THE EFFECTIVE PROBLEMSOLVER #060
Conventional wisdom in problem-solving often advocates starting with two fundamental questions:
“What is the problem?”
and
“What do we want to achieve?”
This approach is a well-trodden path in addressing challenges like poverty, crime, and homelessness.
Today, I’m going to tell you why starting with these questions can be misleading, particularly when navigating complex problems.
Then, I’ll give you a better initial question guaranteed to yield deeper insight, thus increasing your chances of making a positive impact.
The Pitfalls of Reductionism and Utopianism
When faced with tough social problems, the initial impulse is to break down the problem into parts and designate one aspect as “the problem.”
Homelessness might be overly simplified as a lack of shelters or lack of affordable housing, for example.
Or crime might be explained as a result of police violence, or a lack of sufficient police, depending on your political persuasion.
Coupled with a touch of naive optimism, the natural progression is to envision a world where “the problem” no longer exists.
Like the end of homelessness.
Or no crime whatsoever.
The questions and their answers operate under the assumption that problems possess singular, clearly defined dimensions with simplified, isolated answers.
Yet, complex issues defy reductionism—there is no one problem, nor a single solution that can make it vanish.
Beginning with these assumptions is not only unhelpful but also a significant waste of time and energy.
A Unique Perspective
Now, let’s consider a different perspective—an analogy drawn from a Christmas present my 8-year-old daughter received:
A Rubik’s Cube.
As someone who had never been able to solve one, I briefly worried that my daughter might abandon it after a mere 10 minutes of futile twisting.
But instead of attempting a perfect alignment of colors on one side in a single attempt—a method I had unsuccessfully tried – she embraced a systematic approach.
This turned out to be following a series of simple steps discovered on YouTube.
Her emphasis wasn’t on finding the one solution but on understanding the process—the simple set of systematic steps—that leads to a solution.
Now that’s the genius of Generation Alpha!
The Better Initial Question
Now imagine societal challenges as facets of a Rubik’s Cube—crime, homelessness, unemployment, each represented on a different side.
Attempting to address one side without considering the interconnected dynamics is akin to trying to solve one piece of the puzzle while neglecting its impact on the others.
The Rubik’s Cube becomes a metaphor for the unpredictability and interconnectedness that define complex societal issues.
So, what’s the better initial question that guarantees deeper insight and increases the chances of making a positive impact?
Rather than fixating on “What is the problem?” (reductionism) and “What do we want to achieve?” (utopianism) shift the focus to a more nuanced inquiry:
“How does the problem function?”
This question prompts us to look beyond simplistic definitions and acknowledge the dynamic, interconnected nature of complex issues.
Why is that important?
Because deep problem understanding is imperative for meaningfully improving complex problems due to their intricate, interconnected nature.
A superficial grasp of the problem – a frequent result of asking poor questions – will lead to unintended consequences, ineffective interventions, and an inability to address more fundamental causes.
Deep understanding, on the other hand, encourages systemic processes, trade-offs, and resource optimization, ensuring long-term effectiveness.
TL;DR: A Paradigm Shift in Problem-Solving
Don’t isolate just one part of the problem or envision perfect “solutions.”
Instead, look for processes that will lead to problem improvement by asking, “How does the problem function?”
It’s the algorithm for success.
See you next week.
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Whenever you’re ready, there are two ways I can help you:
→ I’m a strategic advisor for the toughest societal problems like poverty, crime and homelessness. People come to me when they want to stop spinning their wheels and get transformative, systems-level change.
→ I’m a coach for emerging and executive leaders in the social and public sectors who want to make progress on their biggest goals and challenges.
Let’s find out how I can help you become transformational.