Hey Everyone… want to know how to get things done? Well check out my proven and formulated process!

Not to be mistaken with the "Five Whys" method, the "Five Hows" was developed by myself to get improbable tasks completed more efficiently. The "Five Whys" are meant to find a root cause analysis to solve an issue and prevent it from happening again. A single source can be corrected. The "Five Hows" create a singularity approach. However, complex and improbable situations rarely have this type of solution.

First, you are given your goal or objective, then you ask yourself, “How do I complete this?”

This process is repeated and How is asked five times. This can vary depending on the complexity, but five is generally an appropriate amount. Again, very similar to the "Five Whys" method, but should not be interpreted as such.

Let me highlight an example of this entire process.

We ask ourselves how.

• There should not be one answer, strive for three different potential solutions. Once the first step is completed, ask yourself how to complete these, again striving for three solutions.

• This is where it gets interesting because there could be similar solutions for previous steps. Branch both previous solutions to this newly created solution and continue.

• This process will be repeated once you feel as though there is enough detailed information to move to the execution phase.

There are multiple advantages to having this roadmap laid out in this format. First, you can customize your solution depending on your restraints.  If safety is your number one concern, you can choose the solutions at the various levels creating the safest path. If money is your constraint, you can take the cheapest solution at various levels. Again customization is a great advantage.

Another advantage is the ability to see the entire plan at once. It could only be on a piece of paper or require an entire large whiteboard in your office or conference room, however, the plan is there. This allows for you to create your execution process and start understanding what variables are interconnected and which are not.

The interconnected variables often mean the first variable needs to be 100% complete before the second one begins, but the non-interconnected variables can be started virtually at any time. This allows you to start applying time and dates to your plan and create your Gantt chart. You can then start dialog with other managers to receive constructive input or even begin the delegating process.

The small advantage it creates was previously mentioned, it can create a single solution to complete your goal or objective. Again, this does not happen very often as the "Five Hows" is meant to create a roadmap with different paths to help overcome any obstacle which comes your way.

This method is better than project charters or methods produced from project management courses because those methods do not help users see the entire picture. They are focused on a single solution which is difficult to foresee difficult challenges. 

They are also too specific and do not allow for creativity. After all, if someone knows they are constrained with money from the start, every single step and every single solution will be based on this. It can create a cheap solution, however, it also creates tunnel vision which oftentimes eliminates the cheapest way possible. 

For example, when given a goal or objective, asking how from the start with an emphasis on saving money will eliminate other first level solutions that cost more. However, those more costly solutions could branch out to a more effective, efficient, and cost saving solution at the end, but since an emphasis was placed on money, this solution was never found until after the fact.

I have not found a situation where this method did not help and I challenge you to use it just once because I promise once you do, you will never go back.

There are too many opportunities and advantages this method brings compared to others that it can be used in every situation from simple to complex. It will be the best tool you never knew you needed.