Here's how you can assess your own creative problem-solving performance.

Another point to add to the above is checking in with the people that are impacted by this and their perception of the problem. I found in the past when trying to problem-solve a process that impacted more people, although I could clearly see the objective and how to do it, others weren't ready or had a different interpretation of the problem, which linked to their needs for a particular departments which were different to mine. But the process was shared. Present to your peers your plan and check that you are all trying to solve the same problem

- Clarity: Define clear and specific goals. What do you want to achieve? Whether it’s solving a complex problem, creating art, or improving a process, having well-defined goals is essential. - Quantify: If possible, quantify your goals. For example, “Increase website traffic by 20%,” or “Write three chapters of my novel.”

- Self-Assessment: Reflect on your performance objectively. What went well? What could be improved? Acknowledge both strengths and areas for growth. - Challenges: Consider the challenges you faced during problem-solving. How did you overcome them?

Self-reflection is a great tool to guide you in solving problems. I have always been an advocate for honesty and authenticity and it starts within yourself. Are you trying to problem solve an issue to avoid something that doesn't sit well with you or is the problem impacting at a bigger scale and it is indeed a collective problem to solve?

- External Perspective: Ask others for feedback. Colleagues, mentors, or friends can provide valuable insights. Be open to constructive criticism. - Specific Questions: Ask targeted questions, such as, “Did my solution address the core issue?” or “How could I improve my approach?”

- Application: Put your problem-solving skills to the test. Solve similar problems or engage in creative activities regularly. - Learn from Failures: Embrace failures as learning opportunities. Analyze what went wrong and adjust your approach.

- Measure Results: Evaluate the outcomes of your problem-solving efforts. Did you achieve your goals? If not, why? - Iterate: If the results weren’t satisfactory, iterate. Refine your approach based on feedback and new insights.

- Actionable Steps: Create an improvement plan. Break it down into actionable steps. For example, if you want to enhance your coding skills, allocate time for practice and learning. - Track Progress: Regularly assess your progress. Adjust your plan as needed.

I found it very useful whenever I launch a new process to give it a timeline of 6 months and set up a reminder to check in after that time period on how it can be fine tuned

- Mindset: Cultivate a growth mindset. Embrace challenges and view them as opportunities for growth. - Creativity: Explore different problem-solving techniques. Sometimes unconventional approaches yield innovative solutions. - Collaboration: Collaborate with others. Diverse perspectives lead to better outcomes.