What do you do if your team resists using creative problem-solving methods?

2 Communicate the benefits

The next step is to communicate the benefits of using creative problem-solving methods to your team. You can explain the purpose and objectives of the methods and how they align with the team's goals and values, as well as share examples or stories of how these methods have helped other teams or organizations. Additionally, you should highlight the advantages of the methods over traditional or conventional ones, such as increased efficiency, effectiveness, quality, or satisfaction. Inviting feedback and questions from your team and addressing any concerns or doubts they may have is also essential. By communicating the benefits, you can create a sense of urgency and relevance for your team to try the methods.

3 Provide support and guidance

The third step is to offer support and guidance to your team as they use creative problem-solving methods. This can be done by providing clear instructions and expectations for each method, ensuring that your team has the necessary resources and tools, facilitating the process, and creating a safe environment for your team to express their ideas. Additionally, you should encourage your team to experiment, learn, and have fun with the methods, celebrate their efforts and achievements, provide constructive feedback and coaching, and help them overcome any challenges or difficulties they may encounter. Ultimately, by providing support and guidance, you can build your team's confidence and competence in using the methods.

4 Model the behavior

The fourth step is to model the behavior that you want your team to adopt when using the creative problem-solving methods. You can do this by demonstrating your own willingness and enthusiasm to use the methods, exhibiting openness and curiosity to new ideas, displaying resilience and flexibility when facing failure or uncertainty, and showing appreciation and recognition for your team's creativity. Through this example, you can motivate and guide your team to use the methods. Furthermore, by demonstrating how you apply the methods to your own problems or tasks, as well as acknowledging the value and impact of their contributions, you can further encourage your team to embrace creative problem-solving.

5 Reinforce the outcomes

The fifth step is to reinforce the outcomes that your team achieves by using the creative problem-solving methods. This can be done by measuring and evaluating the results and impact of the methods, and then sharing them with the team and other stakeholders. Additionally, you should link the outcomes to the team's performance and rewards, recognizing and rewarding them for their creativity and innovation. Furthermore, seek and incorporate feedback from your team and other stakeholders on how to improve the methods, as well as identify and apply lessons learned from using them. By reinforcing the outcomes, you can sustain and enhance your team's motivation and commitment to use the methods.

6 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?