Why How Matters

By changing the question and simply adding the word how to the beginning of the question, the same students who said no were the ones coming up with solutions on how it could be possible.  We were limiting an individual's capabilities on how it could be possible.  We were limiting an individual's capabilities because of our own perceptions based on what we saw and how the question was structured.  Once we reframed the question, and simply added a word we began to come up with solutions.

Cannot agree with this more.

By the same token, change managers in multiple public services - don't ask your teams what they're going to do to be innovative; you're pressuring them into doing your job for you and penalizing them if they don't.  That's borderline discrimination and a definite contributor to public-sector burnout and presenteeism.

Instead, ask how might we address a problem.  Give your team ownership of the solution, not of the problem.  Empower them to think big, not defensive.

On that note, I'm off to chat with public servants about system change.  Later, all!