The Problem With A Problem Mindset

We are all well trained at problem solving. From an early age at school we are encouraged to use deductive reasoning, use critical thinking, and brainstorm new ideas to address problems that we encounter. This recurring and consistent training reinforces a deficient based mindset where we focus on what’s wrong, what’s missing, or what's bad. And we become good at this, really good at this. Identifying the challenges, highlighting the barriers, finding the failure points within a situation. Working with a problem-solving mindset will give you a natural urge to mitigate an issue. Even if it's not a direct problem for you, you're always happy to provide many solutions if someone needs help.

However, this strong skill around problem solving has a dark side. When we continually focus on finding the problem or what’s wrong in this situation, it changes our lens on how we approach challenges. When I see a challenge, my mind immediately starts listing, sorting, and ranking the possible problems that I will encounter: How would this work? What if this doesn’t work? How do I know if that’s safe? What if that doesn’t go as I expect? How could this go wrong? This problem solving doomsday brainstorming eventually has me talking myself out of the idea faster than I came up with it. Are you sure that’s a good idea? How do you know it’ll work? What if it doesn’t? After repetition, this skill around problem solving turns into an idea eliminator. And as more ideas become seemingly impossible, innovation and creativity become obsolete. 

This is the point where we can be aware of our deficit-based mindset and push ourselves to solve problems differently by using a solutions-oriented mindset. Instead of asking How won’t this work? or Why won’t this work? Push yourself to ask How could this work? and Why will this work? That slight change in language acknowledges the challenge the situation is presenting but also opens the door for solutions. What creative ideas can we come up with to address those challenges? How could we overcome those obstacles? What strengths do we have to use in support of those ideas? What is the possibility here?  

Focusing on solution generation rather than problem identification gives us the opportunity to work more creatively and collaboratively with our team as well as strengthen the outcomes overall. So, consider what balance you have between deficit-based and solution-oriented problem solving and consider the question: How could this work?