What do you do if you're struggling to identify and define problems in a creative profession?

Did you know that a child asks as many as 300 questions daily, while adults average just 25? That is quite the difference. Our natural curiosity diminishes as we grow. We condition ourselves to stop questioning and start accepting. But it's crucial to rekindle that inquisitive spirit and embrace curiosity. Ask more, and ask better questions. Dive into probing and explorative questions for deeper understanding, and incorporate affective, emotive, and reflective questions to reveal underlying thoughts and feelings. Just a single 'why' can unlock invaluable insights. It's time to start questioning again.

Curiosity is the best way to make sure that you find the root cause. Ask why minimum of 5 times. This will assist you to identify the challenges in a new perspective. Take help from the team and ensure that you are open to the suggested ideas. It might be the case that something that is not a problem for you, can be for others. This allows to analyze and understand the project deeper, unravelling the challenges it faces.

Unleash Your Inner Curious Cat Approach everything with a questioning mind. Why is this the way it's always been done? Is there a better, more innovative solution lurking just beneath the surface? Embrace the "why" and watch the problem-solving possibilities unfold.

Opening dialogue with your whole team and even stakeholders is key. The perception that asking questions as an adult makes you uneducated or unknowable often leads to blockage and hinders progress. It’s equally important to create a space where one can ask difficult questions and people can give difficult answers with no repercussions. The most productive teams I have been on were the ones where people could be “A** Holes” and have a spirited debate that just stayed in that space, that room, that conversation. Its the political nature of work that degrades the teams ability to quickly deliver value to our customers. Be comfortable with the uncomfortable and you’ll actually see progress at a pace that makes conversations like that addictive

Gather a Rainbow Crew. Sometimes, a fresh set of eyes (or a completely different perspective) is all it takes to crack the code. Bounce ideas off colleagues, collaborate with people from other departments, or even chat up a stranger at a coffee shop. Diversity fuels creativity, and diverse perspectives can be your secret weapon for unearthing hidden problems.

Don't just churn out ideas – take time to reflect on your process. Jot down observations in a notebook, keep a mind map of brainstorming sessions, or even record yourself thinking out loud. Stepping back allows you to see patterns, identify dead ends, and refine your approach to problem definition.

Break down the problem into parts. Think of it as a machine. You have to know which exact part is facing the challenge and what is needed to repair it. See the stages as individual challenges and you will be able to come up with a solution that will be easy to understand and implement, while being effective and efficient.

Sometimes, a seemingly insurmountable problem just needs to be deconstructed. Break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Is it a user experience issue? A communication gap? Once you isolate the core issue, tackling it becomes a whole lot easier.

Don't be afraid to experiment wildly. Sketch outrageous solutions, brainstorm crazy ideas – even the most outlandish concepts can spark a breakthrough. Remember, limitations are often self-imposed. Embrace the freedom to experiment and see where it takes you.

Explore every aspect of inspiration. Inspiration does not have to be from your own industry. At times, it is interesting to look into completely non related industries for inspiration. Implement the learnings in a way that best fits your challenge and your industry. Being a jack of all trades helps more often than we think.

If you are struggling to define a challenge or opportunity, flip it on its head. Use reverse brainstorming to think about how you can make the situation worse. For example, instead of creating a good customer experience, how do I create a bad one? How do we prevent customers from contacting us? How do we make our commute worse? And so on. You'll end up with a long list of activities, causes, concepts, and solutions that you need to ensure are addressed. It is also a great technique for uncovering the most impactful part of a problem to solve.