21 AI prompts & questions to spark your team's next great idea

Summary

In this guide, you will learn:

• 21 targeted prompts organized by goal (problem-solving, innovation, customer-centric thinking, future planning) to transform unproductive brainstorming into breakthrough sessions

• AI-powered amplification with specific techniques for pre-session prep, real-time idea expansion, and post-session synthesis to maximize your team's creative output

• Structured execution framework using Miro's visual workspace and specialized templates to move from initial concepts to actionable outcomes

• Real-time collaboration tools that turn brainstorming from one-time events into ongoing innovation processes with living, evolving boards

Staring at a blank whiteboard while your team sits in awkward silence? You're not alone. Even the most creative teams hit walls when brainstorming sessions lack direction. The good news is that the right prompt can transform a stagnant meeting into a breakthrough moment that drives real innovation.

Great brainstorming isn't about waiting for lightning to strike. It's about creating the conditions where brilliant ideas naturally emerge. The secret lies in asking the right questions at the right time—and having a collaborative space where every voice gets heard.

Why great brainstorming starts with the right question

Think of brainstorming questions as creative catalysts. They overcome the dreaded "blank page syndrome" that kills momentum before it starts. A well-crafted prompt gives your team a specific target to aim for instead of wandering aimlessly through abstract concepts.

The best prompts do three things: they focus creativity on solving actual problems, they encourage diverse perspectives from every team member, and they push thinking beyond obvious solutions. When combined with Miro's AI-powered visual canvas, these prompts become even more powerful—helping your team build on ideas visually and iterate in real-time.

21 Brainstorming questions and prompts for any challenge

These prompts are organized by goal, so you can jump straight to what your team needs most. Each one is designed to unlock different types of thinking and drive actionable outcomes.

For problem-solving & process improvement

1. What is the biggest bottleneck in our current workflow, and what would removing it look like? This prompt helps teams identify concrete pain points and visualize solutions. Use Miro's Ideas Parking Lot Matrix to categorize potential fixes by impact and effort.

2. If we had to solve this problem with zero budget, what would we do? Constraints spark creativity. When you remove the "throw money at it" option, teams find ingenious workarounds that often become the best solutions.

3. What's something our competitors do that we could do 10x better? Turn competitive analysis into innovation fuel. This prompt pushes teams beyond copying to reimagining entire approaches.

4. Let's do a "pre-mortem": It's one year from now and this project failed. What went wrong? Failure analysis before failure happens. This exercise reveals hidden risks and helps teams build stronger foundations from the start.

5. What are we currently doing that is a waste of time, and how could we reallocate that energy? Sometimes innovation means stopping the wrong things. This prompt helps teams find time and resources for what matters most.

For innovation & new product ideas

6. What product or feature would our customers be devastated to lose? How can we double down on that? Customer obsession meets strategic focus. This prompt reveals your true differentiators and shows where to concentrate your innovation efforts.

7. If we were building our company from scratch today, what would we do differently? Fresh eyes on familiar problems. This question helps teams break free from "that's how we've always done it" thinking.

8. What technology trend (e.g., AI, automation) are we not using that could transform our business? Stay ahead of disruption by embracing it. Use this prompt with Miro AI to rapidly prototype how emerging tech could enhance your offerings.

9. What's a "crazy" idea that might just work? Permission to think wildly. The best innovations often start as ideas that seem impossible—until they become inevitable.

10. What would a "deluxe" version of our product look like? What about a "lite" version? Explore the edges of your value proposition. These variations often reveal new market opportunities and clarify your core offering.

11. If a major brand like Apple or Nike entered our industry, what would their product look like? Borrow brilliance from outside your sector. This cross-industry thinking often produces breakthrough insights.

For customer-centric thinking

12. What is one thing we could do to make our customers' lives noticeably easier? Simple question, powerful results. Customer experience improvements often drive more value than feature additions.

13. What is a common customer complaint we could turn into a positive feature? Transform friction into advantage. The What So What Now What template helps you dig deeper into complaint patterns and solution paths.

14. Describe our ideal customer's perfect day. Where does our product/service fit in? Context creates clarity. Understanding your customer's full journey reveals new integration opportunities and experience improvements.

15. What are our customers really trying to achieve when they use our product? Look beyond features to outcomes. This prompt helps teams focus on the job your product was hired to do.

16. If we could ask our entire user base one question, what would it be? Prioritize your curiosity. This exercise often reveals the most important research questions you're not asking yet.

For "Blue Sky" and future-thinking

17. What would our company look like in 10 years if we were wildly successful? Vision drives decisions. Paint a picture of your future to guide today's choices.

18. What assumption about our industry is completely wrong? Challenge conventional wisdom. The biggest opportunities often hide behind industry "truths" that aren't true anymore.

19. If we had an unlimited budget and a team of experts, what would we build? Remove constraints to reveal desires. Then work backward to find achievable steps toward that vision.

20. What service could we offer that seems impossible today but might be possible tomorrow? Technology makes the impossible routine. This prompt helps teams prepare for tomorrow's opportunities today.

21. How can we turn our product into a platform? Platform thinking multiplies impact. Explore how your solution could become the foundation for an entire ecosystem.

How to use these questions in a brainstorming session

A brilliant question won't save a poorly structured session. Here's how to set your team up for breakthrough thinking.

Step 1: Set the stage

Choose 1-2 questions that directly align with your session goal. Don't try to tackle everything at once—focused sessions produce better results than scattered ones.

Step 2: Choose your canvas

Move beyond traditional whiteboards to Miro's innovation workspace. Our brainstorming templates provide structure while maintaining flexibility. Try the SCAMPER method for systematic innovation or Reverse Brainstorming to approach problems from unexpected angles.

Digital sticky notes capture every idea without the physical limitations of paper. Built-in timers keep energy high and prevent overthinking. Most importantly, everyone can contribute simultaneously—no more waiting for turns or fighting over marker space.

Step 3: Encourage all ideas

Establish psychological safety with the classic "no bad ideas" rule. Every contribution builds the foundation for breakthrough thinking, even if individual ideas don't make the final cut.

Step 4: Cluster and prioritize

After ideation, group related concepts using Miro's intuitive clustering features. Then employ dot voting or the Disney Creative Strategy template to identify the most promising directions for deeper exploration.

Pro tip: Use Miro AI during this phase to help synthesize patterns across ideas and suggest connections you might have missed.

Supercharge your prompts with AI assistance

Large language models can transform your brainstorming sessions from good to exceptional. Think of AI as your creative co-pilot—not replacing human insight, but amplifying your team's collective intelligence.

Pre-Session AI Preparation

Before your team gathers, use AI to refine your chosen prompts for maximum impact. Try this approach:

"I'm running a brainstorming session for [your specific context]. I want to use this prompt: [insert your chosen prompt]. Can you suggest 3 variations of this prompt that might uncover different angles or insights?"

This gives you backup prompts if your initial question doesn't spark the energy you need. AI can also help you anticipate potential roadblocks: "What assumptions might prevent my team from thinking creatively about this prompt? How can I frame it to encourage out-of-the-box thinking?"

See one example of Miro's AI Docs generator can be used to help you in this stage:

Real-Time Session Support

During your brainstorming session, AI becomes your instant research assistant and pattern recognition tool. When ideas start flowing, you can quickly validate concepts or explore adjacent possibilities:

"My team just generated these ideas: [list your top 5-7 ideas]. What are some related concepts or improvements we haven't considered yet?"

Use AI to push ideas further: "Take this concept [describe one promising idea] and imagine how it might evolve in 2-3 years as technology advances. What would the next iteration look like?"

Check how the mind map generator can help you with this:

Post-Session Synthesis

After brainstorming wraps up, AI excels at finding patterns your team might miss. Upload your session notes or Miro board screenshot and ask:

"Analyze these brainstorming ideas and identify the top 3 themes or patterns. What underlying customer needs do these solutions address?"

AI can also help prioritize next steps: "Based on these ideas, what are the 3 most actionable concepts we could prototype or test within the next 30 days?"

Use the board as your prompt and summarize all the information in just a few clicks. Just select all the content on the board, click on the assistant menu, select Miro AI and Document to summarize or add a customized prompt.

Bring your brainstorming to life with Miro

The difference between good ideas and great outcomes is execution. Miro transforms brainstorming from a one-time event into an ongoing innovation process.

Our AI-powered features help you iterate faster and think more broadly. Generate mind maps automatically with our Basic Mind Map template, then let Miro AI suggest new branches based on your content. Try Six Thinking Hats to ensure you're exploring every angle, or use Brainwriting when you need quieter team members to contribute equally.

Real-time collaboration means remote and hybrid teams stay perfectly synchronized. Everyone sees ideas develop live, comments appear instantly, and decisions happen faster. Your brainstorming board becomes a living document that evolves from initial concepts through final implementation.

Ready to transform your next brainstorming session? Discover how Miro AI can supercharge your team's creative process and turn your best ideas into breakthrough innovations.

Author: Miro Team Last update: August 19, 2025