Written by Peter Freeth, Managing Director, Communications in Action

This month, I thought we might take a few moments to think about problems. We all have them, and some of us have more trouble with them than others. What would it mean for you if you could solve everyday problems, niggles and frustrations more easily? And what would it mean for the people close to you?

Perhaps you’re the kind of person who easily lets go of situations that are outside of your control, and you live a stress-free life as a result? If not, do you know someone who fits that description?

Well, this month I’ve got some simple tips for you which tie in with the Big fish competition where you can win a creative problem solving book, The Unsticker (see bottom of page for more details).

TIP#1

The first tip is a really simple one, and it’s about the question that other people will ask you most when you have a problem – “Why?”

Some questions change the way you represent the problem to you yourself and the question “why?” actually focuses attention on the problem, making it bigger, clearer and more real.

When you ask “why?”, you accept that the problem is true. In answering, you actually make the problem even more unmovable!

Therefore, in order to solve the problem, the way you think of the problem has to change.

Think about an instance where you would say, “I can’t…” and notice what happens when you ask yourself, “Why?” For most people, the answer is fixed, in the past and out of their control. Not much you can do about that, then.

Instead, have a go with solving the problem with “What would happen if you did....”. Give it a go now with an “I can’t…” problem. What difference do you notice? And that difference is all it takes to free up your thinking and make the impossible, possible.

TIP#2

OK, time for the next tip. When you have a problem and your friends ask you questions about it, they are asking questions that are defined and constrained by the problem, so the more questions you’re asked, the harder the problem is to solve because it becomes even more ‘true’. Instead, you need to ask questions which are not about the problem.

Sounds strange? Well, think of it this way. Let’s say you have some conflict with someone in the office. Typical questions about the problem might be, “What happened?”, and, “Who said that?”, and, “What did he do next?”. These all presume that what you said about the situation is true, when it isn’t. It is one of many possible truths.

Instead, we need to ask questions that presume the problem may not be true, or which presume the problem can at least be different in some way. You can visit The Unsticker at www.theunsticker.com for help with asking these kinds of questions, or you can enter our competition and win a copy of The Unsticker book.

In the meantime, the next time someone starts telling you about a problem, ask them any question you can think of that has nothing to do with the problem. Recently, someone was telling me about some problem at work and I asked, “have you seen my tomatoes?” Now, I was demonstrating the power of asking strange questions, but you get the idea.

Give it a go and notice what happens, and as you do so, you can realise that solving problems isn’t about having the answers, it’s about having the questions.

Win a copy of 'The Unsticker' – the new creative problem solving book

To help celebrate the re-launch of the hugely successful creative problem solving book, ‘The Unsticker’, by Peter Freeth, we are giving away three signed copies of the book courtesy of Communications in Action.

To be in with a chance of winning a copy, simply answer the following question:

"If you could solve any problem in the world, what would it be?"

Email your answer to carl@bigfishrecruitment.com. The three most creative (or amusing) replies will be hand picked as the winner by the Communications in Action panel on 13th June 2008.

Deadline for entries is 9th June 2008. The winner will be announced in the July edition of Hooked Online.
 

Who is the author? 

Peter Freeth is the author and founder of Communications In Action. Peter will be writing informative and essential career support articles each and every month.

Communications In Action is a leading business coaching and training consultancy. Peter and other members of the consultancy deliver coaching, training and other professional development services to a wide range of businesses, in the UK and internationally.