOT Analysis
Prompt: “Let’s do a SWOT analysis on [topic] considering internal strengths/weaknesses and external opportunities/threats. Then write a conclusion to summarize.”
SCAMPER
Prompt: “Use the SCAMPER checklist to ideate on [topic]. How can we substitute, combine, adapt, modify, put to other uses, eliminate, or reverse? Detail your answers.”
SCAMPER prompt in action
Six Thinking Hats
Prompt: “Use the Six Hats method: the red hat is optimistic, the black hat looks at negatives, etc. Ideate on [topic] from different mindset angles.”
Questioning
Prompt: “Generate questions about [topic], like who, what, when, where, why, how? Turn the questions into ideas.”
Scenarios
Prompt: “Imagine a best case scenario for [topic]: everything goes right. Now imagine a worst case scenario: everything goes wrong. Brainstorm ideas for each.”
4. Analogies & External Stimuli
Analogy Thinking
Prompt: “[Topic] is like what? Identify an analogy, then brainstorm ideas based on properties of the analogy. Explain each idea that follows from this analogy.”
Analogy thinking prompt in action
Trigger Words
Prompt: “Here are some random words: [word1] [word2] [word3]. How might these trigger new ideas related to [topic]?”
Random Stimuli
Prompt: “Use this random [object, quote, image, song] as inspiration for new ideas related to [topic]. Make unlikely connections.”
5. Perspective Taking
Rolestorming
Prompt: “Take on the perspective of a [user, customer, employee] and ideate about [topic] from their point of view. My aim is to find new ways to improve.”
Evil Genius
Prompt: “Pretend you’re an evil genius plotting against [topic]. How would you undermine it? Reverse engineer your evil plans into constructive ideas.”
Outside Perspectives
Prompt: “Bring in different viewpoints to ideate on [topic] and get new perspectives. Develop these different points of view, explaining succinctly why they are relevant in each case.”
6. Communication Techniques
Headline Writing
Prompt: “Come up with [number] of creative headlines or slogans related to [topic] – turn them into full ideas.”
I want to learn more about ChatGPT and AI
As people increasingly incorporate tools like ChatGPT into their lives, it becomes more and more important that we learn how to use these tools to stay competitive in life and business.
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