Heart/Head Pros/Cons Canvas template
Chris Griffiths’ Heart/Head Pros/Cons (HHPC) Canvas template prevents you from bias and allows you to find solutions to problems that reflect what you want and what you need.
What is a Heart/Head Pros/Cons Canvas?
Generating solutions doesn’t resolve a problem by itself. To solve a problem effectively, you have to deeply understand which potential solution is the most powerful, sustainable, and cost-effective. This is where the HHPC Canvas comes in, combining your perspectives and eliminating the clouds of bias from your decision.
Why should you use Chris Griffiths’ Heart/Head Pros/Cons Canvas?
As a human being, you have a unique talent for problem solving. And, as a human being, you have a unique tendency towards clouded judgement. We’ve all been stuck between our head and our heart at some point, and it takes time and practice to know which to listen to. Usually, the answer is both. Ignore your head and you become reckless, ignore your heart and you risk losing your purpose.
With the HHPC Canvas, you can turn these conflicting arguments into a numeric, quantifiable scale, helping you become objective in your decision making. By working with this template, you’re able to see all of your potential solutions at the same time, giving each equal opportunity and letting you see the bigger picture.
More than that, by using the HHPC Canvas for each problem you face, you’ll be able to see patterns in your thinking that you wouldn’t have otherwise noticed. This allows you to better understand any repeating biases or cyclical thought processes so that you can become the creative innovator you want to be.
How to use Chris Griffiths’ Heart/Head Pros/Cons Canvas
Ready to find the most powerful solutions to any problem you have? Chris Griffiths’ Heart/Head Pros/Cons Canvas is ready to assist you from within Ayoa, on any of your devices. Discover how to use it below.
To access the template, sign up to Ayoa. Once you've signed up, navigate to the homepage to create a new whiteboard, mind map or task board and choose this template from the library.
Input each of your potential solutions into the HHPC Canvas. Frame these in a way that makes sense for you. This title should explain your solution, but in a concise and effective manner.
Begin with your Heart and Head section of your HHPC Canvas:
Heart: What is your gut reaction to this idea? Does it excite you? Assign a rating to the idea based on your heart’s response from 1-10, where 10 is ‘very positive’.
Head: What is your logical response to this idea? How would you respond to this idea if it was not related to your work or life? Is the idea robust? Can you rationalize and justify it? Again, rate this idea based on your head’s response from 1-10.
Add the Pros to your HHPC Canvas. Ask yourself:
- What are the strengths of this idea?
- What do you like about it? Why?
- What are the short term benefits?
- What are the long term benefits?
- If you’re in a team, work your way around the room and ask everyone to say something uniquely positive about the idea being discussed.
- Can you build on these ideas?
Add the Cons to your HHPC Canvas. Ask yourself:
- What are the weaknesses of this idea?
- What don’t you like about it? Why?
- Why would this idea face rejection?
- What biases might be coming into play?
- Are there potentially negative short- or long-term implications?
- What will you have to sacrifice for this idea to be successful?
- Can any of these cons be mitigated by other actions? Is it worth it?
Step back! After completing this exercise for each of your ideas you’ll have a robust picture painted of each one, allowing you to directly compare the pros, cons, and overall balance of the idea. Using this system to eliminate bias and increase understanding of all potential solutions will dramatically increase productivity and efficiency. What are you waiting for?
