Focus on a Single "W"

You are almost certainly aware of the literary device called the five "W's." This device demands that the writer address Who, What, Where, When, and Why whenever they are creating a story.

These categories of questions are central to any problem-solving effort or communication project. We really need to address them all in order to have a fully-functioning solution.

But what if you just focused on one at a time?
What if you looked at your issue exclusively focusing on "Who?"

• Who would be harmed by this issue?

• Who benefits from the status quo?

• Who is the decision-maker in this area?

• Who can give us the answers we are looking for?

• Who would be directly affected by improvements in this area?

• Who do those effected report to?

• Who has budget authority in this area?

• Who...?

By limiting yourself to just a single “W” you can force yourself to dig deeper into that single category and create a more empathetic response.