Better Brainstorming: Using the 'how', 'now' and 'wow' matrix

When people brainstorm new ideas, they often think creatively and explore possibilities beyond the usual boundaries. This is the divergent phase of thinking. But when it comes to narrowing down those ideas, many tend to settle on familiar, safe options. This common trap is known as the ‘creative paradox’ or ‘creadox’ - where creativity seems to stall at the point of choosing which ideas to pursue.

A simple but effective way to overcome this is by using the How-Now-Wow matrix.

This simple game helps teams escape the usual bias towards safe, familiar choices and encourages a balanced, thoughtful approach to selecting ideas. It’s a handy method to bring both creativity and practical judgement into your next project.

What is the How-Now-Wow Matrix?

The How-Now-Wow matrix is a quick game that naturally follows after generating ideas. It’s designed to guide teams in selecting ideas worth developing, based on originality and ease of implementation.

Number of participants: 1 to 30

Time needed: Between 10 and 40 minutes

Materials: Large paper or flip charts, markers, and voting stickers in three colours: blue, yellow, and green.

Setting Up

Draw a simple 2x2 grid on your flip chart. The horizontal axis measures how original or new the idea is, while the vertical axis measures how easy it is to put into action.

Label the four quadrants as follows:

• Now (Blue): These are straightforward, familiar ideas that can be put into practice quickly. They usually bring incremental improvements or solve immediate problems.

• How (Yellow): These ideas are highly original but currently seem impossible to implement, perhaps due to technical or budget limitations.

• Wow (Green): Ideas in this quadrant are both original and feasible, offering the potential for major impact and exciting change.

• (The fourth quadrant, representing ideas that are neither original nor easy to implement, is often left unlabeled as these ideas typically don’t move forward.)

How to Play

1. Write down all ideas generated during your brainstorming session on large sheets around the room.

2. Give each participant nine voting stickers - 3 of each colour.

3. Ask everyone to place their coloured dots next to the three ideas they find most compelling in each category (Now, How, and Wow).

4. Once voting is complete, tally the dots for each idea to determine which category it falls into based on the majority colour.

5. In the event of a tie:

   • If blue and green dots are equal, the idea is classified as Now (blue).

   • If yellow and green dots are equal, the idea is classified as Wow (green).

What Happens Next?

You’ll finish with a clear set of priorities:

• Now ideas that can be implemented right away,

• Wow ideas that are exciting and feasible, ready for further development, and

• How ideas to keep in your sights for the future when the conditions are right.