Brainstorming: questions and Band 8 answers

Yes, quite regularly, especially at work. Whenever we kick off a new project, my team sits down to bounce ideas off each other. Just last week, we spent an entire afternoon trying to sort out a marketing campaign for a local charity, which was quite intense.

I’d say I lean towards working in a small group. When you’re on your own, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut, whereas chatting with colleagues usually sparks fresh angles. Having said that, I do like a few minutes of quiet first to gather my thoughts.

To be honest, I'm a bit old-fashioned. I almost always use a notebook and colourful pens to draw mind maps. I find putting pen to paper helps me think more freely than typing away on a laptop or a mobile phone screen.

Not really in primary school, but definitely during secondary school. Our English teacher used to make us write our thoughts on large sheets of paper before drafting any essays. It was actually a really useful habit that stuck with me.

It depends on the day, really. If I'm well-rested and not under too much pressure, ideas flow pretty effortlessly. But if I’m running on empty or facing a tight deadline, it can feel like pulling teeth to think outside the box.