Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) Practice Test

When brainstorming possible solutions in action planning, what should be avoided?

1. Offering constructive feedback

2. Providing unsolicited advice

3. Building on other people's ideas

4. Creating a list of potential outcomes

The correct answer is: Providing unsolicited advice

In the context of brainstorming for action planning, it's essential to foster an open and collaborative environment where all participants feel comfortable sharing their ideas. Providing unsolicited advice can hinder this process, as it may come off as judgmental or critical, potentially discouraging others from contributing their thoughts. When brainstorming, the focus should be on generating a broad range of ideas without immediate evaluation or criticism. This helps encourage creativity and engagement among all participants. In contrast, offering constructive feedback can be valuable once the ideas have been generated; building on others' ideas promotes collaboration and innovation, and creating a list of potential outcomes helps in organizing and developing those ideas. By avoiding unsolicited advice during the brainstorming phase, the group can maintain a positive atmosphere conducive to open dialogue and the generation of effective solutions.