The mighty “might!”
Simple word choice when we start our brainstorming can channel it toward a quick dead end or open up the process to a plethora of possibilities.
I love the word “might.”
When framing a brainstorming session for, say, customer service, you can ask, “How can we serve our customers better?” or you can ask “How might we serve our customers better.” The second phrasing is mighty better.
When we ask “How can” we do something that begs for certainty, a solution that can be done. Literally, that means it is proven; it has been done. Because a truly new idea is not proven, uncertain. This leads us to known solutions, which may be okay, but if we already knew them why are we brainstorming? Because they don’t work, or they may not be enough.
When we ask “How might” we do something it opens up all sorts of possibilities, and they don’t have to be proven or even likely of success - they just might be solutions. And there are other benefits.
Besides begging for fresh ideas the expression “how might” also leaves room for “might not.” If we aim for certainty we go to a safe place, we don’t think outside the proverbial box, we actually go directly to the center of the box. That’s brainstorming?
In Do-it-yourself Lobotomy parlance this is one of the ways we “ask a better question.” One word making a question work harder. One minor shift setting the trajectory of thinking on a much grander course.
And it’s not just word choice. It’s an entire mind set - “I will consider what has been done.” or “I will explore what might be possible.” More breakthrough ideas come from this kind of thinking. And not just in concerted brainstorming, but in one’s everyday manner and attitude.
The irony here, of course, is that the less certain word is a more certain way to explore new territory and find huge ideas. … a more certain way to be creative and live creativity.
