The Art of Problem Solving: Practice Make Perfect

Last Week (Week 29 of 2024), held at Essendon Country Club , I had the great privilege to attend Access Golf's first-ever golf day for black senior professionals, sponsored by BYP Network , Cerculate , Cornerstone VC , PEM Corporate Finance LLP , Quaye Services Ltd , and unity.org . Shout out to Philip Olagunju MBA who was behind all of this - See more here.

If you haven’t already guessed, I mostly use lived experiences to guide my posts. While I had other content scheduled, this became imminent. The event was hosted by PGA Professional Coaches, but one coach, Matt, really resonated with me and used language that deeply struck a chord. While participating in the ‘Chipping Practice’, Matt, our coach, made a simple but powerful statement: ‘Chipping is all about problem-solving’. As soon as Matt said this, I went into a trance and started linking the practice of golf to Design Thinking.

‘Chipping is all about problem-solving’.

Not taking for granted that some may not know what chipping is, here is a brief explanation. Chipping refers to short-distance shots made to get the ball onto the green and close to the hole, typically from just off the green. Practicing chipping is crucial for improving your short game and lowering your scores.

The practice was centered on having the right posture. If you are right-handed, the natural inclination is to lean to the right to try and hit upwards. However, we were coached to counterintuitively lean towards the left, ensuring about 70-80% of our weight was on the left side, specifically on the left heel. This setup helps achieve a descending hit on the ball, which is crucial for a solid chip shot. The left shoulder should be positioned directly over the left foot, and the shoulders should pivot around the spine rather than rocking up and down (I promise you, this was all a lot to remember). This stable base allows for a more controlled and consistent swing.

Simply put, the first time anyone tried it, it was a mess—balls were just flying left, right, and center without one chip in sight. Haha.

This is where the problem-solving and link to Design Thinking was really mind-blowing!

During our chipping practice, we followed a process that closely mirrored Design Thinking:

• ?Empathy: Understanding the problem. We began by acknowledging that our natural instincts were not effective. Leaning to the right didn't work, and we had to adjust our posture.
• Define: Identifying the need for change. We recognised the necessity of leaning left and using the right grip and posture to achieve the desired chip shot.
• Ideate: Brainstorming solutions. As a group we discussed and tried different grips, postures, and angles, gathering feedback from our coach and peers.
• Prototype: Experimenting with solutions. We practiced with slight adjustments each time, noting what worked and what didn’t.
• Test: Iterating based on feedback. We continuously refined our techniques, implementing feedback, and adjusting our methods to improve consistency and effectiveness.

The process involved hitting first, assessing posture, asking for feedback from group members, trying again, iterating, and checking the grip—all while making little changes at a time to ensure we could execute the chip consistently. Once we got the hang of things, we were taken to another part of the course, which required us to adjust again. We used everything we had learned, adjusting the angle of our left shoulders to be in line with the slope we stood on and shifting our left foot to carry more weight. I was using muscles I didn’t know existed!

I must candidly say that my mindset allowed me to embrace the lessons and progress from not having golfed before to being able to chip by the end of the 30-minute coaching session.

Lean Startup Principles in Action:

• Build-Measure-Learn Loop: We quickly adapted our methods based on immediate feedback, iterating our techniques to improve our chipping skills.
• Minimum Viable Product (MVP): Starting with basic postures and grips, we gradually built up to more complex adjustments, ensuring each step added value to our learning process.

By consistently applying Design Thinking and Lean Startup principles, I not only improved my golf game (never having played anything but minigolf) but also reinforced the importance of a structured approach to problem-solving in any area of life.

Key Takeaways:

?? Embrace Feedback: Actively seek and use feedback to enhance your skills.

?? Iterate and Improve: Small, consistent improvements lead to significant results over time.

?? Mindset Matters: A positive mindset can transform challenges into opportunities for growth, especially in an isolated sport like golf.

Question:

1. How might you apply these insights to your own projects and endeavors?
2. What areas can you improve through continuous iteration and feedback?
3. How can you better understand and meet the needs of your audience or fulfill the purposes you’ve set out? ??

Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear how you apply Design Thinking and Lean Startup principles in your own lives. I’d really love to also hear when you're next going to the driving range. I may have caught the golfing bug! ????

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Best Wishes,

Ade Ahmadu

Strategic Transformation Leader

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