Sometimes you have to step back, to move forward.

Have you ever noticed how a solution to a challenge often presents itself at the most unexpected moment? Hours of deliberation with the team on process improvement felt like you were going round in circles, then out of the blue the lightbulb moment happens when you’re out for your morning jog? Or the idea for a new product range wakes you up at 2am in the morning?

Sometimes we are just too close to a problem to be able to see clearly and identify a way forward. Learning how to step back from a problem and create space between ourselves and the issue, allows us to gain a fresh perspective and identify patterns and connections that may not have been visible before.

As well as always working out in the morning and constantly making notes on my phone at 2am – one thing I definitely know is that having the right attitude is essential to solving any problem. There are a number of tools and techniques I’ve found useful throughout my career to ensure I am always open minded and ready to explore new ways of working.

1.???????? Clear your mind – and get out of the room

When faced with a particularly complex or challenging issue, sometimes the best thing you can do is focus on - anything else! Literally get out of the room, take some time and clear your mind. Go for a run, have a coffee, read something inspirational, meditate – whatever it takes to put you in the right frame of mind to be open to new solutions.

For me, my morning workout is my problem solving time – my team always commented that they could tell when I’d been for a run as I arrived at work fired up and knowing exactly what we needed to do. Find what works for you to create your solution focussed mindset.

The solution might not always present itself, but I guarantee you’ll have woken up your creative side, gained perspective and be better prepared to tackle that problem head on.

2.???????? Make sure the right people are in the room

Often the only people invited to a problem solving meeting are those directly involved with the issue. Widening the net and inviting people outside of the issue itself will bring fresh perspectives and different ways of thinking.

If someone has undertaken a task the same way for a considerable length of time it may be difficult for them to shake free of this constraint. People who don’t have an in-depth knowledge of the topic are already a step back from the issue itself, they will naturally ask questions as they need to gain an understanding, and they will make suggestions which may be somewhat left field – but what this will do is challenge the experts to question the ‘norm’ and create open discussion and debate to a level which may not have been achieved otherwise.

They will also bring with them a knowledge of how things work in different parts of the business, an important source of information overlooked by so many companies as operations work in silos and on a need to know basis. Sharing this knowledge can unlock new ways of doing things, as well as potentially building consistency within processes and removing duplication of work.

3.???????? Try something different

There are various well documented techniques which can be utilised to help in problem solving. Some are well known such as brainstorming, others maybe not so, such as the ‘Five Why’s’ technique. This verbal technique can be used to provide a deeper understanding of the root causes of a problem. You start by asking why the problem is happening, then ask Why? five more times to drill down through the issue, challenging people’s beliefs and understanding of the issue.

Some are visual, such as the Ishakawa diagram, also called a fishbone or cause and effect diagram, and others employ role playing techniques including Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats technique.

Choose a technique that you think will resonate with your group, or experiment with a mix of visual, written and role playing techniques with the same group to take people out of their comfort zone and shake things up.

4.???????? Look for inspiration

Inspiration can come from anywhere, the most important thing is to always be open to it.

There are the more obvious areas such as on line articles and forums where you can discover people who have faced the same problem as you and learn from their experiences. In a similar way you can use your professional network, reach out to your LinkedIn connections and ask for their thoughts. People are often very generous at sharing how they have solved a similar issue, and you’re bound to find other connections who will benefit from the discussion too.

As with point 2 above, people with no expertise or experience in the area can also often have insights, including family and friends. I’m not suggesting you bring your family and friends into the office for your problem solving meeting, but I’ve often found discussing the issue at home or over drinks with friends has led to someone making a comment or asking a question that has caused the whole situation to flip in my head, or even just the act of me talking it through, out loud, in a totally different environment has had the same effect, and a solution presents itself.

After all, a problem shared, is a problem – solved!

5.???????? Stay up to date with industry trends

Keeping up to date with industry trends in your area of expertise by reading articles, following thought leaders on LI and setting up news alerts, means you will be aware of new techniques or tools being implemented – an excellent way of looking out for potential new solutions. You’ll also be able to gain insights on how these are being used by your peers, how well they are being adopted and what impact they are having before you take the leap yourself.

Attending industry exhibitions, shows and networking events and is also another great way of making sure you’re staying up to date. Today, there are plenty of virtual events which definitely have their place and are ideal for some, but for me getting out and about, meeting people face to face is by far the best way. For me it goes back to point number 1 – putting myself in a different physical environment certainly opens up my mind to new ways of thinking.

So, embrace the power of stepping back, it empowers us all to tackle problems with greater confidence, creativity and effectiveness, ultimately leading to better outcomes for ourselves and our businesses.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the above 5 techniques and if they’ve worked for you, are there any areas you’ve tried that I’ve missed? Drop me a message in the comments.

Sue is a highly skilled communications and business management specialist with a passion for helping businesses and people reach their full potential.