HOW? The Freedom to Create the Future - Edge of the Napkin #8

Sometimes, the smallest words hold the biggest weight. 
In this episode of Edge of the Napkin, Govindh Jayaraman dives deep into one of the most overused — and misunderstood — words in leadership: “How.” 

We use it constantly. 
We think it’s helpful. 
But as Govindh reveals, how can be both the key to progress — and the invisible wall that keeps us from growing. 

We say things like: 

“That’s not how it’s done.” 
“That’s not how we do things here.” 
“Let me show you how I want that done.” 
“We tried that how before — it didn’t work.” 

Every one of those sentences feels logical on the surface… but underneath, each one tightens the box around creativity, ownership, and freedom. 

That’s the danger of the old how — it limits. 
And that’s the invitation of the future how — it liberates. 

 

The Freedom of How 

The napkin for this episode says it all. 
Two circles. 

On the left, Old How — arrows pointing inward, closing in, trapping ideas. 
On the right, Future How — arrows bursting outward, full of energy, movement, and possibility. 
Between them: Freedom of How → 

That’s the bridge between constraint and creativity. 

When leaders define what success looks like and where we’re going, the Freedom of How empowers people to figure out the way. It shifts the role of leadership from command and control to clarity and trust. 

“If you know where you’re starting and where you’re going, you don’t need to dictate the how,” Govindh says in the episode. “You need to create the conditions for your team to discover it.” 

The Freedom of How creates ownership. It sparks learning. And it’s the foundation for the next evolution of your business — the Future How. 

 

The Future How 

“The things that got us here,” Govindh says, “won’t get us where we want to go.” 

That’s where the Future How comes in. It’s about letting go of the methods, systems, and beliefs that served you once — but no longer fit where you’re heading. 

Marshall Goldsmith calls it the trap of old success habits. The habits that built yesterday’s victories can easily become the barriers to tomorrow’s innovation. 

Maybe your old how was hustling harder than everyone else. 
Maybe it was saying yes to everything. 
Maybe it was doing it all yourself. 

Each of those “hows” worked once. But they won’t work forever. 

The Future How is about evolving those habits — trading effort for intention, speed for clarity, and control for trust. 
It’s about inventing the next way forward. 

 

Reframing Through Focus–Align–Act 

Like every Edge of the Napkin reflection, this one loops back to the core model — Focus, Align, Act. 

• FOCUS gives direction: What outcome do we want? Where are we heading? 

• ALIGN creates trust: Who are we? What values guide the journey? 

• ACT generates momentum: What’s the next small, meaningful step? 

When these three are clear, “how” becomes flexible — not fixed. 
The team doesn’t need a map; they need a compass. 
And that compass is shared purpose. 

Freedom of How isn’t about chaos. It’s about clarity without control. 

 

5 Key Takeaways + Take Action Steps 

1. The Word “How” Isn’t Neutral 

Takeaway: Every time you use “how,” you’re either giving permission or taking it away. 
Take Action: Listen for the moments you say “how” this week. Replace control with curiosity — ask, “What outcomes are we aiming for?” instead of “How are you doing it?” 

 

2. Freedom of How Begins with Clarity 

Takeaway: People can only own the “how” when they clearly understand the “where” and the “why.” 
Take Action: Revisit your team’s goals. Strip away jargon and make them unmistakably clear. Then, step back and let people find their way. 

 

3. Let Go of the Old How 

Takeaway: Yesterday’s success can be tomorrow’s bottleneck. 
Take Action: Identify one habit, process, or system that once worked — but now limits you. Ask your team: “If we started today, how would we do this differently?” 

 

4. Build the Bridge with Focus–Align–Act 

Takeaway: Freedom without structure is chaos. FAA provides the rhythm — clarity of destination, connection through values, and momentum through action. 
Take Action: Before giving direction, pause. Check: Do we have Focus? Are we Aligned? Are we ready to Act freely? 

 

5. Encourage the Future How 

Takeaway: Your team’s next innovation won’t come from you — it’ll come from their freedom to explore. 
Take Action: Ask your people to bring you one “new how” this month — something that challenges the way it’s always been done. Listen without judging. 

 

The Napkin Thought 

“Freedom of How → Future How” 

It’s deceptively simple — just a shift in arrows, from inward to outward. 
But it represents the shift every great leader must make: 
From control to trust. 
From repetition to invention. 
From yesterday’s how… to tomorrow’s. 

 

Your Challenge 

Grab a napkin. Write the word “HOW?” at the top. 
Draw two circles — one with arrows in, one with arrows out. 
Ask yourself: 

• Where am I still living in the Old How? 

• What Future How is waiting to be created? 

Then, share your napkin online with the hashtag #PaperNapkinWisdom. 
Because how you lead today defines how your future unfolds. 

 

Episode: Edge of the Napkin #8 – “HOW?” 
Host: Govindh Jayaraman, founder of Paper Napkin Wisdom 
Learn more at: www.papernapkinwisdom.com