What do you do if your problem-solving approach is too conventional?

"Rethink Routine" means breaking away from traditional problem-solving methods. Firstly, identify patterns in your conventional approach. Then, deliberately challenge them. Encourage creativity by asking unconventional questions, exploring diverse perspectives, and embracing failure as part of the learning process. Adopt techniques like brainstorming, mind mapping, or role-playing to foster innovative thinking. Finally, iterate and refine ideas, incorporating the best aspects of both conventional and unconventional approaches for a well-rounded solution.

I would suggest: Question Every Step: Ask if your usual steps still make sense in today's context. Are they solving today's problems or yesterday's assumptions? Explore New Lenses: Consult individuals from different departments or industries for fresh perspectives. One of my clients, a manufacturing firm, solved a production bottleneck by applying supply chain strategies from the hospitality industry. Allow Mental Space: Take a deliberate break to let your subconscious mind connect the dots. A creative solution often emerges after engaging in unrelated activities like walking or drawing.

Engage in brainstorming sessions with a diverse group of people. Encourage everyone to share ideas freely without judgment. Sometimes, unconventional solutions emerge from these creative discussions. Surround yourself with people from different backgrounds, cultures, and disciplines. Diversity of thought often leads to unconventional solutions because each individual brings a unique perspective to the table. This has always worked for me.

When conventional problem-solving skills feel limiting, it's essential to embrace innovation by expanding one's toolkit, engaging in divergent thinking, and seeking diverse perspectives. By challenging assumptions, experimenting with new approaches, and committing to continuous learning, individuals can break free from conventional patterns and become more adept problem solvers. This proactive stance towards innovation fosters creativity, resilience, and adaptability in navigating complex challenges and seizing opportunities for growth and improvement.

By breaking away from traditional methods, individuals can unlock new perspectives and innovative solutions to complex challenges. Embracing creativity and flexibility allows for the exploration of unconventional ideas and approaches, fostering a culture of innovation within the organization. Moreover, challenging established norms and routines encourages critical thinking and adaptability, essential qualities in today's rapidly evolving business landscape. By encouraging individuals to step outside their comfort zones and explore alternative strategies, organizations can drive continuous improvement and maintain a competitive edge in problem-solving and decision-making processes.

Based on my experience here are some approaches that could help: Prototype Relentlessly: Treat every solution as a prototype, even if it works. Embrace trial and error by continuously testing multiple hypotheses simultaneously. Utilize Negative Capability: Poet John Keats coined this term to describe the ability to stay comfortable with ambiguity. Encourage your team to suspend judgment and remain open to evolving information without needing an immediate resolution.

"Embrace Uncertainty" involves acknowledging that conventional approaches may not always yield optimal solutions. Instead of rigidly adhering to familiar methods, accept the ambiguity inherent in problem-solving. Cultivate a mindset that views uncertainty as an opportunity for exploration and growth rather than a hindrance. Experiment with diverse strategies, welcome input from various sources, and remain open to unexpected outcomes. By embracing uncertainty, you can uncover innovative solutions that conventional approaches may overlook.

In today's dynamic business landscape, challenges often present themselves in unpredictable ways, requiring flexibility and adaptability. By embracing uncertainty, individuals can open themselves to new perspectives, innovative solutions, and creative problem-solving methods. Rather than clinging to rigid frameworks, embracing uncertainty allows for experimentation, iteration, and learning from failures. It fosters a culture of resilience and agility, enabling individuals to navigate complex problems with confidence and resilience. Embracing uncertainty not only expands the range of potential solutions but also promotes growth and development, ultimately leading to more effective and impactful problem-solving outcomes.

By connecting with colleagues in other companies, even those in entirely different businesses, I've managed to get plenty really fresh perspectives and insights. Sharing challenges and brainstorming solutions with individuals who bring unique experiences to the table has consistently yielded new ideas and approaches that I might not have considered otherwise.

"Leverage Diversity" suggests tapping into a variety of perspectives, backgrounds, and skills to break free from conventional problem-solving. Encourage input from diverse team members or seek insights from individuals outside your usual circle. Different viewpoints can inspire fresh ideas and alternative solutions. Embrace a culture that values inclusivity and respects differing opinions. By leveraging diversity, you can enrich your problem-solving process and uncover innovative approaches that conventional methods may overlook.

In problem-solving, leveraging diversity is crucial when conventional approaches prove insufficient. Diverse perspectives bring varied insights and ideas to the table, fostering innovation and creativity. By incorporating viewpoints from individuals with different backgrounds, experiences, and expertise, teams can uncover unconventional solutions to complex problems. Moreover, diverse teams are better equipped to anticipate potential challenges and address them proactively. Embracing diversity not only enhances problem-solving but also promotes inclusivity, fosters collaboration, and ultimately leads to more robust and effective outcomes in navigating unconventional problem-solving scenarios.

By iterating, one can refine and enhance initial ideas, uncovering new perspectives and possibilities. This iterative process fosters creativity and adaptability, allowing for the exploration of alternative solutions and the identification of unforeseen opportunities. Moreover, iterating solutions enables individuals to address complex challenges more effectively by testing hypotheses, gathering feedback, and making incremental improvements. Ultimately, embracing iteration in problem-solving encourages continuous learning and growth, leading to more innovative and impactful outcomes in tackling both existing and future challenges.

"Iterate Solutions" involves recognizing that conventional approaches may lead to stale or suboptimal outcomes. Instead, continuously refine and evolve your solutions through iterative cycles of experimentation and feedback. Start by implementing a basic solution, then gather feedback, analyze results, and make adjustments accordingly. Embrace failure as a stepping stone to improvement and view each iteration as an opportunity to learn and grow. By iteratively refining your solutions, you can gradually break away from conventional thinking and uncover more innovative and effective approaches to problem-solving.

"Question Storm" Sessions: Instead of brainstorming solutions, host "question storm" sessions where the goal is to generate as many questions as possible about a problem. One of my clients, an e-commerce company, used this approach to uncover overlooked aspects of their user experience. The result was a surge in innovative solutions driven by deeper understanding. Encourage your team to explore unconventional angles and "what-if" scenarios during these sessions.

"Foster Curiosity" involves cultivating a mindset of exploration and inquiry to break free from conventional problem-solving. Encourage asking "why" and "what if" questions to challenge assumptions and spark creativity. Engage in activities that stimulate curiosity, such as researching new technologies or learning from diverse disciplines. Embrace a willingness to explore unfamiliar territory and experiment with alternative solutions. By fostering curiosity, you can ignite innovation and uncover novel approaches that defy convention.

Curiosity prompts individuals to question assumptions, explore alternative perspectives, and seek innovative solutions beyond traditional methods. By encouraging curiosity, individuals can break free from the confines of conventional thinking, opening doors to creative insights and novel approaches. Curiosity drives experimentation and the willingness to challenge the status quo, leading to breakthroughs in problem-solving. Moreover, it cultivates a culture of continuous learning and adaptation, fostering resilience and adaptability in the face of evolving challenges. Ultimately, fostering curiosity empowers individuals to navigate complexities with agility and innovation, driving progress and success in problem-solving endeavors.

"Reflect Regularly" entails pausing to critically evaluate your problem-solving methods and outcomes. Set aside time to assess the effectiveness of your approach, considering both successes and failures. Reflect on whether your solutions have become routine or if there are missed opportunities for innovation. Identify patterns or biases in your thinking that may be limiting creativity. Embrace a growth mindset that values continuous improvement and learning from past experiences. By reflecting regularly, you can break free from conventional thinking and uncover fresh perspectives that lead to more innovative problem-solving.

Regular reflection is crucial when a problem-solving approach becomes too conventional. It allows individuals to pause, reassess their methods, and identify potential biases or limitations in their thinking. By reflecting regularly, one can challenge assumptions, explore alternative perspectives, and consider innovative solutions that may have been overlooked. This process fosters adaptability and creativity, enabling individuals to break free from traditional paradigms and embrace new approaches to problem-solving. Ultimately, regular reflection empowers individuals to evolve their problem-solving skills, driving continuous improvement and fostering a culture of innovation within the organization.

When I was in elementary school our teachers would run us through brain storming techniques as a way to inspire critical thought and creativity. I found myself facing a bit of adversity using this conventional method. I often think back to this as a way to remind myself that innovation is oftentimes not conventional. Thinking outside of the box requires shedding your narrow minded approach to a problem. It requires daring to say and think something that is different from what other people would say or think. It requires personal leadership and time-sensitive decision making.

When faced with a conventional problem-solving approach, it's essential to introduce fresh perspectives. Firstly, encourage diverse thinking by involving team members from various backgrounds and expertise levels. Secondly, implement design thinking principles to redefine the problem statement and explore unconventional solutions. Thirdly, leverage technology and data analytics to gain insights and identify alternative strategies. Additionally, foster a culture of experimentation and risk-taking, where failure is viewed as an opportunity for learning and innovation. By embracing these critical factors, organizations can break free from conventional problem-solving approaches and unlock new avenues for creativity and success.