What Do You Do With an Idea? With Many Ideas?

Generating ideas isn't simple. But choosing the right one is even harder. There are many ways to ideate well, alone, with a team, or both. The real challenge goes beyond generating creative ideas that address your organization's challenge. It's the ability to choose the right one. When you run an ideation session with a team, there are three pitfalls to watch for: 1. Don't default to the idea the team lead or CEO prefers 2. Make space for the quieter voices in the room 3. Define the scope and purpose of the idea so it can actually be implemented That's exactly why the Decision Funnel was developed, a simple, structured process for moving from a conversation about ideas to a shared, binding decision. The stages of the funnel: - Set criteria, pause and define what matters: feasibility, impact, cost, risk, or alignment with values. Criteria are the compass.

• Idea generation, each participant shares a short, clear idea. Written on a board or sticky notes so everything is visible.
• Discussion, time for explanations, questions, and connecting similar ideas. The goal is to understand the meaning, the upside, and the challenges of each proposal.
• Dot voting, each participant places a set number of dots or stickers on the proposals they find strongest. This reveals which ideas have broad support.
• Hi-Lo mapping, place the leading proposals on an axis of impact vs. effort. Easy to spot quick wins alongside longer-term investments.
• Consensus check, examine the leading proposal and ask: is there anyone who genuinely can't live with it? If there's objection, adjust until there's reasonable comfort for everyone.
• Confidence check, each participant rates confidence in the decision from 0 to 10. Low scores trigger a conversation: what's needed to feel more secure?
• Document and commit, state the decision clearly: what we're doing, who's responsible, and the timeline. Everyone leaves with the same message and a shared commitment.
• Second confidence check, optionally, schedule a brief check-in the next day, not to reopen the decision, but to confirm everyone is aligned on the path. At Seagull Innovation Studio, we integrate this method into workshops and advisory processes, letting teams experience it firsthand. If you're curious how it could work in your organization, let's talk.