How to Brainstorm in ClickUp

/ ClickUp / By

How to Brainstorm in ClickUp Step by Step

ClickUp makes it easy to capture ideas, collaborate with your team, and turn winning concepts into action. This how-to guide walks you through using built-in views, docs, and templates to run effective brainstorming sessions from start to finish.

Instead of juggling multiple Google Docs and scattered notes, you can centralize everything in one workspace, keep ideas searchable, and connect them directly to tasks and timelines.

Why Move Brainstorming from Google Docs to ClickUp

Traditional Google Docs brainstorming can become messy and hard to track. With ClickUp, every idea lives inside a structured workspace where you can assign owners, add context, and follow through with execution.

Key advantages include:

  • Centralized docs, comments, and discussions
  • Visual Whiteboards for mapping ideas
  • Tagging, custom fields, and statuses for ideas
  • Easy conversion of ideas into tasks or projects
  • Templates for repeatable brainstorming workflows

The original breakdown of these methods is explained in the ClickUp brainstorming templates article, which this guide translates into a practical, step-by-step process.

Set Up Your ClickUp Space for Brainstorming

Before you run your first session, take a few minutes to create a simple structure in ClickUp so every brainstorming effort feels organized and consistent.

Create a Dedicated Brainstorming Space in ClickUp

  1. Log in to your ClickUp workspace.

  2. Create a new Space called something like “Brainstorming” or “Idea Lab”.

  3. Add one or more Folders for key areas, such as “Product Ideas”, “Marketing Campaigns”, or “Operations”.

  4. Within each folder, create Lists for specific initiatives (for example, “Q3 Campaign Concepts”).

This structure keeps all brainstorming notes, tasks, and supporting docs easy to find, even months later.

Choose the Right ClickUp Views for Ideas

Inside each brainstorming List, enable the views that best match your team’s style:

  • List view for structured, spreadsheet-like idea tracking
  • Board view for drag-and-drop idea stages (Backlog, Shortlist, Approved)
  • Doc view for freeform notes and meeting agendas
  • Whiteboard view for visual mind maps and flows

Using multiple views lets you brainstorm freely, then refine and prioritize ideas in a more structured way.

Run a Brainstorming Session in ClickUp Docs

Docs in ClickUp are ideal when you want a familiar writing experience but with better organization and collaboration than a standalone Google Doc.

Step 1: Create a Brainstorming Doc in ClickUp

  1. Open the relevant List for your topic.

  2. Click to add a new Doc and name it, for example, “Feature Ideas – March”.

  3. Add sections for Agenda, Ground Rules, and Idea Capture.

Because the doc lives inside ClickUp, you can easily link tasks, mention people, and attach related resources.

Step 2: Collaborate in Real Time

Invite your team and brainstorm directly in the ClickUp doc.

  • Use headings for categories (User Experience, Growth, Automation).
  • Add bulleted lists to rapidly log ideas without editing.
  • Use @mentions to assign follow-ups or ask clarifying questions.
  • Leave comments instead of inline edits to keep raw ideas intact.

This preserves the original brainstorming energy while still letting you review and refine later.

Step 3: Turn Ideas into ClickUp Tasks

  1. Scan your doc and highlight promising ideas.

  2. For each chosen idea, create a task directly from the doc (or copy it into a task).

  3. Assign a owner, due date, and relevant custom fields like Impact or Effort.

  4. Link the task back to the brainstorming doc so context stays connected.

This is the step that most traditional Google Docs workflows miss—clear ownership and next actions inside the same platform.

Use ClickUp Whiteboards for Visual Brainstorming

For teams that think visually, Whiteboards in ClickUp are a powerful upgrade from static diagrams and screenshots.

Step 1: Create a Whiteboard in ClickUp

  1. In your brainstorming List, add a Whiteboard view.

  2. Name it after your session, such as “Onboarding Flow Ideas”.

  3. Choose a blank canvas or a simple layout to start.

Whiteboards allow you to blend sticky notes, shapes, and real tasks in one visual space.

Step 2: Capture and Organize Ideas Visually

During the session:

  • Use sticky notes to jot down each idea.
  • Group notes by theme or user journey stage.
  • Draw arrows and connectors to show relationships.
  • Color-code notes by priority, owner, or department.

This approach helps teams see patterns that might be missed in a linear document format.

Step 3: Convert Whiteboard Items into ClickUp Tasks

  1. Select promising sticky notes or shapes.

  2. Convert them into tasks directly on the Whiteboard.

  3. Assign owners, set due dates, and move tasks into the appropriate List or project.

  4. Leave the Whiteboard intact so you can revisit the original map later.

This keeps your visual brainstorming space alive while ensuring concrete work moves forward in ClickUp.

Build Repeatable Brainstorming Templates in ClickUp

To avoid rebuilding the same structure each time, turn your best session setups into templates in ClickUp.

Template a Brainstorming Doc

  1. Open a well-structured brainstorming doc.

  2. Include sections like Objectives, Agenda, Idea Dump, Ranking, and Next Steps.

  3. Click to save it as a Doc template in ClickUp.

  4. Share it with your team so anyone can spin up a new session in seconds.

Template a Brainstorming List or Board

  1. Create a List with sample statuses such as “Collected”, “Shortlisted”, “Approved”, “On Hold”.

  2. Add custom fields for Impact, Effort, and Owner.

  3. Include a sample view set: List, Board, Doc, and Whiteboard.

  4. Save the List as a template inside ClickUp.

Next time you need to brainstorm, simply apply the template and start adding ideas.

Prioritize and Track Ideas in ClickUp

Once your ideas are captured, the real value comes from prioritizing and implementing them effectively in ClickUp.

Score and Rank Ideas

Use ClickUp custom fields to create a lightweight scoring system:

  • Impact (1–5)
  • Effort (1–5)
  • Confidence (optional)

Then:

  1. Create a List view grouped or sorted by Impact or a calculated score.

  2. Filter for high-impact, low-effort ideas to implement first.

  3. Label ideas with tags such as “Quick Win” or “Long Term”.

Turn Ideas into Projects

For any idea that becomes a real initiative:

  • Create a dedicated List or Folder in ClickUp.
  • Move or link the original idea task into the new location.
  • Attach the brainstorming doc or Whiteboard for historical context.
  • Use ClickUp views like Gantt or Calendar to plan execution.

This end-to-end flow ensures no idea gets lost between brainstorming and delivery.

Improve Your ClickUp Brainstorming Workflow Over Time

The best brainstorming systems evolve as your team changes. Regularly refine your ClickUp setup by:

  • Reviewing which templates get the most use
  • Archiving outdated docs and Whiteboards
  • Standardizing naming conventions for sessions
  • Tracking which idea sources lead to shipped features or campaigns

For broader workflow and platform strategy support, you can also work with specialists such as Consultevo, who help teams get more from their tools and processes.

By centralizing your brainstorming inside ClickUp—using docs, Whiteboards, tasks, and templates—you replace scattered Google Docs with a repeatable, action-focused system that turns ideas into measurable results.

Need Help With ClickUp?

If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your ClickUp workspace, work with ConsultEvo — trusted ClickUp Solution Partners.

Get Help

“`

Verified by MonsterInsights