How to Approach Creative Problem Solving
At Hunter we have a simple mantra when facing perceived obstacles - look at every ‘problem’ as a creative brief. There’s always a solution and oftentimes the best ideas come from overcoming a stumbling block. The principles of this approach can be summed up as creative problem-solving. Dealing with obstacles is a regular part of every job and things are no different at Hunter. As the nature of our work is creative, this approach naturally fits in with our ethos.
Creative problem solving essentially equates to finding innovative solutions to challenges. The concept of creative problem solving (CPS) was first developed by Alex Osborn in the 1940s and together with Dr Gerard J Puccio they created the Osborn-Parnes Creative Problem Solving Process. You would think something that was developed 80 years ago wouldn’t be relevant to today but in fact, much of their findings hold true for the 21st century.
The global Covid pandemic is a perfect example of how CPS thinking can be applied. If this year has thought us anything, it’s that you truly never know what is just around the corner and the principles of CPS are more important than ever. Many businesses had to pivot and adapt to the changing business landscape, lots with staggering results. What initially presented as a problem forced some companies to think in a different way and create a new way of working that turned out to be beneficial to them in the long run. But how to start this different way of approaching business? There are some guidelines to help you on the way, detailed below.
How to approach CPS
Reframe problems as questions
When you switch the dialogue to open-ended discussions as opposed to an ‘issue’ that needs to be dealt with, it changes the framework of your thinking and allows you to reimagine multiple possibilities to the problem at hand. Closed questions usually yield short answers that don’t further the conversation. Bear this in mind when approaching the issue at hand.
Open up the floor
Include others in your thinking, without judgment. Brainstorming with colleagues can trigger lots more options. In the beginning, entertain all ideas without shutting them down, then narrow your focus to the more viable options presented.
Be a yes person
How you converse has a huge impact on how others relate to you. An instant ‘no’ shuts down the creative process and discourages people from sharing their ideas. Think about how you speak to your colleagues and be mindful of how your language affects the process. Try and be open to all suggestions and avoid words like ‘but’ and ’no’.
The basic principle of CPS its to separate divergent and convergent thinking so your focus can be on creating first, and evaluating second. The benefits of employing CPS thinking to your business are immeasurable. For clients, this approach usually yields much more fruitful results. At Hunter it’s our job to present innovative ideas that we can produce confidently, ensuring the people we work with get the best outcome from every project. For staff, it fosters a feeling of engagement and value for your work.
As things slowly get back on track for businesses, CPS is a valuable tool you can take with you into the new way of working that has been the norm for the last number of months.