Whenever you finish a project, either on your own or with a team, a sense of accomplishment comes with it. But before you put it all behind you, it is important to contemplate the task using the What? So What? Now What? reflection model, as this would add meaning to the experience and turn it into a tool for improving your future undertakings.
What is What? So What? Now What? framework?
The What? So What? Now What? framework is a model for reflecting on your just-finished tasks and figuring out what can be improved, making the team better equipped to take on future projects.
The framework revolves around three key questions that encourage deep thought – What? So What? And Now What?
Team members state the problem as they see it to answer the question. What are the implications of the identified problem or problems? And finally, what gets people to think of what can be done or what solutions can be implemented to solve the problem?
Benefits of using a What? So What? Now What? template
Using a What? So What? Now What? template with the entire team helps each member get a comprehensive picture of the work that has been completed, and not just the part that they worked on. It fosters an appreciation for all the tasks that not everyone might have been aware of while busy doing their tasks.
Firstly, the "What?" part of the template forces you to clearly define and articulate the situation or problem at hand. It's not just about identifying the issue, but also about understanding its nuances and intricacies. This step alone can lead to greater clarity and prevent misunderstandings down the line.
Next, we move on to "So What?" This is where you delve into the implications of the situation. What are the consequences if left unaddressed? How does it impact your team, your project, or your organization? By examining these questions, you gain a deeper understanding of the stakes involved and why it's important to take action.
Finally, "Now What?" This is your call to action. Having understood the problem and its implications, what will you do about it? This prompts you to devise a plan of action, thus ensuring that insights gleaned from the previous steps don't go to waste.
So there you have it - the benefits of using a "What? So What? Now What?" template. It's more than just a series of questions; it's a strategic approach that can significantly enhance your professional capabilities. Give it a try!
When to use the What? So What? Now What? template?
The What? So What? Now What? template is now very popularly used by teams to encourage reflection from individual members. If you want to enlighten each team member on the perspectives of other people in the group, this is an excellent tool to use. It is also used if you want to ultimately create a more cohesive and collaborative team.
Problem-Solving: This template is excellent for tackling complex problems. The "What?" helps you define the problem, the "So What?" allows you to understand its implications, and the "Now What?" guides you towards a solution.
Decision-Making: When faced with a difficult decision, this template can help you weigh your options carefully. It encourages you to consider the situation (What?), analyze the potential outcomes (So What?), and then make an informed decision (Now What?).
Reflective Practice: If you're looking to reflect on a recent event or experience, this template can provide structure to your thoughts. It prompts you to describe what happened (What?), explore why it matters (So What?), and determine how you can learn from it (Now What?).
Project Planning: In project management, this template can assist in setting clear goals (What?), understanding their importance (So What?), and planning the necessary steps to achieve them (Now What?).
Remember, the effectiveness of the "What? So What? Now What?" template depends largely on how sincerely and thoughtfully you answer each question. It's not about rushing through the process, but rather taking the time to deeply analyze and understand each stage before moving on to the next.
How to use the What? So What? Now What? template in Boardmix?
It is not hard to find a What? So What? Now What? template that you can download online, but few are as well-designed as the one we have at Boardmix, which you can get by clicking it in the post.
Before you start using this What? So What? Now What? template, it is ideal to gather all the team members so that everyone can participate in the process. It doesn’t have to be a face-to-face session, which can be difficult to arrange due to differences in schedule and geography. Besides, the Boardmix template can easily be accessed online, allowing the team to brainstorm efficiently even if they are apart.
What? So What? Now What? Example – 01
What:
- During the morning meeting, the two team members got into a heated argument and couldn’t conclude.
So What:
- The tension is apparent the whole day,
- The other team members are picking sides.
Now What:
- You arrange a private meeting with these two team members,
- You arrange a team bonding event.
What? So What? Now What? Reflection Example – 02
Another great What? So What? Now What? reflection example can be applied to various personal challenges you might be facing. In the case we will be examining, you are a college graduate who struggles to find a job. Therefore, the example will look like this:
What:
- You have applied to numerous jobs but you only get rejections,
So What:
- The rejections have affected your self-esteem,
- The industry that interests you is very competitive,
- Your initial approach might not be effective for junior-level jobs.
Now What:
- Readjust your job posting filters,
- Attend more networking events,
- Find some seminars to boost your skills.
What? So What? Now What? Reflection Example – Nursing
Similarly to the previous What? So What? Now What? nursing example, we are going to examine another one. In this example, we will study a nurse who works in a clinic for elderly patients:
What:
- The nurse attends to an elderly patient who suffers from severe pain due to some chronic illness,
- No matter the medication, the patient is still in distress.
So What:
- The nurse realizes that dealing with severe pain is extremely difficult,
- The patient’s condition also distresses their relatives who are concerned about their well-being.
Now What:
- The nurse decided to do some pain management training,
- The nurse will talk to the medical team to find out whether there is an alternative medication for the elderly patient.
The following What? So What? Now What? example has to do with the interpersonal relationship between two team members. More specifically, there is tension between two individuals, a thing that might affect the productivity of the whole team.
Once everyone has dropped their responses into the boxes of the What? So What? Now What? template, the team can then have a thorough discussion and ultimately be able to determine what to do or what not to do in the future to avoid problems encountered in the finished project and achieve a much better overall result.
How to Create What? So What? Now What? Template in Boardmix?
As you can see, there are numerous What? So What? Now What? essay examples that allow you to dip into reflective writing. The key to doing that is having the right tool at your disposal. Boardmix provides you with a ready-made What? So What? Now What? template that you can immediately use.
Step 1: Log in to Your Boardmix Account
To begin, you'll need to access your Boardmix account. Go to the Boardmix website and enter your login credentials. If you don't have an account yet, you can sign up for a new one for free.
Step 2: Search and Choose Activity Planning Template
Once you're logged in, head over to the Template library. You can find this in the main dashboard. Search for the What? So What? Now What? Template and click to use it for free.
Step 3: Customize and Edit Your Own What? So What? Now What?
Now that you've chosen the template, it's time to customize it according to your needs. You can use shapes, lines, drawing pens, icons, and other tools to decorate your template. The What? So What? Now What? template comes with several sections that you can fill out.
Step 4: Save Your Work, Share and Collaborate
When customizing your What? So What? Now What? template, Boardmix autosaves your progress, but it's good practice to manually save before exiting.
Next, share your What? So What? Now What? to collaborate with your team. Click on the "Share" button on the top right corner of the screen, copy the sharing link, and send it to anyone whom you want to collaborate with. People can join this file to edit and collaborate on this file in real-time by clicking this sharing link. We encourage your team to leave comments, suggest edits, or ask questions online so you can adjust it in time.
Create your free Boardmix account today to start your reflective journey with a What? So What? Now What? template!
