Solutions don't Come from Thinking Alone
5 Tips on how to increase chances for finding the best solutions
Did you know that roughly one in two inventions are a result of happy accidents1? I didn’t but I am not surprised. Apparently, the most well-known of such happy accidents is the discovery of Penicillin. Other examples include the microwave oven, post-it notes, and Coca-Cola. Even plastic is the result of an accidental discovery2 and with all that we know now, some may argue whether this was actually a happy accident.
However, I am sure if you are looking back at your life, you probably have had some serendipitous moments yourself, when something unexpected happened that opened up an alleyway you wouldn’t have considered in your wildest dreams. Maybe, you even thought of it as magic. (I certainly did!)
Dr. Christin Busch, the author of The Serendipity Mindset3 says that such events can be called smart luck when we can develop a mindset for creating happy accidents. It all starts with building an awareness for the unexpected.4
So, how does this help a manager who needs to solve problems fast and find the best solution to achieve the results expected from their senior management?
Firstly, the best solutions are oftentimes obvious. However, we most likely can’t see the woods for the trees. The more under pressure we feel the less we notice options available to us. We may dismiss or just not hear a suggestion that could lead to discovering the best path forward. And, according to behavioural science, mental shortcuts and biases do the rest to keep us looking the other way. By having an awarness of how humans behave under pressure and how the mind works, we can use this knowledge to our advantage.
Secondly, we can use the concept of smart luck to create the mindset that helps seeing the opportunities that otherwise would stay hidden from our view.
“Where Attention goes Energy flows; Where Intention goes Energy flows!”
Here are five tips on how to increase chances for finding the best solutions:
Taking a mental break from the problem: Going for a quick five minute walk, having a chat about an unrelated topic, laughing about a joke with a colleague, do something different, or simply lean back and day dream about something you would like to do on the weekend can help to calm your mind when you try too hard to find a solution to a pressing problem. Once you come back, you may notice details you haven’t before or find the solution you were looking for.
List everything you don’t know yet: Thinking about all the things you are unsure of can help to change your focus away from the problem and towards something you can be in control of. Make this a list of questions and then identify the steps required to get the answers. You may think about someone who may be able to give you required information or need to investigate what is beneath the visible obstacle. Don’t be surprised what great potential a single question asked can have.
Share the problem with your team: It is said that shared pain is half the pain. However, it is not only about the pain. By sharing with your team the problem and the questions you have identified in the previous tip and inviting them to share their views of how to solve it, may lead to a much better solution than you could have thought by yourself. Why? Because everyone brings different experiences, skills, and strengths to the group that not only help to find the best options but also create an environment of collaboration. One of the best breeding grounds for smart luck.
Keep sight of the greater desired outcome: When we focus on the desired outcome our mind fills in the gaps. Instead of spinning into overthinking, it comes up with options to make the desired outcome a reality. The great thing about the desired outcome is that it not only looks for a solution to the problem but takes also into account its knockon effect. Think of a holiday, you wouldn’t want to exhaust yourself with the return flight having three long layovers over a period of 24 hours. So, by keeping sight of the desired outcome, you can easily disregard options that may provide ‘quick’ fixes to one part of the problem but haunting you later with even bigger issues. Knowing where we go helps us picking up the clues on the way.
Use the KUBA Pilot Strategy: Last but not least, you may want to start using the KUBA Pilot Strategy5. When presented with a problem apply the four checkpoints: Know Yourself, Understand Others, Build Connections, and Align Decsions. Take stock of what you know already, seek to understand what others may suggest and why, analyse the details and brainstorm with your team and align the decisions with your desired outcome. Having an effective thinking strategy helps us to thrive in stressful situations, overcome biases, and build stronger relationships. A win-win every time.
Best solutions don’t come from thinking alone. Actually chances are, they won’t come at all from thinking about the problem. Instead, remember that about one in two inventions are a result of smart luck. And smart luck mindset can be cultivated. Try the five tips and you will be surprised by how easy it can be to find the best solutions.
What are your experiences with finding the best solutions?
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‘Statistics Show Half of All Inventions Happen by Accident’ by David Nield, Science Alert, March 2016
‘ACCIDENTAL SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES AND BREAKTHROUGHS’ by Marcus Cannon, Inter Focus, December 2015
Note that the title of book by Dr. Christian Busch has changed to ‘Connect the Dots: The Art and Science of Creating Good Luck’ This is an affiliate link.
‘The 'serendipity mindset': how to make your own luck’ by Sharon Walker, The Guardian, September 2020
Unlock Success with the KUBA Pilot Strategy by Sandy Seeber-Quayle