One of the great product brainstorming tactics we’ve picked up from Teresa’s work is simple but powerful. Let’s imagine this scenario:

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Your peer strongly advocates for an idea without validating it with customer or business insights. For example, “Let’s build a TikTok-style feed on our home screen! Everyone is doing it!”

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In that moment, ask your peer: “Yeah, we could! What problem do you think it solves?”

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Your peer will usually have a semi-clear answer, like: “We’re not getting enough engagement on the home screen” or “It’ll help with discoverability and browsing.”

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Then follow up with: “Are there other potential solutions that could address the same problem?”

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This simple shift in framing moves the team away from locking onto a single solution too early. By starting with the problem and exploring multiple paths, you create space for more objective and creative problem-solving.