8 ways to minimize ‘Problem B’ and maximize creativity

8 ways to minimize ‘Problem B’ and maximize creativity

A team of people will have the maximum success at solving the various Problem As it faces if it minimizes the negative impact of ‘Problem B’ (the diversity within the team). However, as mentioned earlier, the leader can have an overwhelming impact on the team’s ability to problem-solve. Great leaders create cultures in which cognitively diverse approaches are understood, valued, prized, and dare-say sought after. Here are 8 ways that you, as a leader, can do just that.

1. Understand differences.

Recognize that the reason you have a great team is because of members’ wildly different approach to solving problems. Know that Innovators will see the pattern in the mess, possibly stressing colleagues with their seemingly casual approach to what isn’t working. Meanwhile, ‘Adaptors’ will see the mess in the pattern, possibly annoying colleagues with what doesn’t fit. These people are not being haphazard or nitpicky, respectively, just different.

2. Take a ‘coach approach.’

You never know who has the answer or what you might learn. And, taking the time to engage more junior colleagues invests in their professional development and confidence. Ask thoughtful, open-ended questions to foster your colleagues’ best thinking.

3. Demonstrate appreciation.

As the leader, you set the tone for appreciation and respect. You never know what contributes to a winning strategy, so support the sharing of ideas, even if those ideas seem ridiculous.

4. Componentize complex problems.

Divide your team into Adaptors and Innovators to get initial traction on the problem by allowing them to work with colleagues with similar creativity styles. Then turn them loose on the component problems.

5. Add a disrupter.

After the Adaptive and Innovative teams have gotten traction on a solution, swap a team member from each team. The role of this disruptoris to contribute his or her unique thinking style to the solution-finding process. The quality of the team’s ideas will increase dramatically.

6. Bring the full team together.

The next step is for each teamto present ideas to the full group. Encourage curiosity with questions that exhibit excitement.

7. Manage the inclinations of Adaptors and Innovators with a staged problem-solving process.

Following a process organizes everyone’s thinking and improves the team’s engagement and results. First, establish the focus of the meeting, which is the topic, goal, and takeaway. Second, brainstorm options. Third, plan the action. Fourth, identify necessary resources and obstacles, including a strategy to address these obstacles. Fifth and finally, review and commit to who will do what, by when.

8. Address concerns with curiosity.

Even if annoying, and especially if cognitively different, approach all concerns with curiosity. Encouraging Adaptors and Innovators to raise concerns will make for better results by avoiding missteps.

Embrace diverse thinking and approaches

Teams thrive when they make the most of diverse thinking and approaches; they provide better, more creative, and effective service. The challenge is that people with different creativity styles can annoy each other. As the leader, it is your responsibility to facilitate open-thought and wide-ranging discussion. When you do this successfully, you will minimize the existence of ‘Problem B’ and maximize creativity.