How can you ensure that creative problem solving skills are applied in the workplace?

It is important to recognize that the identification of a problem and subsequently defining it in an appropriate way is the most crucial and foundational part of solving it. I have observed, on multiple occasions, that it takes some of the best minds in the room to accurately define what the problem is. Even without a clear definition, everyone often starts jumping into building solutions. Consequently, most of the solutions generated during such times rarely provide long-term resolutions or effectively address the underlying issues. Understanding the 5 Whys of a problem and further breaking it down in a fishbone diagram provides a clear view of the root cause and its magnitude.

Identify the problem to be solved in a workspace. Understand clearly the root cause so as to tackle the root cause against future occurrence which may linger on a dragging performance in workplace. Use fishbone diagram to provide deeper insight as the case may be in solving the problem in a workplace.

When you want to solve a problem in a creative way, the first thing is to clearly understand what the problem is. Figure out why it's happening, how big it is, what impact it has, and what you want to achieve by solving it. This clear understanding helps you focus on finding the right solutions. Tools like the 5 Whys or Fishbone Diagram can be handy to define the problem better.

In my experience solutions aren’t as tough as is to understand the problem. There is a strong probability that we will run in a wrong direction if we don’t know the finish line. Defining the problem, considering the scope, analysing the root causes are a few indispensable steps before we start approaching the solution. I have had instances where this race to solve led to a lot of unnecessary reworks.

First thing is to recognize the problem (or challenge) and not to be affraid of if not find the solution. Include other people from specific area and try with brainstorming, mind mapping and use different perspectives. Think outside of the box! Be open to unconventional solutions!

Generating ideas requires preloading the mind with the target. I.e. you don't come in blank into meetings. You ask people to start thinking beforehand and come into meetings (with any tool you wish to use) with people having already "slightly cooked ideas". Also remember its not a one stop solution, this has to happen over a bit of time as ideas die, some cross, and others evolve until you reach a mature enough set to work with.

Allow team members to speak up, express their ideas without fear, accept as a leader that your team may have different opinions than yours, and most importantly, listen to and try to understand their viewpoints, allowing them to test them and learn from that culture.

To solve a problem, the next step is to come up with lots of ideas. Use techniques like brainstorming, mind mapping or Six Thinking Hats to think in different ways. The goal is to have many different ideas, so don't judge them at this point, just focus on having a lot of varied thoughts.

Generating ideas is a crucial skill because it allows you to explore diverse solutions, encourages creativity, and fosters adaptability in finding effective ways to address challenges. Additionally, it promotes critical thinking by forcing you to consider various perspectives and possibilities. It helps overcome obstacles, stimulates innovation, and contributes to continuous improvement in problem-solving approaches.

To cultivate a truly diverse array of ideas, it is imperative to assemble a team that reflects diversity. Therefore, the current list falls short by not emphasizing the necessity of ensuring diversity within the team itself. Individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives bring unique viewpoints to the table.

Every person in a team can innovate, how ? Well , intent matters and so does content :) When a person brings an idea to the table , the following needs to be addressed by the person too. Here is what we ask them : 1. Tell me three things that will work with your idea . 2. Tell me three things that won’t work with your idea . 3. Is your idea sustainable? Collect all of these and put it in a central repository .Ask each person to draw a random idea and ask them why this works and what won’t work . The aggregation of what works and won’t work of collective responses will tell you : 1. Which works 2. What has one to do to make the others work too :)

Evaluation is the most crucial step in selecting the appropriate idea and proceeding with the plan. After you have finished your brainstorming session and gathered all the creative ideas, it's essential to take some time to evaluate every single idea, even the wildest and most unrealistic ones! Many people tend to skip this step and opt for what seems more familiar, "realistic", or easier to solve, which eliminates creativity. However, by examining each idea and trying to map out a solution process for it, you might stumble upon the best choice unexpectedly! Therefore, it is important to take a moment to consider even the craziest ideas before making any decisions.

Avaliar e selecionar as idéias e sugest?es é outra etapa primordial. Digamos que é uma fase de afunilar e filtrar as mais viáveis, que estejam mais alinhadas com os objetivos. é importante esta análise pois nenhuma idéia, por mais desconexa que ela pare?a, deve ser inicialmente descartada. Quando se aplica ferramentas de análise como a Lista de Prós e Contras, é possível perceber as que podem evoluir e amadurecer para uma solu??o ou conjunto de solu??es que vai formar a estratégia final de CSP.

Assign a "devil's advocate" role. When evaluating new ideas, have someone play devil's advocate to critique and find potential issues. Now the catch is, this has to be someone from within the team so that it incorporates a little healthy competition among fellow members. This role playing forces people to consider things from different angles. Each of the members would try to think as uniquely as possible so that their idea does not get critiqued.

Nesta etapa do CPS entende-se que as idéias já foram exaustivamente discutidas e que é preciso imeplementar e testar na prática. Para isto elabora-se um plano de execu??o das solu??es propostas. Muitas empresas optam por implementar as solu??es em determinados setores ou departamentos que v?o gerar dados mais limpos, sem interferência. Monitorar e tratar os dados desta fase de implementa??o vai contribuir para a tomada de decis?o. O Plano de A??o é amplamente difundido por ser a ferramenta mais simples de se elaborar e implementar, mas possui as suas limita??es no aspecto qualitativo, na minha opini?o. Gosto muito do ciclo PDCA por priorizar bastante a etapa de planejamento que é extremamente importante e permite maior flexibiliza??o.

Prototype early and often. This is one issue all of us face. While Ideation can happen smoothly following the tips above, the main situation is to execute and check. That is where one finally learns. Don't get stuck in analysis paralysis. Encourage teams to quickly prototype concepts, test with real users, and iterate based on feedback. The hands-on process stimulates creativity.

This is a critical part of the process. If the team doesn’t feel the openness and willingness to listen and try the groups ideas and prospectives the success of the group will be stunted until the trust is built. I found on my teams the best brainstorming sessions were when the entire team felt confident the winning idea was within them as a group and leadership was excited to hear it.

Make it ok to be wrong... Corporate America's largest challenge is innovation because the price (or perceived price) to be "wrong" is so high. It is important to explore the boundaries, not accepting the old paradigm. Don't be surprised, key decision makers don't like new ideas, so leaders need to empower their teams to be creative. I was challenged to revamp Morgan Stanley's first call centers. The assignment was do it in half the standard time, and make it state of the art. We had to overcome some internal bias, and the team needed to feel protected. My team delivered, suprising everyone by suggesting that we partner with affiliate Discover Card. Pushback was severe, but the results were better than anyone could have imagined.

It's extremely important to support all of your contributors in every situation. However, if you have someone who is particularly creative, thinks outside the box, & creative problem-solving is your business, then it becomes even more important to reward everyone for throwing ideas out there. It takes bravery to step outside of the box & swim in uncharted waters, so always show appreciation. I keep all the ideas on the back burner on the off-chance you have to revisit the issue. I also like to go back & ask the group to vote on the best 2nd & 3rd place winners via an anonymous survey. This doesn't cost anyone much time, & it makes the whole process fun. Offering positive feedback will encourage more creativity the next time you need it.

Focus on the solution... after you identify the problem look for multiple solutions before you settle on one. I find sometimes ridiculous or even funny solutions get the juices flowing. Too often people get hung up on problems. It's solutions we are looking for.

Eu como grande entusiasta da Criatividade, principalmente com o objetivo de resolu??o de problemas (CPS), defendo arduamente que os ambientes de trabalho sejam cada vez mais livres e propícios para novas idéias. Infelizmente há muitas empresas travestidas de 'inovadoras' mas que n?o posuem um ambiente de fato pró-criatividade, que n?o incentivam discuss?es saudáveis para novas solu??es e que n?o deixam os colaboradores se sentirem livres e seguros para propor novas alternativas. As empresas precisam implementar estratégias para estimular a cria??o de novas idéias! Percebo empresas na prática inovadoras que criam workshops de Criatividade para estimular os colaboradores a criar e experimentar novas solu??es e isto é uma tendência positiva.

I believe that incorporating creative problem solving ideas is even more effective with a touch of research. A little research can go a long way in refining and implementing those creative solutions…

For a comprehensive understanding of your creative thinking capabilities, the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking can be invaluable. This assessment gauges your divergent thinking skills, originality, and fluency, providing a nuanced perspective on your creative prowess. Remember, the pursuit of improvement is an ongoing journey. Actively seek out learning opportunities, engage in continuous self-assessment, and remain open to adopting new methodologies. By consistently refining your creative problem-solving skills, you position yourself to tackle challenges with heightened innovation and efficacy.

O processo criativo para resolu??o de problemas é dinamico, precisa estar 'vivo' e alinhado com uma metodologia de melhoria contínua. Conhecer a si mesmo e entender como você pode agregar para resolver determinado problema, vai ajudar a potencializar a sua Criatividade. Eu gosto da abordagem do "Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking" por ser um processo de gera??o de idéias e pensamentos divergentes e por ser um método 'n?o-linear'. Esta estrutura permite que idéias divergentes se comuniquem, mas que n?o tenham um único viés e valoriza diferentes perspectivas.

Propose creativity challenges. Every few months, pose an engaging challenge related to improving the workplace. Offer prizes and recognition for the most unique and useful ideas. Also, encourage bad ideas. I learnt this while working for one of the firms during my Internship. Taking things a step further from traditional brainstorming, having people intentionally try to think of silly or unrealistic approaches, really expands the realm of ideas considered.

I can only speak in my experiences in working in the Hospitality Industry. In my experiences, if I don't have a cart to run dishes, I always "walk" the dishes to their proper place.

It is easier to ensure creative problem solving is brought to the workplace if you're in a position of power. When not, there's the need to rely on techniques that can bring it there, like those for leading without authority, emotional intelligence, getting the buy in by presenting at different levels in different ways, etc.

From my experience it's not just having great ideas or that those are suitable for a determined problem, you must have leaders with that skill well developed, passion for problem solving and then it's possible show others by example. Create the people's skill of problem solving by showing them the way. Sure, you need to have core skills that improve problem solving, having enough determination and consistency, but you can train the Teams to get there. One more important point: never ask someone to do a activity that is not their passion, including problem solving. In the end what differentiate workers from leaders is their passion.

In my view, consistency is the key! To keep our problem-solving skills strong, we must prioritize regular brainstorming sessions. If we skip them due to time constraints or any other reasons, it sets a precedent that could harm our company's culture of innovation and collaboration.

Generally speaking humans are resistant to change, if you can create Champions/Supporters, they can help move everybody else in the right direction. Bring on some of the staff that will be involved in the changes and have them participate in the process.