I have a lot of ideas.
But sometimes they’re difficult to put into words, especially when I need to explain it to someone. Usually the ideas sound a lot better in my head than when spoken out loud.
I used to struggle with this problem, until a good friend introduced a super-simple construct that made expressing my ideas a lot easier.
It’s got three parts, with each one being a short, simple sentence:
- You know how…
- What if…
- In fact…
Here’s the simple logic behind it.
Part 1: “You know how…”
Use this first sentence as a way to relate to the listener.
Right from the start, you’re framing your idea as a question. When you do this, it primes your listener into a psychological state that makes them receptive, because our typical reaction to being asked a question is to be ready with an answer. Which subconsciously opens our mind to really listen and understand.
The other benefit of this approach is that it automatically makes you sound like you want to relate to the person you’re talking to. Connecting with someone just feels way more valuable than doing a cold pitch.
Part 2: “What if…”
Use this to subtly suggest a possible solution (i.e. your idea) to the question you posed earlier.
By starting the next part with the words “what if”, again you’re utilizing a psychological method to prime the listener into accepting your suggestion.
Check out what Forbes has to say about it:
With a “what if?” question, your brain usually holds no previous precedent, paradigm or example to rely upon for an acceptable answer, so the answer heads to a different area of the brain. When this happens, we often say out loud, “Great question!”
And since you’re posing a potential solution (which is your idea), the listener will — more often than not — be a bit more open to accept your idea.
Part 3: “In fact…”
Use this to provide data that backs up your claim.
By the time you get to this point, you’re in the best position to sell the idea. And providing good data to back up your claim will further drive home the message that your idea has merit.
It’s best to use data/facts that’s anchored in the present, as that gives real impetus to your idea. It acts like a call to action for the listener, because it gives them the impression that now is the best time for the idea to happen.
Of course, this is really dependent on what your idea is about. Some ideas may not necessarily have to include that time aspect, and instead just provides some data to back up the idea.
Let’s see it in action.
Here’s an example of an idea for a HR product that helps recruit employees that are a better fit to company culture.
You know how companies usually struggle to find employees who can really fit in well with their corporate culture?
What if interviewers were able to use an AI-powered system that reads the candidate’s CV to predict their personality and how likely they are to succeed in a given job opening?
In fact, 90% of HR practitioners recently said that interviewing has been particularly difficult during the Covid-19 pandemic, and more effective pre-screening methods are on the top of their budget plans for 2021 onwards.
Ok, that’s a bit of a crazy (and potentially illegal!) idea, but it illustrates how to use the “You know how; What if; In fact” methodology.
Here’s another example:
You know how it’s always difficult to express the ideas in your head in a way that’s easy for people to understand?
What if there was a simple, 3-question method to let you do just that?
In fact, Forbes Magazine believes that when you frame your idea with what-if questions, it opens up the pathways of your listener’s brains and makes them more receptive of the possibilities!
So there you have it. A simple, 3-part framework to get an idea out of your head in a way that is relatable and easy to understand.
In fact, what if this method helped your next idea be the most successful project or business you’ve ever worked on?