By Stephanie Smith, Director of Election Services, Best Best & Krieger Attorneys at Law
Problem solving is the act of defining a problem; determining the cause of the problem; identifying, prioritizing, and selecting alternatives for a solution; and implementing a solution. On the surface, it appears to be a very straightforward, almost scientific task. Perfect for critical thinkers.
Critical thinkers tend to:
- Distinguish between fact and opinion;
- Ask questions such as who, what, when, where, why, and how?
- Make detailed observations
- Uncover assumptions and define their terms; and
- Make assertions based on sound logic and solid evidence
But what happens when science fails to find a viable solution? What happens when the person responsible for the solution looks at things less critically and more creatively? While we often think of creativity as an inherent trait, anyone—whether they're an undiscovered artist or by-the-book government professional—can learn how to be more creative.
But is this necessary? According to Albert Einstein, apparently so.
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.”
Does this sound familiar?
Funny story about that.
Einstein never said it. In fact, there is no credible evidence he ever spoke on the subject of insanity at all. What he did say, was, “we cannot solve today’s problems with the same level of thinking that created them.”
In other words, the methods, processes, policies, procedures, and ideas we’ve been using for decades have contributed to the problems we’re facing today, and we cannot solve those problems using the very level of thinking that created them.
The way we’ve always done it isn’t going to fix it. And that means it’s time to get creative. But how, many ask. They think creativity is about the arts, such as painting or music, or creative writing, or crafting, or some such thing. They bemoan their lack of creativity. They comment that they’re left brained. They refuse to believe creative problem solving is possible for them. True creativity, however, is so much more than the arts.
In fact, creative thinking isn’t about “making” anything at all. It’s about looking at a set of circumstances and seeing outcomes that aren’t obvious. Einstein also said, “creativity is seeing what others see and thinking what no one else has ever thought.” Let that sink in. It doesn’t sound like “the way we’ve always done it” does it?
Creative thinking is the ability to:
- Think “outside the box” (just because it’s outrageous doesn’t mean it won’t work)
- Think in a non-linear fashion (it’s okay to not know the whole solution when you commit to beginning)
- Not be constrained by the status quo (forget those tried and failed policies and procedures)
- “See” things that are not visible (trust your instincts)
- Allow thoughts and ideas to flow freely and open ended (let others have a part in finding solutions)
Can Creativity be Learned?
The answer to that is a resounding YES! Think of humans in the biological sense. At the cellular level, every one of us is a creative being, constantly rejuvenating and creating new cells. Practice can improve anyone’s creative problem-solving skills. Some techniques for building your creative muscles include:
- Reframing (realize situations are often created by our interpretation of events rather than the events themselves – ask yourself how the situation would be different if you viewed it a different way)
- Mind Mapping (allows you to think non-linearly and see relationships between ideas that aren’t obvious when you go from A to B to C)
- Insight (you never know when brilliance will show up; watch for sparks of genius and give yourselves a break from the task at hand to allow your subconscious to work)
- Creative flow (make mental notes of what sparks your creative flow, i.e. smells, time of day, sounds, setting, places, people, rituals, etc., and focus on problem solving when you can access these tools)
Still struggling? Try these 6 Tips to Get Inspired in Under 15 Minutes:
- Set constraints – it might seem counter-intuitive but putting a time limit on a work project can sometimes get you to the solution faster.
- Destress – meditation and focused breathing can clear your mind of the “facts”, creating space for new ideas.
- Get bored – stop thinking about the project and find a mindless activity to spark a creative brainstorm.
- Confront existing beliefs – Get outside your comfort zone and try thinking about the situation from a new perspective.
- Seek criticism – Ask people you don’t normally work with for their thoughts on a particular problem to help you see the project in a new light.
- Be positive – Positive thinking breed confidence and when we’re confident, we’re more willing to try an experiment or take risks.
Lastly, what you see can also spark your creativity. When working on a difficult task or team problem, make sure to surround yourself with new sights and sounds. Try a team meeting outside under a shade tree, or while strolling along a body of water. Most importantly, let go of any limiting beliefs you have around problem solving techniques. There is no right or wrong way to solve a problem. Whether through a creative or critical thinking process, where or who the solution comes from doesn’t matter. The important thing is that a problem that has been plaguing your organization or team has at last been solved.