The Creative Problem Solver

i.

Think bigger

‘If a problem cannot be solved, enlarge it.’

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

Let’s start with a creative thinking tool that’s very simple but also extremely powerful.

In a nutshell, it’s this: take the problem you’ve been given, phrase it as a question, then step back to ask a bigger, broader question. It works because narrow, tightly defined problems can severely restrict the scope for a solution (and reduce the size of the achievement).

Broader problems allow for broader solutions – which can, surprisingly, be easier to solve. Simply because there are usually many more ways to solve them.

Visual

The smallest shape at the centre is your current problem. Each dot is an ‘anchor’ – a detail of the problem that defines its small, tight shape. As ...