How to Solve Your Problems

There’s a huge difference between having a great idea and then turning that idea into a successful business.

That journey is full of twists and turns, but one thing is clear. As the founder, you need to be laser-focused and have tunnel vision on the one hand, but on the other hand you also need to be able to think in big picture terms.

Tunnel vision and big picture.

In my experience, it’s much easier to have tunnel vision, to think narrowly about your immediate goals.

Big picture thinking will set you apart. But thinking in this way does not always come naturally. The good news is that big picture thinking is a skill and so can be learned, improved, and even mastered.

I set out below my three-part framework to improve your big picture thinking skills.

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Seek Knowledge 

The first step in the framework is knowledge. If you don’t see the big picture, you will not be able to think big picture. Find out from your clients or customers about their businesses. What are their plans? What are their challenges? Read up regularly about developments in their industries and business trends and drivers. Connect with peers to understand their observations of the marketplace. Meet with colleagues to discuss relevant topics. Look out for patterns, or issues confronting your customers or clients that come up again and again. Share your findings.

Take Time to Reflect

Now that you have an understanding of trends and issues, it’s time to reflect. Big picture thinking is ultimately the ability to make connections between ideas, plans and people and the way to make those connections is to reflect. By becoming more curious, by looking at information from different points of view and by asking yourself questions about what you know, you can begin to see different possibilities, different approaches, and different potential outcomes. Reflection is imperative if you want to start thinking more in big picture terms.

But how do you reflect? For me, there are three different ways - structured reflection, unstructured reflection and unconscious reflection.

?? Structured Reflection

By this I mean putting pen to paper (old school!) and writing down the problem so that you have it in the most appropriate visual form for you. It could just be written notes, or it could be calculations, diagrams, or flowcharts. I favour mind maps. It's like putting all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle onto a piece of paper. I like to see all the pieces in one place – the map is a visual representation of how they're connected to one another.

?? Unstructured Reflection

I was reading a fascinating article recently about the development of the Oxford (Covid) vaccine. The article featured Professor Sarah Gilbert from the University of Oxford’s Jenner Institute. Professor Gilbert likes to go out for walks when thinking through problems because “It helps to activate the brain”.

Unstructured reflection means stepping away from your desk and into a different environment and experience which stimulates the mind. I like to reflect over a cup of coffee in a local café (I can’t wait for those days again!) What about you? Maybe you can visit a gallery or museum (once Covid restrictions are lifted) or, like Professor Jenner, take a long walk in the park or woods?

?? Unconscious Reflection

What I mean by this is reflection without the conscious effort.

My friend Maia describes it best. I asked her a question the other day which required a lot of thought before answering. She said she would go away and think about it. Then she corrected herself and said that she would deliberately not think about it. In fact, she would 'ask the question and then let it go', trusting that the answer would come to her subconsciously.

Other ways of NOT thinking like this might be mindfulness meditation (where you allow thoughts to come and go), exercise, or even having a hot shower. How many ideas have come to you when you haven’t actually been consciously thinking?

Whether you reflect in a structured, unstructured or unconscious way (or a combination of all three at different times), make sure it happens regularly: the more often you do it, the better you’ll become.

Take Action

The final part of the framework requires action. Big picture thinking isn’t all about reflection; it’s also about putting the output of your thinking into practice. It will require you to embrace debate and invite challenge – without taking the feedback personally (easier said than done!) - so that other viewpoints can be taken on board.  Start by re-structuring your verbal and written communication in a way that helps your audience focus on your core message. Walk people through your underlying assumptions (or how you are challenging existing assumptions). Explain the process you used to identify key issues, and finally, set out how you framed your choices.

The ability to think in a big picture way is a skill, and like any skill, it takes time and effort to hone. It can be an uncomfortable experience at first, challenging your own assumptions and inviting others to critique your thought processes. But once you become more adept at thinking in this way - and can demonstrate greater impact and value for your business, customers and clients - you’ll be glad you took the risk.