Headline from the Future
A vivid picture of success
- PhaseIdeate
- Group3 to 15 people
- Time25 minutes
- SettingRoom or remote
- ExecutivesYes
What it is
Headline from the Future asks the group to write a news headline for the version where the idea worked, and a second headline for the version where it went wrong, naming who is accountable. It makes both the ambition and the risk concrete.
When to use it
When the group needs a shared picture of success, or is stuck in small, incremental ideas.
When to skip it
When you are comparing specific ideas. Use a placement method instead.
How to run it
- 5 minPick a date two years from now and a publication the group respects.
- 10 minEach person writes a headline, a three-line story and a quote from someone affected.
- 10 minRead them aloud. Note what had to be true for each to happen.
About 25 minutes of method time. Add ten to fifteen minutes to open and close the session.
What to watch for
Headlines about the technology instead of the people. Hype with no evidence behind it.
The AI lens
Write a second headline for the version that went wrong, and name who is accountable in it. That sets the trust cost early.
What you leave with
A shared picture of success and a list of conditions for it, ready for What Would Have to Be True.
An example
'Insurer pays simple claims in an hour.' And the other version: 'Insurer's automated decisions wrongly deny claims, regulator asks questions.' The second headline sets the trust cost early.
How it compares
Headline from the Future stirs imagination and sets stakes. What Would Have to Be True then turns the good headline into conditions to check.
Related methods
Questions
What is Headline from the Future?
Headline from the Future asks the group to write a news headline for the version where the idea worked, and a second headline for the version where it went wrong, naming who is accountable. It makes both the ambition and the risk concrete.
When should I use Headline from the Future?
When the group needs a shared picture of success, or is stuck in small, incremental ideas.
How long does Headline from the Future take and how many people do I need?
Headline from the Future takes about 25 minutes and suits 3 to 15 people, plus a facilitator. Add ten to fifteen minutes to open and close the session.
How is Headline from the Future different from other methods?
Headline from the Future stirs imagination and sets stakes. What Would Have to Be True then turns the good headline into conditions to check.
Can I run Headline from the Future remotely or with executives?
Yes. Headline from the Future works in the room or remotely. Remotely, put the canvas on a shared board in advance and write silently in the board, not in chat. Executives: Yes, works with executives present.