Statement starters template

Use this template to jumpstart discussions toward solving the right problem in the best way, by using phrases that encourage broad thinking.

As their main objective, Statement Starters encourage restating problems as invitations for exploration. Instead of being dictatorial, leaving little room for deviation from a predetermined type of solution, these phrases ask your team to consider various alternatives. For example, a prescriptive statement like, “We need a device to help people listen to music” contains an embedded solution.

Instead, a Statement Starter might convert the challenge into a question like this: “How might we help people listen to music?”

This phrasing leaves room for multiple interpretations of the challenge, thereby increasing the possibility of finding new and better solutions.

The statement starter template helps you:

• Kickstart productive discussions with your team
• Encourage thinking outside the box
• Challenge your assumptions
• Discover innovative solutions to complex problems

How to use the statement starters template

To use Mural’s statement starters template, follow the steps outlined below with your team.

1. Select a problem or opportunity to examine

The first step in using statement starters is to zero in on the problem you’re trying to solve. Use the template to outline the challenge as succinctly as possible.

2. Invite a diverse team of stakeholders

Make sure to include people from a diverse array of backgrounds, so that you can be sure to have all the bases covered and avoid blind spots that could render your brainstorming less valuable.

3. Reframe the problem as a (series of) How Might We question(s)

Have each participant analyze the central challenge or problem, and then reframe that challenge as a series of How Might We questions.

For example, your challenge might be, “We feel burdened by the maintenance of our current products.” This could be reframed as, “How might we maintain products during everyday work?”

4. Use these new questions as the basis for group brainstorming

Now that you’ve reframed the issues as a series of How Might We questions, bring your team together to brainstorm answers to those questions.

Tips for running a statement starters template workshop

To get the most out of the Mural statement starters template, you should:

• Ensure that every participant has the appropriate context and background necessary to contribute meaningfully to the discussion (this can either take place before your meeting as pre-work, or as part of your introduction)
• Use Mural’s private mode to avoid groupthink when coming up with your statement starter questions, and anonymous voting to help determine the best options to use for brainstorming solutions
• Group ideas by theme as you brainstorm, so you can key in on specific pain points and ensure that you’re solving the right problems