Umberto, I agree in some instances and have experienced poor brainstorming environments and workshops where people do indeed "brainstorming techniques are of almost no value" and hence pre-judge themselves within the group and hold back, not share an idea, judge others, don't engage etc. Sadly, I have experienced bad brainstorming and it was by my fellow and younger team of consultants whilst facilitating a Balanced Scorecard. The consultant would start off with the topic to be brainstormed, that was good; asked for folk to write down their initial thoughts about the topic; a bit of Nominal Group Technique coming I thought; then said the ideas would be captured clockwise and one at a time and allow that person to speak without interruption, Code of Conduct stuff - yes good; then the idea would be captured directly on the flip chart - great. Well it wasn't, the consultant said thanks, that was okay as there was no evaluation of the idea either +ve or -ve. However, the consultant left that idea and the next two from other members until one was offered that the consultant thought aligned to the one expected and fit within the model or outcome they wanted. Arghh. I quickly called a break, brought the consultant over for some "Notus Calor" as advised the capture exactly of everyone's idea, no matter what they may think of it. To respect the idea and so encourage more ideas from that proposer and others. I asked di you notice how little ideas were garnered. "Yeah, I get that a lot". we went back, re-engaged with the workshop participants with a new brainstorming method, the basics actually taught to me by Don Dewar, ex-President in QCI Red Bluff California many years ago. It was the most successful Balanced Scorecard and then Strategy Mapping exercise the consultant and the client had participated. The "Freedom of Expression" is as you say is the hardest to communicate if it is not set-up correctly or people are not respected by our facilitation behaviors. Nice and refreshing reminders in your article Umberto. Mike