Project managers often struggle to be creative problem solvers. How can you avoid these common mistakes?

A problem or an issue well defined is a problem half resolved Hence we must spend sufficient time understanding the issue, its scope & its impact. Brainstorm with all stakeholders & clearly articulate the problem statement to ensure everyone is aligned.

You can't solve a problem that isn't defined. How do you define it? Define the situation clearly. Describe the outcome that is a concern. Delineate approaches that have been tried. Determine who needs to brainstorm an approach.

Project Manager has to deliver on time, with the requested quality and within the target cost. Foresee in advance what can go wrong and define an action plan for each wrong condition. To be a creative problem solver, she/he needs to see how the same problem has been solved into other industries. Do not expect to find the solution form a single source, it is often a combination of different elements and competences.

Keep asking the question ‘so what?’, until you can’t answer it anymore. It should elicit the what, the why, the who and the how.

Before brainstorming solutions, take the time to fully understand the issue you're facing. What are the symptoms? What's the root cause? Answering these questions will help you identify the right problem to solve and avoid wasting time on irrelevant solutions. Tip: Use tools like the 5 Whys technique to get to the root cause of the problem. Ask "why" five times to peel back the layers and identify the underlying issue.

‘No stupid ideas’ sessions allow people to think creatively as a group without fear of ‘being wrong’. Hold them with members from different departments, people are never shy to speak up when they know they’re not the SME who is expected to know the right solution.

Don't fall into the trap of assuming you have all the answers. Gather input from your team members, stakeholders, and anyone else who might have a different perspective on the problem. Tip: Facilitate brainstorming sessions that encourage diverse thinking. Techniques like mind mapping and SCAMPER can help you generate a wider range of creative solutions.

I agree. I think so many times people see a problem and it creates tunnel vision. Even in problems there are means and methods that were used that were successful. Something just took place that took the situation off track. Brain storm to find the positives with your team and then look for where it took a wrong turn. There’s always good things in every bad situation just as well as bad things in good situations sometimes you just have to change your perspective to see the other side.

To make sure you are covering every possible angle meet with multiple stakeholders and understand their perspectives. Have a brain storming meeting with a bunch of them and you will come across various points you might have earlier overlooked. I guess finding the right stakeholders is the first and most important step!

In my opinion, having diverse perspectives is crucial for coming up with innovative solutions to problems. Project managers sometimes get stuck in their own way of thinking. That's why it's important to actively seek out input from various team members, stakeholders, and even people outside of the project's immediate circle. These different viewpoints can help uncover blind spots and reveal solutions that might not have been considered before.

In my experience, collaboration plays a crucial role in addressing complex problems effectively. Neglecting to involve the right individuals—those with relevant expertise, those directly affected by the problem, or those responsible for implementation—can result in incomplete or impractical solutions. Early and ongoing collaboration is key as it fosters buy-in and enables the identification of potential challenges.

Assemble a team with the necessary skills and experience to tackle the problem. This might include people with technical expertise, analytical thinking skills, and creative problem-solving abilities. Tip: Consider forming a cross-functional team that brings together different areas of expertise. This will ensure you have a well-rounded perspective on the problem.

To enhance creativity and problem-solving as a project manager, incorporating mindfulness and a learning mindset is key. Mindfulness can help you stay present and focused, enabling you to approach challenges with clarity and openness. Cultivate a learning mindset by seeking feedback, experimenting with new ideas, and continuously improving your skills. This approach can help you avoid common mistakes by promoting a deeper understanding of problems and encouraging innovative solutions.

By involving the right people and effectively communicating with them, you can enhance collaboration and gain buy-in from all relevant parties. This will lead to a more comprehensive and effective solution that has a higher chance of success.

In my experience, you might not get everything right and that is what makes management interesting. The ability to still get the best out of what you have.

Don't assume the first solution you come up with is the best one. Pilot test your solution on a small scale and gather feedback before implementing it on a larger scale. Tip: Use a prototyping approach to develop a quick and inexpensive version of your solution. This will allow you to test it with real users and get feedback early on.

The speed and the lack of time, make that we do not improve the prototype solution created. This can eventually lead to another problem. We apply what we studied as children in technology and create prototypes, mock-ups, etc. and then refine them on a trial/error basis.

There are many ways to solve a problem that in theory should be effective. However, reality often adds unforeseen variables that might steer the outcome in an unexpected way. This is why testing our thesis is of great importance.

Take the time to reflect on the problem-solving process after you've implemented a solution. What worked well? What could have been done differently? Tip: Conduct a project retrospective to discuss the lessons learned from the experience. This will help you improve your problem-solving skills for future projects.

No one starts from perfect - this is why a growth mindset is crucial to embrace challenges and failures as we can therefore see our progress in making less of them in the future.

Remember, learning from experience is an ongoing process. Regularly revisit and update your reflections and evaluations to ensure that you are continuously improving your creative problem-solving skills and delivering better solutions. By implementing a structured reflection and evaluation approach, you can avoid the mistake of not learning from your creative problem-solving experiences. This will help you and your team grow and develop, leading to more effective problem-solving and successful project outcomes.

In my experience, every project, successful or not, offers valuable lessons for future endeavors. Project managers who neglect to reflect on the problem-solving process miss out on opportunities for growth. Dedicate time for post-project reviews to uncover both what worked well and where improvements could be made.

Need to do SWOT analysis & need to use a reflection and evaluation approach that allows you to capture and apply the lessons learned from the creative problem solving process. You need to use tools such as feedback forms, debriefs, and after-action reviews to review your performance, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and plan your future actions.

Project managers, more than many other roles, are evaluated on their ability to deliver results on time. Therefore, a big factor here is the time pressure they face, which could discourage creative thinking. Therefore, a different set of considerations is about time. First, project managers need to plan well, allowing time for dealing with unexpected problems and testing novel solutions. Second, project managers need to identify problems early on and act quickly. The closer to the deadline, the more time pressure you would face, limiting creative energy and exploration. Relatedly, as a leader for your project, it is important to give subordinates the time and space needed for exploring innovative solutions.

When approaching any problem, it is essential to begin with a clear vision of the end goal in mind. Remember that every problem has a solution; all it takes is the collaboration of the right minds working together to find it.

Furthermore, I strongly believe in cultivating a culture of psychological safety. When team members feel secure enough to experiment and possibly fail, they become more inclined to engage in creative thinking and offer innovative solutions.

The very first thing to be taken care of is "Defining your problem clearly and concisely", afterwards the correct understanding and interpretation of the definition is must because it lays down the foundation of your problem solving strategy and step by step solving plan.Then make your problem solving plan accordingly and execute in the described manner.Include all the aspects of the scenario and don't leave anything because even a single thing left can effect a large addressing problem. Think creatively and with concious mind:).

Project managers frequently encounter the challenge of juggling multiple projects simultaneously, leading to feelings of overwhelm and difficulty in maintaining creativity. When faced with a myriad of tasks, it's common for managers to become consumed by the tactical aspects of project management, leaving little room for innovation and problem-solving. To combat this, it's crucial for project managers to prioritize tasks effectively, delegate responsibilities when possible, and carve out dedicated time for brainstorming and creative problem-solving sessions.