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- So many ideas. Zero execution.
So many ideas. Zero execution.
A simple post-brainstorm process your remote team will actually use.
Perle Laouenan
June 10, 2025
Hello, hello,
A month or so ago, I hosted a mini-workshop on designing rituals, rhythms, and routines in remote organisations. At the start, we explored the biggest challenges people face when trying to connect remote teams.
And one particular challenge really stood out:
“We come up with lots of wonderful ideas for connecting (collaboration, shared learning goals, building new products, fun etc) but have a hard time creating follow-up”.
It’s so relatable. The energy is high, ideas are flying, everyone’s nodding enthusiastically, and it feels like something special is being sparked.
And then, when it comes to the actual execution.
Crickets…
Not because people didn’t care.
Not because the ideas weren’t good.
But because we didn’t design for the after.
That’s the trap so many remote teams fall into. We put a ton of effort into the gathering itself (the meeting, the offsite, the jam session), but we forget to create the scaffolding that keeps the momentum alive once everyone logs off.
🛠️ TRY THIS: Design for the After
Next time you are ending a brainstorming session or idea sprint, use the last 30 minutes to follow this sequence:
1. Impact-Effort Matrix
→ As a group, map the ideas based on their impact and effort.*
→ Prioritise the high impact / low effort ideas.
→ For high impact / high effort ones, assign a project owner to scope next steps.
2. 15% Solutions
→ Ask: “What’s one small action you can take right away to move this forward?”
→ Everyone should leave with a personal next step—no matter how small.
3. Schedule a 3-week check-in
→ Book a 1-hour follow-up now.
→ Project owners give a go/no-go update on their scoped ideas.
→ Everyone shares where they are with their 15% solution.
(Use a tool like Mentimeter to collect quick individual updates and keep it efficient.)
*Doing it online? You can use Mentimeter’s 2×2 matrix to quickly decide as a group which ideas you can start with first.
Designing for connection is one thing. Designing for follow-through is where the magic happens.
If your team tends to drift after the brainstorm, try turning “that was a great session” into “look what we built from it.”
Let me know if you try this, I'd love to hear how it goes.
Curiously connecting,
Always,
Perle
p.s. I will be co-hosting a masterclass in facilitating big groups online in September. Join us.
