Running your own business takes a lot of planning.

Whether it’s product concepts, marketing strategies, or sales tactics, you need a lot of ideas.

Many entrepreneurs do this by getting feedback from their team.

But more often than not, team members hold their real thoughts back.

They’re too scared to rock the boat and offend anyone.

So, how can you bridge that gap?

Pixar has a unique approach to this!

They call it a “Brain Trust.”

It’s kind of like their own take on a brainstorming session.

Pixar implemented it in 1999 when they felt they had an idea drought and thought all their ideas sucked.

And it worked!

Brain Trust meetings resulted in the creation of box office hits like Toy Story 2, Tangled, Frozen, and many more.

In this blog, we’ll dive into how you can borrow some ideas from Pixar’s Brain Trust to make your own meetings not just productive, but also fun and creative.

What is Pixar?

Pixar Animation Studios is known for some of the most beloved animated films of all time.

Think Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Monsters, Inc. – chances are, you’ve seen at least one of their movies. 

They’re known for pushing boundaries in storytelling and animation.

Since its founding in 1986, Pixar has racked up more than 25 Academy Awards and billions at the box office.

Today, they’re valued at over $7 billion.

But what really sets Pixar apart is their approach to creativity.

They’ve built a culture that thrives on collaboration and honest feedback.

This is how their famous Brain Trust meetings came to be.

What is a Pixar Brain Trust?

Pixar’s Brain Trust isn’t your typical corporate meeting.

It’s a candid, no-holds-barred feedback session usually lasting up to 2 hours.

It’s where a group of trusted team members come together to critique ongoing projects. 

The idea was born out of the studio’s need for honest feedback while working on their films.

During these meetings, egos are left at the door.

The focus is solely on the project and how it can be improved.

4 Principles of a Pixar Brain Trust Meeting

Principle #1. Remove Power Dynamics

Removing the power dynamics allows for open and honest feedback.

It’s so no one feels like they are being told what to do.

It’s peer-to-peer communication rather than boss-to-employee.

However, power dynamics aren’t always easy to shut off and team members may still be hesitant to speak up.

Pixar addresses this with one rule: The “leaders” are not allowed to speak for the first 15 minutes.

This prevents them from setting the tone early on and gives everyone the space to express their ideas freely. 

After 15 minutes, the dynamic has already shifted.

Why?

Because the leaders are joining the discussion, rather than directing it.

They are now seen as contributors rather than authority figures.

Principle #2. Exchange Honest Notes

The Brain Trust values giving and receiving honest feedback.

This ensures that meetings are productive.

Team members can openly share their thoughts without sugarcoating issues.

The notes don’t have to be about finding the solution.

First, it has to be about finding out what’s not working— the problem.

Team members may have different perspectives that the project leader might have missed.

Once that’s settled, they can exchange creative ideas to solve it!

Principle #3. Share In Each Other’s Success

Everyone in the Brain Trust must have a genuine interest in each other’s success.

When everyone shares in each other’s success, it shifts the dynamic from simply critiquing to helping. 

Feedback becomes more thoughtful and constructive.

No one is competing or trying to outshine each other because the focus is on solving the project.

Principle #4. The Director Has the Final Say

This might sound counterintuitive to Principle #1 but the director having the final say is important.

If the director or leader feels like anyone can dictate their project, they might enter the room defensively.

This principle allows them to feel safe and open to listening and absorbing feedback without fear of losing control over their vision.

The feedback session should still be on equal ground.

But when the Brain Trust is over, it is up to the director to decide which ideas to take forward and which ones to set aside.

Do We Really Need More Meetings?

You might be thinking, “Great, another meeting to add to my calendar.” 

Meetings often get a bad reputation.

And you may be right!

On average, statistics show that 71% of working professionals lose time every week because of cancelled or unnecessary meetings.

According to a study by the University of California, it takes people about 25 minutes to return to the original task after an interruption.

This means our brains need some time to shift back to our tasks after just coming from a meeting.

Frequent unproductive meetings can also cause revenue loss of up to $34 billion every year.

How do we make meetings productive like Pixar?

1. Schedule Mid-week meetings

Research reveals that employees prefer meetings to be scheduled on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.

While 47% of professionals consider Monday to be the worst day for meetings, with Friday coming in a close second.

Meetings should also be carefully timed to match the team’s energy and attention levels.

Schedule them in the middle of the day, when people are most alert!

Avoid late afternoon meetings, when energy levels are not at their best anymore.

2. Have an Agenda

A clear agenda helps focus the meeting.

This ensures that meeting time is used to dive into the issues rather than wasting time catching up.

An agenda should include specific items to be addressed, such as project updates, feedback points, and any critical decisions that need to be made.

3. Limit the length

While creative discussions can be intense, Pixar ensures meetings aren’t overly long. 

Sessions are typically two hours with a break in between.

In some cases, the leader usually shows off the incomplete project in the mornings.

They explain where they’re at in the process and what issues they’re facing.

Then everyone is given time to have lunch so they can refuel and process the morning briefing.

After that, they meet in a room where they can give and take open and honest feedback.

Produce Consistent Out-of-the-Box Business Ideas By Making Meetings Creative and Productive

Meetings don’t have to be boring, and feedback doesn’t have to be uncomfortable.

Creating your own “Brain Trust” won’t happen overnight. 

It takes time to build trust and get people comfortable with candid feedback.

But once you get the ball rolling, you’ll notice a shift. 

And here’s a pro tip: lead by example!

Be the first to ask for honest feedback on your own work.

Your openness will encourage others to do the same.

Team members will start to engage more openly, share wild ideas, and feel like they’re part of something bigger.

The goal is to create a space where everyone feels safe to express themselves and challenge each other’s thinking.