What about REFRAMING?

Albert Einstein once said: "If I had one hour to solve a problem, I would spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about the solution."

What he meant was to delve into the root causes of the problem for 55 minutes to investigate the issue thoroughly and then spend the remaining 5 minutes to find the solution.

This approach is not commonly followed in our workplaces, but it’s worth considering. Along with an innovative mindset and creative problem-solving, the ability to reframe is an essential skill. When persons manage to reframe, they utilize their emotional intelligence. Reframing is a strategy that can lead to an improvement in emotional intelligence because it involves managing feelings “smartly” and considering what others feel, thus effecting meaningful changes.

According to NLP theory, reframing is when an undesirable behavior is given a positive intention. By changing the frame of an experience, you can have a major influence on how you perceive, interpret, and react to that experience. A good way to prompt yourself and others to consider alternative frames is to challenge assumptions and ask questions like: “What if…?”, “What else could this mean…?”, “In what way could this be positive or a resource?”

For example, Tom Watson, the founder of IBM, discovered that one of his employees made a mistake that cost the company millions of dollars. When the employee joined a 1:1 meeting with him, he said, “I suppose you want my resignation,” assuming he would be asked to leave the company. Tom replied, “Are you kidding? We just spent millions of dollars on your education.”

The facts were twofold: the money was lost, and the mistake was made. Tom chose to challenge the employee's assumptions and provide constructive feedback.

Rather than making assumptions, it’s crucial to generate alternatives, explore them, and look for pain points, inconsistencies, and patterns in your team’s or stakeholders’ perspectives. From delving into the root causes to envisioning the solution, these insights are essential. When you reach the last 5 minutes for the solution, it’s like zooming out of the map to figure out where the river lies in relation to the whole city.

At that point, you realize you have taken a path forward. ;)