The Art of Crafting "How Might We" Statements to Unlock Creative Brilliance
And The Power of How/Why Laddering Approach to Problem Refinement
Have you ever wondered how to make brainstorming sessions more effective?
One technique that works well is anchoring the discussion with a relevant "How might we" (HMW) statement to turn problems into opportunities. ”
First, a "How Might We" statement should be based on the work done during the EMPATHIZE and DEFINE phases to get alignment and select your challenge.
Here is how you do it:
You take a problem, write it down, and rephrase it, starting with “How Might We.
Take a problem statement - “We don’t have enough customers.”
Take a sticky note and write “HMW” in the top right corner.
Rephrase the problem statement to: “HMW … get more customers.”
Sounds simple, right?
But, on my first tries, I messed it up (and sometimes, I still do.)
Here are three guidelines to keep in mind:
A Good “How Might We” statement should not:
Be so vague or general that the challenge won’t give you any idea where to start, and it seems like you can brainstorm on it without any prior knowledge or research. For instance, “HMW save the world.”
Be narrow in scope, which won’t offer enough room to explore creative solutions. For instance, “HMW improve timesheet recording.”
Provide a solution to be encourage creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. For instance, “HMW Create a website for diabetes”.
However, if a statement is too narrow or too broad, you can use the How/Why Laddering exercise to expand or contract it.
How to do the How/Why Laddering Exercise
This exercise involves continuously asking "how" and "why" to refine the statement.
HOW
By asking "how," you can make the statement narrow down the focus.
For instance, your challenge is broad:
“How might we make people at the airport happier by improving the ground experience?”
How? By redesigning the security process for greater efficiency
How? By utilizing existing partners and technologies to eliminate inefficiencies
Now that you have narrowed down the problem statement, rephrase the challenge as:
HMW use partners and technologies to eliminate inefficiencies
WHY
If the challenge is too narrow, asking “why," you can make the statement expand the focus.
For instance, you write, “How might we create a separate security line for international travelers?”
Why? To differentiate international travelers from domestic travelers
Why? International travelers often have a longer time to wait before a flight.
As in the previous exercise, the problem statement can rephrase as:
HMW create a better waiting time experience for international travelers
So, yeah, the How/Why Laddering exercise is a great way to narrow or expand to refine your problem statement. This process allows you to generate more targeted and actionable ideas during your brainstorming sessions.
Try incorporating the How/Why Laddering exercise into your next meeting if the challenge needs to be narrower or broader, and witness the power of focused and creative problem-solving.
Now, let me ask you,
Have you ever used the How/Why Laddering exercise in setting up your brainstorming sessions?
What other techniques do you find helpful for generating creative ideas?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Remember, a well-crafted "How Might We" statement can catalyze innovative ideas. So, embrace curiosity, explore possibilities, let your imagination soar, unlock new solutions, and make a real impact.