Experimenting with new approaches can help you solve problems more effectively by boosting your analytical skills, creativity and innovation. In this article, you will learn why and how to experiment with different methods, tools and perspectives to find better solutions to various challenges.
Experimenting means trying out different ways of doing things, testing hypotheses, gathering feedback and learning from the results. Experimenting can help you improve your analytical skills by challenging your assumptions, exposing your biases, revealing new insights and expanding your knowledge. Experimenting can also help you enhance your creativity and innovation by stimulating your imagination, generating new ideas, exploring possibilities and discovering opportunities.
Our initial problem-solving approach frequently relies on assumptions about how things operate. However, experimenting compels us to challenge these assumptions and explore alternative viewpoints, potentially resulting in breakthroughs. In essence, experimenting with new approaches is an integral aspect of pragmatic problem-solving. It encourages thinking creatively, considering diverse perspectives, and ultimately discovering the optimal solution to the problem at hand.
Doing experiment on the same thing multiple times gives a birth a beautiful new creation than people have imagined before doing the things. An experiment gives us same thing with unique feature, a new perspective way to think and see the same things differently
Experimenting with new approaches to problem solving can be done in many ways, depending on the nature, scope and context of the problem. To help guide you, it's important to define the problem precisely, brainstorm multiple solutions, select a few promising solutions to test, design and conduct experiments, and learn and iterate. Defining the problem means understanding what you are trying to achieve, why and how. Brainstorming should include thinking outside the box and using analogies and metaphors. Evaluating potential solutions involves considering their feasibility, desirability and viability. Experiments should be carefully planned with variables, indicators and measures defined. Data and feedback should be collected and analyzed. Finally, learning and iterating means reflecting on what worked, what didn't and why, identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of your solutions, and modifying or discarding them based on evidence and feedback. Repeat this process until you find the best solution.
Experimenting with various aspects of your problem solving process can be beneficial. You can use frameworks, models, techniques and tools to structure, simplify, visualize and communicate your problem and solution. Examples of these include SWOT analysis, fishbone diagram, mind mapping, prototyping or storytelling. Additionally, you can use different technologies, platforms, applications and devices to support, enhance and automate your problem solving. Spreadsheets, databases, software, online tools or gadgets are a few examples of these. Moreover, you can use different viewpoints, lenses, angles and filters to examine, interpret and evaluate your problem and solution. These could include customer, stakeholder, competitor, ethical or environmental perspectives.
Experimentation can be beneficial at any stage of your problem solving process, especially when you encounter uncertainty, stagnation, or optimization. Uncertainty can arise from complex, ambiguous, or novel problems that need further exploration and experimentation. Stagnation can occur with persistent, recurring, or resistant problems that need creativity and innovation. Optimization is needed for simple, clear, or familiar problems that require greater efficiency and effectiveness. Experimentation can help in all these scenarios.
When you feel stuck or stagnant in tackling an issue is a key signal that you need a new approach. When I've encountered a problem that needed a more creative approach to solve, I've found that taking a step back, doing more research on topic- preferably outside of my current industry- and finding at least 1-2 trusted colleague to collaborate with and bounce ideas off of sparks ideas for a new approach.
Experimenting with new approaches can help you solve problems more effectively. It can increase your analytical skills, such as critical thinking, logical reasoning, data analysis and decision making. It can also enhance your creativity and innovation, like divergent thinking, idea generation, problem finding and opportunity creation. Ultimately, it can help you achieve better outcomes by finding more optimal, feasible, desirable and viable solutions to your problems.
Creativity sparks innovation! Analysts- never let anyone tell you that you are not creative. While analytical skills require structure and discipline, some of the most satisfying projects I've worked on are the ones where a truly innovative and creative idea arose from the process.