Tips for Creative Problem Solving in Corporate Environments

Are You Solving the Right Problem? As leaders & professionals, we're often under pressure to act quickly when challenges arise. Our instinct—or perhaps muscle memory—is to dive straight into solution mode. But over the years, I've found that one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves is: Are we solving the right problem? Consider the hybrid workforce. Organizations often roll out solutions like employee engagement activities, gift cards, virtual celebrations, enforcing video-on policies during calls, or hosting virtual team-building sessions. While these seem like good ideas, they may serve as quick fixes that don't address the real issue. So, what's the actual problem? ❓Is it a lack of engagement? ❓A drop in productivity? ❓Struggles with team cohesiveness? ❓Or could it be something deeper, like communication barriers? ❓Disconnect between leadership and employees? ❓Or even more fundamental issues like trust and culture? Getting to the heart of the problem is crucial. 🛠️ 3 Steps to Identify the Right Problem: Observe and Listen: Start by carefully observing the symptoms. What are the visible signs that something's not working? Gather data and listen to feedback from your team. This will help you understand the nature of the issue. Ask Deep Questions: Go beyond surface-level explanations. Use techniques like the "5 Whys" to dig into the root causes. If engagement is low, ask why—several times over—to uncover the core issue. The real problem often lies beneath the symptoms. Understand the Context: Consider the broader organizational environment, team dynamics, and culture. What seems like an issue in one area might be a symptom of a deeper problem elsewhere. Context is critical to accurate diagnosis. Once the right problem is identified, solving it effectively requires careful consideration. 💡 3 Considerations When Solving the Problem: Engage Multiple Perspectives: Involve diverse voices from across the organization. Different perspectives can reveal angles you might miss and lead to more robust solutions. Collaboration ensures broader acceptance and better outcomes. Resist the Quick Fix: It's tempting to go for quick solutions, but they often only address symptoms. Focus on sustainable solutions that tackle the root cause. This may take more time, but the long-term benefits are worth it. Reflect and Iterate: After implementing a solution, reflect on its impact. Did it address the problem effectively? Be prepared to iterate and adjust as needed. Continuous improvement is essential for long-term success. The most successful leaders don't just jump to solutions—they take the time to define the problem accurately. By doing so, they create a foundation for meaningful, lasting change. So, before you dive into solving what seems like an urgent issue, ask yourself: Am I truly solving the right problem? #Leadership #OrganizationalDevelopment #ProblemSolving #HybridWorkforce #Culture

Sometimes you can’t move the external lever. But you can always move the internal one. That was one of the biggest lessons from my 20 years in banking. So many people underestimate the power of creativity in corporate life. Not the paint-brush kind, the problem-solving kind. The “find another door when someone closes the first one” kind. If you stare at a frustrating situation long enough, it drains you. If you bring imagination to it, you create options. Take this example: Let’s say the Compliance department in your company is treated like an afterthought compared to Audit or another department. You can stay resentful. You can keep waiting for someone else to fix the hierarchy. Or… You can build a relationship with Audit, align incentives, and let them carry some of your objectives forward. Same outcome. Less resistance. More influence. That’s what creative leadership actually looks like, becoming the chess player, not the chess piece. And here’s the science behind why this approach works: 1. Creativity increases cognitive flexibility. Cognitive flexibility = the ability to shift strategies and adapt. A study from the University of Toronto found that people who engage in creative thinking activate the brain’s “default mode network,” which increases their ability to generate non-obvious solutions. Translation: creativity makes you better at navigating blockers. 2. Creativity strengthens social connection and trust. Research from Stanford shows that collaborative creativity increases oxytocin, the bonding hormone. When you partner with another department creatively, you’re literally “syncing” the team neurologically. That’s why relationship-based creativity works better than force. 3. Creativity reduces threat response and improves decision-making. Harvard neuroscientists found that creative problem-solving reduces amygdala activation (the fear center) and increases prefrontal cortex activity (logic, planning, emotional regulation). This is why creative leaders stay calm under pressure, they’re using the part of the brain that sees opportunity instead of danger. This is the stuff no job description teaches you. Where have you had to get creative in your career? Win the day

I'm back at the #WorldBank this week for the #YouthForum. This year's agenda features an innovation lab- a case challenge that requires participants to work with other delegates (almost all of whom they've never met before) to solve a real development challenge in less than 48 hours. When I first made my career pivot, I used to worry a lot about challenges like this because I often felt I would not know what I was doing. But I got quite a good amount of practice whilst at The Johns Hopkins University - Carey Business School so whether you're in the #classof2025, making a #careerpivot or simply looking for a challenge outside of your regular life, I figured today's a good day to share my basic framework for approaching challenges with which I'm unfamiliar. B: Borrow belief from your previous experience. ↳Your degree was to prove that you've acquired the structured thinking frameworks of your industry; it's not meant to keep you in a box of the sorts of experiences you should open yourself up to. ↳If you can trust yourself to figure it out, you will. R: Reframe the problem clearly. ↳ What exactly is the problem? ↳ Think about it - when a patient comes to you and says "I have a headache," do you just give the first meds that come to your mind? Or do you hear a noisy car and decide automatically it's the carburetor? ↳ Intentionally ask questions to create a shared understanding of the problem. A: Assess potential causes. ↳ Now that you have a sense of the potential reasons for the problem, which are most likely? ↳ Here's the kicker - Always state your assumptions. It's not just so you look polished, it's so that in the event that your assumptions don't hold true, you will notice, or a teammate can point it out. ↳ Unspoken assumptions become law so always label yours. V: Value diverse perspectives. ↳ What other perspectives are available at the table? ↳ Never underestimate the value that your and others' unique life and experience stack bring to any challenge be it in a hospital, a corporate setting or in global development. ↳ Remember, these are human problems we're always solving- it's going to take a human who's lived it to guide the decisions. E: Experiment and iterate. ↳ Now pick one of those and start solving for it. ↳ Don't spend forever agonizing. ↳ Make peace with the fact that you may be wrong. In fact, I recommend you start out thinking you ARE wrong - it imbues you with a sense of humility and allows you to pivot quickly when you need to. ↳ Rinse and repeat as often as you need to. So whether you're at a case competition, starting a new role, or facing any unfamiliar challenge - Go be B.R.A.V.E 🍃 !

Problems aren't roadblocks. They're invitations. An invitation to innovate. To rethink. To leap. The difference between stuck and unstoppable? It's not the challenge. It's you. Your lens. Your toolkit. Your willingness to dance with the difficulty. As a tech leader, your ability to solve complex issues can make or break your career. I've led teams across continents, industries, and crises. Here's what I've learned: 𝟭. 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 Peel back the layers. Ask "Why?" repeatedly. You're not fixing a leak; you're redesigning the plumbing. 𝟮. 𝗦𝗪𝗢𝗧 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 Map your battlefield. Know your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Sun Tzu would approve. 𝟯. 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 Visualize the chaos. Connect the dots. Your brain on paper, minus the mess. 𝟰. 𝗦𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 Prepare for multiple futures. Be the chess player who sees ten moves ahead. 𝟱. 𝗦𝗶𝘅 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗮𝘁𝘀 Wear different perspectives. Be the critic, the optimist, the data analyst, the artist, the operator. Your mind is pliable; use it. 𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨: - 76% of IT leaders rank problem-solving as the top soft skill (Global Knowledge) - Strong problem-solvers are 3.5x more likely to hit strategic goals (Harvard Business Review) - 70% of problem-solving pros drive more innovation (PwC) These aren't just methods. They're mindsets. Tools to reshape your thinking. I've used these to navigate multi-million-dollar projects and multinational teams. They work. Period. But the real differentiator: consistency. Use these daily. Make them habits. Your problem-solving muscle grows with every rep. Start now. Pick one method. Apply it to a current challenge. Share your results. The best tech leaders aren't born. They're forged in the fires of solving complex problems. What will you solve today?

Master the Art of Creative Problem-Solving The most remarkable innovations in history weren't born from conventional thinking. They emerged when someone dared to challenge the status quo. I've observed that extraordinary success comes from looking beyond traditional approaches. Here's what I've learned about developing a creative mindset: 5 Practical Ways to Develop Creative Thinking: 1. Challenge Assumptions Every established practice deserves questioning. The best solutions often emerge when we stop accepting "that's how it's always been done." 2. Switch Perspectives Step into different roles - be the customer, the competitor, or even the product. Each viewpoint reveals new opportunities. 3. Embrace Unusual Ideas Don't dismiss thoughts that seem impractical at first. Often, the most unconventional concepts lead to groundbreaking solutions. 4. Seek New Experiences Broaden your horizons by exploring unfamiliar subjects, connecting with professionals from different fields, and breaking your routine. Fresh experiences spark fresh thinking. 5. Learn from Setbacks Each unsuccessful attempt is a stepping stone to success. Treat failures as valuable feedback that guides you toward better solutions. Remember: Breakthrough ideas rarely come from playing it safe. They emerge when we dare to explore the unexpected. What unconventional approach helped you solve a complex problem? Share your experience below.

I feel like I've started to sound like a broken record, continually telling folks to solve for the problem, not the discomfort.  What do I mean by that? Not everyone sits in a role or team that can see the "big picture" or the dependencies involved around an issue. It's our job to gather business requirements and conduct root cause analysis to determine what the right solution for the business problem is.  Remember, we barely have enough time to do it once, let alone have to go back and redo a second or third time because we solved for the discomfort instead of the problem. With that in mind, here are my 5 reasons you need to know the problem to solve it: 1) Avoid Ineffective Solutions: Jumping straight to a solution without fully understanding the root causes of the problem can lead to ineffective or incomplete solutions. The solution may address surface-level symptoms but fail to resolve the underlying issues. 2) Align Perspectives: Different stakeholders might have varying views on the core problem. By exploring the problem collaboratively first, you can get alignment on the true nature of the challenge before proposing solutions. 3) Encourage Creativity: Coming with a preconceived solution can limit your thinking and blind you to better alternatives. An open exploration of the problem fosters a creative environment where more innovative and effective ideas can emerge. 4) Avoid Overconfidence: Proposing a solution before understanding the problem comes across as presumptuous. It signals you may not fully appreciate the nuances and complexities involved from others' viewpoints, causing defensiveness and resistance. 5) Build Stakeholder Buy-In: Defining the problem collaboratively ensures stakeholders feel heard and involved. They are more likely to support solutions they helped shape from the outset. #ProcessImprovement #LearningAndDevelopment #BusinessRequirements #CriticalThinking

This week’s leadership tip is on Problem Solving. As leaders, we navigate through challenges daily, and the ability to solve problems efficiently is a cornerstone of successful management. Our methods of problem solving, through Lean Management techniques, are one of the things I believe make CITY Furniture unique.    Here are some ways you can improve problem solving within your organization:    ✅ Embrace a #Kaizen Mindset: Continuous improvement is key. Foster a culture where associates feel encouraged to identify and address issues. It's the accumulation of these small improvements that propels an organization towards excellence.   ✅ Go To The #Gemba: Go to where the work is done to really understand what is going on with your business. Ask questions. See with your own eyes the facts of the situation.   ✅ Data-Driven Decision Making: Leverage analytics and metrics to gain insights into the root causes of issues. This not only accelerates the decision-making process but also ensures that solutions are grounded in a comprehensive understanding of the problem.   ✅ Encourage Cross-Functional Collaboration: Problems often span multiple departments, and the collective intelligence of a diverse team can lead to innovative solutions. Create forums for open communication and collaboration, fostering an environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute their expertise.   ✅ Prioritize High-Impact Issues: Not all problems are created equal. Identify and prioritize high-impact issues that align with your organizational goals.    ✅ Learn from Failures, Celebrate Successes: Encourage your team to analyze setbacks, understand what went wrong, reflect, and use those insights to iterate and improve for the future. Similarly, celebrate the successes – both big and small – to reinforce a positive problem-solving culture.   ✅ Invest in Training and Development: Equip your team with the necessary skills to excel in problem-solving. Training and workshops focused on critical thinking, root cause analysis, & creative problem-solving techniques can significantly enhance your team's ability to address challenges effectively.   ✅ Lead by Example: As leaders, we set the tone for our organizations. Demonstrate a proactive and positive approach to problem-solving. Show that you value and appreciate the efforts of your team in addressing challenges. Your example will inspire others to embrace a similar mindset.    At CITY, by integrating problem-solving seamlessly into our culture, we help to eliminate waste and optimize our business for our customers, associates and even suppliers. This not only leads to improved productivity but also fosters a dynamic and always continuingly to improve company culture. That’s why I’m such a strong believer in problem solving, and encourage you all to take a look at it more closely.   How does your organization approach problem-solving, and what strategies have proven most effective?    #continuousimprovement #leadershiptips

Making progress on controversial problems Have you been pulled into a problem where everyone has an opinion, no one agrees, and no one has an actual solution? Like “Should we pivot this big ongoing project that the CEO isn’t convinced about?” My early attempts to tackle these didn't go great. I’d end up presenting a cautious solution to my boss’s boss’s, while another exec vocally disagreed.  Fun, right? 🙂  I needed a process that helped me stay calm, make progress, and get back to focusing on customer impact. What worked:    1. Understand where we are in the problem-solving process.  Most problems are like a universe — they expand in size and complexity with every new piece of information, then contract as potential solutions get eliminated. That gives me a roadmap. If I’m still hearing new information, it’s too early to propose answers. If I’m hearing repetitive info, time to consider solutions. Just naming where I am helps me stay grounded. 2. Use documents to get specific and share context.  Writing down facts and assumptions surfaces obvious questions, like “Is the main goal user experience, or perception?”  It can feel remedial, but that’s how I know everyone agrees on the core info.  It also means we can separate gathering information from jumping into solutions, which saves hours in real-time meetings.  3. Over-communicate the process and status.  For big problems, everyone wants to know what's happening and how to help. A regular update solves that: “This week I’m talking with X, Y, and Z;  Monday I'll share a recommendation draft;  Wednesday I'll share with leaders A, B, and C;  please share feedback by Tuesday.”  If I get inbound questions, I can just respond with the existing written process. 4. Ask questions even if they're embarrassing.  For crucial info, like “actually, who is the most important audience for this?”, I find someone safe, ask directly, and write the answer in my list of facts.  Usually someone else is missing that context too.  5. Write an opinionated recommendation.  My core proposal includes: - Summary:  problem statement & recommendation - Information learned:  facts v. assumptions (both are important) - Goals and decision criteria  - Options & pros / cons for each - Why this recommendation - Next steps if the recommendation is agreed on, including mitigating risks - Discussion of recommendation & other options Real-time discussions are more effective because everyone has the same info. 6. Don’t hold out for a perfect solution.  If a problem is controversial, by definition there’s no clear solution.   That gives me permission to propose my imperfect solution.   This process, simple as it is, has helped me tackle even the hardest problems.  And it’s helped me figure out how to diagnose and manage disagreements rationally, so even when everyone disagrees, we can figure out what it takes to make progress.  (For regular updates + the doodle, check out amivora.substack.com!)

[#careertips] CRITICAL THINKING & PROBLEM SOLVING I recently had the pleasure of leading a session on "Shaping Change with Insight and Foresight" to equip the participants with essential tools for navigating today's complex landscape, and at the heart of it all lies critical thinking and problem-solving. It's not just about finding answers, but about truly understanding the questions. As I emphasized, problem-solving is fundamentally a journey: from a problem through focused thinking to a definitive solution. 🤔 Many times, we rush to address symptoms without digging into the core issue. Think about it: if you exclaim, "I am sick, I feel very dizzy," (a symptom 😵💫), the actual problem could be something deeper like dehydration or exhaustion. As Carl Jung astutely noted, "To ask the right question is already half the solution of a problem." So, how can you immediately practice and refine your problem-solving approach? Here are some practical tips I shared: Craft a Precise Problem Statement This is where true insight begins! A strong problem statement isn't just a fact; it's a thought-provoking question. Ensure it's: 💡 Specific: Avoid vagueness. 💡 Relevant: Directly impacts the path forward. 💡 Central: Focuses on the primary issue, not a secondary concern. For instance: Instead of stating, "Our team productivity is low," ask, "How can we enhance team productivity by 20% in the next quarter by streamlining our internal communication tools?" Embrace the MECE Principle To ensure your analysis is comprehensive and free of redundancies, I advocate for the MECE framework – Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive. This means: 🧠 Your categories don't overlap (mutually exclusive). 🧠 You've covered all relevant possibilities (collectively exhaustive). Think of it this way: When categorizing customer demographics, "Age Groups" (e.g., 18-25, 26-35, 36-45) are MECE if they cover all ages without overlap, unlike a mix of age groups and hobbies. Leverage the Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule) This powerful principle suggests that a significant portion of outcomes (about 80%) often stems from a small percentage of inputs (around 20%). 🎯 Identify those "vital few" efforts or issues that, if addressed, will yield the greatest impact. Direct your energy where it truly matters for maximum efficiency. I was incredibly pleased with the feedback from the SxCamp 1.0 participants: ✨ "The theme was very relevant and powerful; it encouraged us to think ahead and be more strategic as future leaders, especially in facing constant changes and uncertainty." 👍 "The speaker delivered the session with great clarity and passion, making complex leadership concepts accessible and engaging. His real-world experience helped connect theory to everyday challenges." 🚀 "The selection of speakers was excellent, as they delivered the material effectively, provided valuable insights, and were highly interactive." Kindly let me know for any potential collaboration.