One of the most overlooked but essential tools for idea nurturing is what I call “Indicate Behavior.” It’s the act of clearly signaling whether a brainstorming session or meeting is meant for expansive thinking (idea generation) or reductive thinking (evaluation and refinement).

Trying to brainstorm and critique simultaneously is like mixing oil and water. People either freeze up or default to safe, surface-level ideas.

These cues break critical thinking patterns and invite curiosity, fostering psychological safety by telling the brain, “It’s OK to imagine here.”

Ideas don’t grow in fear. They grow in environments where risk-taking feels shared. A 2024 study showed that group-based play increases psychological safety by shifting the perceived risk of speaking up from the individual to the group. When people engage in playful, low-stakes interactions, they’re more willing to take creative risks and support each other’s thinking.