To Get Better a Problem Solving, Learn to Solve the Right Problems

Better problem solving starts with reframing the problem.  Karin Hurt talks with Thomas Wedell-Wedellsborg, author of What’s Your Problem in this edition of Asking for a Friend.

1:11 Source of inspiration: meeting people who are also into idea exploration was wildly invigorating

Reframing Problems

2:22 To get better at problem-solving, start with reframing the problem.
Are you solving the right problem?
We are trained to think only in two components: analyzing the problem and applying a solution.
Add a third component: framing – decided what the REAL problem is (i.e. is the elevator too slow, or are people frustrated by waiting?) It’s not “What’s the real problem?” but “Is this the right problem to solve?”

Solving Problems

5:47 The process of solving the right problems
Create a team habit of asking “What’s the problem? Is this the problem to solve?”
If you come up with too many problems, remember that you don’t have to be super-systematic for every problem.
Notice the things that are unusual and surprising.
Keep the momentum going.
Divide and conquer (i.e. assign to two of the team members.)
Get into the habit of reframing in just a few minutes, to avoid becoming paralyzed by analysis.
Look for the bright spots. We tend to focus on the negative.

Strategies

12:13 Strategies to solve the right problems.
Look outside the frame.
Rethink the goal.
Look for the bright spots.
Look in the mirror.
Take their perspective.

Looking in the Mirror

13:08 Looking in the mirror
What are you doing that contributes to the problem?
Manage the guest list of who is in the discussion.

Considerations

14:44 Visuals
Problems we are good at solving vs. problems we really have.
Period of time we are focused on vs. something that happened earlier.
Original goal statement vs higher-level goal
Your unique problem vs the large group of people with the same problem

Final Thoughts

22:21 Last bits of wisdom
Make people understand what you are doing.
People are used to trying to find solutions quickly.