Evaluating your ideas doesn’t have to be a tedious, drawn-out process. If you’re looking for a quick, engaging way to assess your next big app or product idea, try the “Keep, Ditch, or Pivot” method. This approach is all about getting instant feedback, sparking creativity, and confidently deciding on your ideas — all in a fun and informal setting!
Why is evaluating ideas important? Choosing the right idea can make or break your next project. By considering ideas early and effectively, you save time, resources, and energy on concepts with the most potential for success. The “Keep, Ditch, or Pivot” method offers a simple, playful way to determine which ideas are worth pursuing and which might need a rethink or a pass.
If you're looking for a more formal, systematic way to evaluate your ideas, check out this post.
How to play “Keep, Ditch, or Pivot”
- Gather your crew: Invite a small group of trusted friends, colleagues, or mentors — ideally 4-6 people — willing to provide honest feedback. The more diverse the group, the better!
- Pitch your ideas: Everyone should come prepared with 2-3 ideas. Present them quickly — think of it as a rapid-fire round, with 1-2 minutes per idea. Keep it concise, focusing on the core concept and its potential impact.
- Decide their fate: For each idea, the group decides whether to “Keep” it (move forward), “Ditch” it (discard), or “Pivot” it (tweak, reframe, or combine with another idea to make it stronger). Discuss briefly why the group chose each option and keep the feedback constructive.
Why “Keep, Ditch, or Pivot” works
- Quick decisions: This method helps you avoid analysis paralysis by forcing fast, gut-level decisions.
- Engaging feedback: The game format encourages participants to be candid and constructive, fostering an open and lively discussion.
- Creative insights: The time pressure can spark spontaneous ideas and connections that might not emerge in a slower-paced discussion.
Pro tips for making it fun and effective
- Set the mood: Make it feel more like a brainstorming party than a formal meeting. Snacks, drinks, or a relaxed environment can help.
- Use colorful visuals: Use colorful post-it notes or a whiteboard to visually track the “Keep,” “Ditch,” and “Pivot” ideas.
- Rotate the facilitator: Have different people present each idea to keep the energy flowing.
- Mix up the group: Include a mix of familiar and new participants to balance comfort and fresh perspectives.
- Encourage collaboration: During “Pivot” discussions, encourage participants to build on each other’s ideas, fostering collaboration and synergy.
- Use a timer: Keep the pace lively by setting a timer for pitches and feedback rounds.
- Document decisions: Take quick notes on why each idea was kept, ditched, or pivoted. This step will help you reflect on the feedback later and make more strategic decisions.
After the game: next steps
- Follow up quickly: Schedule a follow-up meeting within a week to discuss the next steps for the “Keep” and “Pivot” ideas.
- Keep an open mind about “Ditch” ideas: Sometimes, what seems like a dead end now could spark new insights or combinations.
- Remember, this is just a starting point: The “Keep, Ditch, or Pivot” game is one tool in your idea evaluation toolkit. You can do further research, testing, and validation to develop the most promising concepts fully.
Conclusion
Remember, the best ideas often emerge from a playful, collaborative process — so have fun and see where your creativity takes you!
Using the “Keep, Ditch, or Pivot” method, you’ll get instant feedback, foster creative insights, and quickly decide which ideas to pursue, tweak, or drop. Gather your crew and start playing today to see which of your ideas are ready for the next big step!
