Here's how you can develop the essential skills for a career focused on creative problem solving.

Curiosity encourages individuals to ask questions, seek information, and explore various perspectives related to the problem at hand, if it stimulates inquiry and drives the search for deeper understanding, leading to more insightful problem-solving approaches, snd prompts individuals to explore unfamiliar territory and consider alternative viewpoints. By embracing curiosity, problem-solvers are open to new ideas, perspectives, and solutions that they may not have considered otherwise. This expanded perspective fosters creativity and innovation in problem-solving, motivates individuals to explore different avenues and possibilities when approaching a problem!

One should get intrigued by small things similar to what a child does, it may sound funny, but this is what makes all your senses to work. The problem solving is such a process where you have to involve all your senses, once that is done you start to observe that might otherwise be overlooked.

Additionally, regularly stepping out of your comfort zone reinforces this mindset, making you agile and open to unexpected solutions.

One of the premises of managing innovative teams is diversity. Why? Well, because different people carry different perspectives. But not only. A diverse team also needs to learn to view these differences as a learning opportunity, that is, with curiosity. Curiosity is fuel for empathy, which is this ability to step outside ourselves for a moment to understand what is happening with another individual or group. Empathy depends on curiosity in relating to diversity. This is the key to thinking outside the box.

Find an employer who actually wants “curiosity” - and that means they are not only ok with questions but will actually listen to your thoughts and suggestions. Also know that some companies see curiosity as passive resistance or even defiance. Know your environment.

You need to embrace cross-disciplinary learning; it's a conduit for creative thought, weaving a richer tapestry of ideas for inventive solutions.

When you are truly passionate about something, there is no stopping you to learn more about it. The more you know, the more you know you don't know. You will come to realize there is so much more to know, and your knowledge will surely expand. It is good to be part of a community that have similar interest and one that shares. One of the best ways to learn is through collaboration and sharing. Do not limit yourselves with tools and resources. Always try something new and experiment.

Lifelong learning is key. What does this mean in practice? It means that it is not just about consuming information, but above all about learning to learn. This is perhaps one of the most important skills for development when it comes to solving complex problems, found in both professional and personal life. This process is directly connected to our empathic capacity, which allows us to open up to differences and absorb other modes of existence into our original presets. Learning how to solve complex problems depends, in general terms, on what Roman Krznaric called outrospection, that is, a dive into otherness with true curiosity to know, understand, and learn.

In my experience, I recommend people do a lot of reading to expand their knowledge base, I’m a vicarious reader and I can attest to this. Also attend workshops and seminars and converse with experts from different fields. Ask questions, introspect and do a lot of research too.

Curious individuals naturally seek to understand their surroundings. Keeping an open mind fosters ongoing learning and the blending of different ideas into new insights. Reading, watching videos, and listening to podcasts broaden one's perspective, offering diverse solutions to everyday problems. One of the most effective methods to deepen your understanding of what you consume is through discussion. Don't hesitate to share your discoveries with others.

When you incorporate reflection into your creative routine. After each activity, assess what worked and what didn't. This self-analysis is vital for honing your creative problem-solving skills. Connecting your creative practice with real-world issues can also offer perspective and inspire more meaningful solutions. Balancing structured exercises with spontaneous creative challenges keeps the process engaging and effective, preparing you to approach problems with a dynamic, innovative mindset.

Find an employer who genuinely wants you do do this. All of them say they want it - but most don’t. If you’re interviewing, ask for examples of what employees have created and changed. No examples or uncomfortable laughs from your interviewers? Move on.

Creativity is a reaction and is very much a mental game. Our brain is "similar to a muscle" so practicing is important. Creativity arises when there are limitations in resources where w job needs to get done. Approaching challenges with limited resources will get us thinking unconventionally and also gets us to explore and experiment the unknown. We can only achieve this when we are committed to the challenge. As the great Robert Greene has quoted in his book "Mastery" “The truth is that creative activity is one that involves the entire self - our emotions, our levels of energy, our characters, and our minds.” We surely will find a way.

As a data analyst, one of the ways I practice creativity is by brainstorming ideas or when I work with a dataset I have little knowledge about,it helps to spark my curiosity because then I begin to research, apply different methodologies and thought- process . What information is the data trying to tell me.This enhances my creative abilities and helps to hone my data skills. And at the end of the project, I’m imbued with this confidence that I can generate more innovative solutions with data.

Additionally, documenting these reflections can serve as a valuable resource. Keeping a journal or log of your creative processes and outcomes creates a personal playbook for problem-solving. It not only aids in recognizing recurring challenges but also highlights your growth and adaptability over time. This practice crystallizes your experiences, making it easier to identify and apply effective strategies in new contexts, thus enhancing your creative problem-solving capabilities.

Reflection is more easier said then done. In our fast paced working culture, we are too quick to move on to the next project or activity. As a leader, it is important to create an avenue to dissect our work, attitude, persona and being. Better still to make mandatory. The more we reflect, we discover and we re-discover giving us a chance to align ourselves to our goals. Just like how we need a mirror to let us know that we may need to adjust and groom ourselves.

Yes I agree, in retrospect , we look back at the processes we took to arrive at our solutions, which process worked for us and the ones that didn’t. The lessons learned can be applied for future challenges.

When you start cultivating a diverse network it can significantly widen your creative horizons. Connecting with individuals from various backgrounds and expertise broadens your understanding and introduces you to methods and ideas you may never have considered. Embrace the practice of giving and receiving feedback within these collaborations. Constructive criticism is invaluable, as it can illuminate blind spots in your thinking and push you towards more innovative solutions. Through such interactions, you foster a rich ecosystem of collective creativity that propels everyone involved toward greater inventive heights.

Sure, collaborate and join teams and projects and share your ideas - but be aware that they are stolen more often than they are applied. So l, if you want recognition, make sure you share your ideas are noted and shared with the whole group… With creativity comes plagiarism.

The great thing about collaboration is that there is no one person that gets the credit. It is a team effort. A team is usually filled with a mix of more and less capable people. And it gives a chance to those that are less capable to learn or emulate more capable people. It is how we learn, we watch, and we fill our gaps. It is expected that you may not get it right alone, but with constant collaboration, it is very likely the pro-active ones will rise a lot quicker

One thing that I'm always looking for in my work is collaboration. It is the best way to learn and to achieve a broader view of your organization's business. A great way to create a collaborative culture is to expose different teams to cross-departmental processes. Like the sales team learning more about product development and content production; Content Team learning more about CSM's and sales; etc. This way all teams can have access about clients, internal processes, and audiences that can inform and smooth the problem-solving process.

Furthermore, cultivate resilience by viewing setbacks as learning opportunities. This attitude helps you to not only bounce back from failures but to extract valuable insights from them, refining your problem-solving approach. Embracing continuous learning and staying curious about emerging trends and technologies also contributes to adaptability, ensuring you remain relevant and innovative in your field.

Technology is constantly evolving and creating tools and opportunities that previously did not exist. Embrace it! Learn as much as you can. Knowledge is power in problem solving. Sometimes a solution jis the confluence of creativity with a boost from technology. Also, do not be afraid to revisit a solution that was failed previously by reviewing what did not work, or did not work well, and reworking it with a new approach or new knowledge.

- Stay Curious - Stay open to ideas and opinions. Form opinions as late as possible. - Talk to leaders and experts in subject as frequently as you can. They are like redwood trees, having tons of insights.

Get real about your expectations. If you want to work for a company that welcomes this, go find one and turn down offers from the ones you know really don’t. Especially institutions and government jobs. If you’ve watched some movies where the kid and new hire or mail boy wows the CEO and saves a company… just remember - it’s a movie.

1. Read extensively to expand your curiosity. 2. Interact with experts to gain more knowledge. 3. Cultivate the art of resilience. 4. Be open to learn and unlearn 5. Continuous learning and research can indeed improve your creative thinking and help in problem solving.