How can you make your creative problem solving process transparent and accountable?

1 Define the problem

Before you start brainstorming ideas, make sure you have a clear and shared understanding of the problem you are trying to solve. What are the goals, constraints, assumptions, and criteria for success? Who are the beneficiaries and the affected parties? How will you measure the impact and the outcomes of your solution? By defining the problem in a specific and measurable way, you can establish a common ground and a clear direction for your creative process.

2 Explore multiple perspectives

Creative problem solving often involves challenging the status quo and questioning the existing norms and practices. However, this can also lead to ethical conflicts and disagreements, especially if you ignore or dismiss the views and values of others. To avoid this, you should explore multiple perspectives and seek feedback from diverse sources. How will your solution affect different groups of people, cultures, environments, or systems? What are the potential risks, trade-offs, or unintended consequences? How can you address the concerns and expectations of your stakeholders?

3 Document your process

One of the best ways to make your creative problem solving process transparent and accountable is to document your process and share it with others. This means keeping track of your sources, methods, data, assumptions, decisions, and results. How did you generate, evaluate, and select your ideas? What evidence, criteria, or logic did you use to support your solution? How did you test, refine, and implement your solution? By documenting your process, you can show your reasoning, justify your choices, and invite feedback and collaboration.

4 Reflect on your values

Creative problem solving is not only a cognitive but also a moral activity. It requires you to reflect on your values and principles, and how they align with your solution and its impact. What are the ethical implications of your solution? How does it affect the rights, dignity, and well-being of others? How does it relate to your personal and professional code of conduct? How can you improve your ethical awareness and sensitivity? By reflecting on your values, you can enhance your ethical judgment and responsibility.

5 Learn from your mistakes

Creative problem solving is a dynamic and iterative process that involves trial and error, experimentation, and learning. It is inevitable that you will make mistakes, encounter challenges, or face criticism along the way. However, instead of hiding or denying your mistakes, you should embrace them as opportunities to learn and improve. How can you acknowledge and correct your errors? How can you learn from your failures and feedback? How can you adapt and change your solution based on new information or circumstances? By learning from your mistakes, you can demonstrate your humility, integrity, and resilience.

6 Communicate your solution

Finally, to make your creative problem solving process transparent and accountable, you need to communicate your solution effectively and persuasively. This means tailoring your message to your audience, using clear and concise language, and providing relevant and compelling evidence. How can you explain your solution and its benefits in a simple and engaging way? How can you address the questions, objections, or doubts of your audience? How can you inspire and motivate your audience to support and adopt your solution? By communicating your solution, you can showcase your creativity and innovation, and create positive change.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?