Due to the great feedback we received from our previous Virtual Brainstorming show, we will be doing another one this week. Our goal at the end of the show is to come up with a list of suggested features for our sponsor, Zoom. They have experienced a lot of growth during the COVID-19 pandemic and has seen new usage in a lot of unique ways.

Part of today’s objective is to show how you guys can conduct a virtual brainstorm by yourselves using Jamboard. The process will help you generate tons of new ideas on whatever issues, opportunities, or needs you and your organization may face.

We will be dealing with three questions from the Killer Questions Card Deck derived from my book “Beyond the Obvious.” On the front of a Killer Questions Card, there is a set of questions. On the back, there is what I like to call “sparking questions,” which are there to push you to the next idea or unique insight. The card deck consists of who, what, and how cards that come in gold, blue, and green.

Today we will be focusing on who and what. Question number one asks, “Who is using my product in a way I never expected?”

The sparking questions are: “What problems and needs are you looking to address? Are you too focused on what you believe your customer’s problems and needs are that you are missing out on a potential opportunity?”.

The second sparking question is, “How can you identify existing customers and observe how they use your product?”.

Thirdly, “Is there a way to allow your potential customers to play with and use your product without giving them specific parameters on how and when they should use it?”.

Let’s hop onto Jamboard to get this session going:

Question number two asks, “What features of my product create unanticipated passion”? 

The sparking questions are, “What are the features that have elicited the strongest emotional response from my customers?”, “How do you ensure these are carried forward both in your current and future products?” and “How do you avoid killing the passion?”.

Let’s jump into brainstorming:

Question number three asks, “What emotional, psychological, or status benefits could people derive from using my product”? 

The sparking questions are, “Does your product create a connection with its customers that goes beyond just being a good solution to their needs?”, “Can you refine it to reflect the changing needs and desires of your customers?”, “Is the emotional connection literally between the customer and the product, or between the customer and what the product signifies?” and “Are there good or interesting reasons to resist an emotional connection and prevent them from happening?”.

Let’s hop on Jamboard and crank out some ideas:

Based on thinking deeply about these three questions, what new features would you present to Zoom? Let’s hop back on Jamboard to get some ideas going:

Thanks for listening to the show. Do you have a topic, opportunity, or problem you would like to propose for a Virtual Brainstorm? Send it to me at [email protected]. Check out the brainstorm for this show that I did on Jamboard here.

To know more about our ideation and doing a virtual brainstorming for Zoom features, listen to this week's show: Virtual Brainstorming: Innovating Ideas for New Zoom Features.