Maslow’s Hammer

Questions

What is Maslow’s Hammer?

Maslow's Hammer, also called the law of the instrument, captures the idea that if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. We tend to over-rely on familiar tools, skills or methods even when they are a poor fit, which can blind us to better solutions and to change.

How do you use Maslow’s Hammer?

When you face a problem, brainstorm at least three different approaches before choosing one. Keep learning new tools and frameworks, and seek out people from other disciplines who see problems differently. Ask whether you are choosing a method because it fits or just because it is familiar.

When does Maslow’s Hammer matter?

Maslow’s Hammer is one of the 40 mental models for fixing problems, the situations where you ask: Why does this keep going wrong, and how do I fix it for good? Within that, it belongs to “Finding the real cause”, alongside Black Box, First Principles Thinking and Inversion.

What is an example of Maslow’s Hammer?

Two stories show it at work: The boy with a hammer (1964–1966) and BlackBerry (2008). Both are told in full in The Mental Models Daily Almanac, which has two stories for each of its 365 models.

Which mental models are related to Maslow’s Hammer?

Generals Fighting the Last War, Generalist vs Specialists and Circle of Competence. Maslow’s Hammer itself comes from human nature and judgement.