Thinking tool: Backwards chaining

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Adam Jones

When trying to brainstorm options to achieve a goal: identify that goal and work backwards from it.

This is as opposed to forward chaining, where you consider your current position (for example by performing a SWOT analysis) and brainstorm possible things you could do from there.

Backchaining often seems to generate more ambitious or on-target ideas than forward chaining. It's not always better, for example forward chaining can be hugely valuable for creating surface area for luck. But generally nudging yourself towards backchaining is helpful given often people's "default" mode of brainstorming is forward chaining.

Two mirrored panels with identically-styled boxes. Forward chaining: 'today' on the left branches rightwards into learn Rust, go to the gym, start a podcast, each leading on to a further step. Backchaining: 'the goal' on the right branches leftwards into paying users, a prototype, a co-founder, each leading back to a step available today like sending one scary email

This is part of my thinking tools series. Also consider:

  • Consider framestorming before trying to solve a problem, to check it's the right problem to be solving
  • Before working out how to achieve a goal, run Musk's algorithm over it: question whether the goal is right, and whether it needs doing at all

More on backchaining