In meetings where people are working together to create something, the nominal group technique provides a very structured and systematic way to generate and prioritize ideas. It works best with a group of 4-10 people. With fewer, you lack a variety of viewpoints. With more, the activity can become unwieldy and time-consuming.

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Video: Using the nominal group technique (2:22 min.)

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Visual example: 
Click to expand – will open in a new window

 

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Step by step:

1. Introduce the topic: Start by presenting the topic or question that the group needs to discuss or make a decision about. Make sure everyone understands the topic and its importance.

2. Individual idea generation: Give each person a set amount of time to write down their ideas related to the topic. Silence works best at this stage, allowing everyone to focus in and document exactly what they think.

3. Share ideas one by one: After individuals have written their ideas, go around the group, and have each person share one idea at a time. Write down each idea on a whiteboard or flipchart where everyone can see it. (It's even easier if people have written each of their ideas on sticky notes – as each person reports, you can collect their notes and tack them onto the main board.)

4. Clarify and discuss: Once all ideas are shared and displayed, take some time for the group to discuss and clarify each idea. Encourage questions in order to strengthen understanding.

5. Rank or vote on ideas: After discussing all ideas, have each group member privately rank or vote on the ideas they believe are the most important or relevant. This can help identify which ideas the group values the most.

6. Compile and finalize: Collect the rankings or votes from each group member and compile the results. Highlight the ideas that received the most votes or highest rankings to focus on those as potential solutions or decisions.

7. Discuss top-ranked ideas: Finally, discuss the top-ranked ideas as a group. Dive deeper into these ideas, considering the pros and cons, feasibility, and implications. Use this discussion to make a final decision or develop a plan based on the group's collective input and preferences.

Here are tips for using this tool in an online meeting: • Use polls for anonymous voting on ideas. • Collect and display ideas anonymously via chat.