Whys and Hows
What is it?
Whys & Hows is a great way to dig into the deeper motivations behind what we're working on and break it down into simple, manageable steps. It helps us pause and ask ourselves why a challenge really matters.
Why and when should I use this?
Completing this early on will help you develop a strong narrative and understand the bigger picture of your project. It will help you spot early actions you can take, as well as long-term strategic ideas to build on for the future. This tool will help you reinforce your purpose and align your actions to the impact you are trying to make.
How much time should I spend on this?
10-30 minutes. We find it helpful to take the time to cluster and discuss post-it's as a group to make sure everyone is developing a shared understanding.
Who should I involve in this?
You can use this with your project team, with your 'clients' and strategic stakeholders who have a stake in your project to understand what they are trying to achieve.
How to use it...
- Start by asking "Why?": Placing your challenge in the middle, as a group, repeatedly ask "Why?". Dig deeper with each answer to uncover the fundamental motivations behind your challenge. Think of it like peeling the layers of an onion to reach more expansive, aspirational thinking
- Then ask "How?": Start with practical actions you could take on tomorrow and build on them to develop more strategic long-term ideas.
- Cluster your post-it's: Group post-its together from simple actions to strategic ideas. And from obvious reasons to aspirational motivations.
- Name your clusters: Imagine somebody who knows nothing about your project is standing across the room. Write your cluster so that they would immediately understand what your ideas are about. Use sentences with active verbs rather than one word post-its.