Creative Problem Solving for Easier Everyday Life

Both simple and complex problems affect everyone in their daily lives and their work environment. When traditional solutions are no longer working, we can use creative methods to solve problems. Read more: How to Promote a Team’s Creativity.

Problem situations can have a serious impact on work efficiency, daily routine, and motivation. They should be addressed as soon as possible. However, traditional approaches to problem-solving may not always produce the expected results. It has been proven that when in a practical environment, the employee is not able to solve problems by theoretically learned methods because the problems themselves are not always exactly as they are taught in theory.

It is Worth Trying Creative Problem Solving (CPS) Tactics

• Change your environment

Not only your colleagues, subordinates, or managers influence your work environment, but also the interior and the place you are. For example, the color of the walls has the potential to influence creativity – blue encourages it, while red suppresses it. The ideas on how to make your workplace more creative and inspiring are endless.

• Use a dictionary

Write down the words related to the problem you are experiencing! Find synonyms, related words, or even antonyms for each word to look at the situation in a different light.

• Think as a child

This tactic allows you to look at the most obvious aspects again, thus discovering new ways of solving problems. Adults, because of their experience, take many things for granted – no explanation is needed. Imagine that you have to explain the problem to the child! This will divide the situation into smaller fragments and allow you to think about the next steps to be taken.

• Brainstorming in separate groups

Brainstorming is a common method in meetings, usually conducted by one person or by team discussions. Change your routines and propose to split! Take a brainstorming session with your team in two groups – discuss individually as you write down the ideas. After the first round, exchange ideas with the other group and discuss again – this time with the ideas of the second group.

• A look from aside

Invite someone outside the industry to solve the problem. As with explaining a situation to a child, you will need to explain the situation to someone who knows nothing about this area with this tactic. Only in this case, the solution does not come from your reflection but the aside. A fresh look and another perspective will give you new clues!

• Bad ideas on purpose

Imagine the 3 worst, most illogical possible solutions to the problem. Identify exactly what features make these solutions bad. Then find good qualities opposite to the bad ones and think of solutions related to good qualities. This tactic allows you to understand what characterization elements are needed to solve a particular problem.

• Unbounded inspiration 

You, too, can approach the situation from the aside. Try to step away from it and relax or find inspiration from other sources. By devoting a few minutes to something unrelated to your work, you can get a restart for inspiration. Here are some sites to relax your mind:

• Springwise – a repository of original ideas from around the world
• Pinterest – a gallery of creative ideas
• My Modern Met – art for aesthetic relaxation or creative ideas

Read more: Unusual Ways How to Inspire Your Work Team.

• The good old

Don’t reinvent the wheel – maybe one of the proven solutions is good enough, if not the best way to solve the problem. Not for nothing, these solutions have become a well-known practice. If any method has been proven to be effective, then it is worth considering it as a way to solve your problem.

The next time you encounter a problem, choose one of the methods above that you think will help. Challenge yourself and use this method as a creative solution to your problem!