SABISMS ~ Why Oh Why?
There are many reasons why we can’t, or often don’t want, to see the real problem in a difficult situation.
Once the actual flash point has been identified though, potential solutions will flow boosted by the motivating belief that they will actually have a positive effect.
The uncreative mind can spot wrong
answers, but it takes a very creative
mind to spot wrong questions.~ Anthony Jay
@CreativeBizMind #Sabisms ~ (Tweet Me!)
(Start YOUR Creative Leap Year TODAY! Read this and Let’s Do It!)
Probe for the real problem.
Why is that? Oh, why is that? Oh, wh…
~Sab Will / SABISMS Why Oh Why?
@CreativeBizMind #Sabisms ~ (Tweet Me!)
Coke thought their falling sales were because people preferred Pepsi’s sweeter taste. New (sweeter) Coke was introduced. It bombed. Sweetness, or lack of it, wasn’t the real problem!
Proctor and Gamble spent years trying to create a revolutionary floor-cleaning formulation. A design firm discovered people didn’t want ‘new improved’ chemicals but a throwaway paper cleaning tool.*
Sally seems uninterested in her work and her behaviour is affecting the team. Her boss gives her a bonus to remotivate her. Her attitude doesn’t improve. What she really wants is more flexible hours so she can pick up her kids from school.
Throwing money at problems is rarely the solution and can even make things worse. Investing in investigating what the real problem is would definitely be more useful!
It’s surprising how often people fall back on outdated assumptions and don’t spend time identifying the root issue to be tackled.
It’s like prescribing someone painkillers instead of showing them how to stop causing the harm.
So don’t assume you know what the true problem is. Try asking yourself or others why the difficulty exists. You’ll come up with some sort of reason. Then ask why that deeper problem exists. And so on and so forth. Chances are you’ll get a lot closer to the truth and have a much better chance of actually sorting it out.
*Thanks to OpenGenius for bringing this to my attention.
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(SABISMS Why Oh Why? is No.15 in a Super Series of 183)
(See also: SABISMS Mad Genius ~ in Personal Creativity No.15)
Notes on SABISMS Why Oh Why?
Sab Will enjoys writing Sabisms about creativity in business and life.
As well as Creative Business Mind (this site!) he runs I Create Therefore I Am (general creativity), Creative Leap Year (a powerful motivational program under development – join us!), Mind Map Mad (mind mapping & visual problem solving) and Fun English Lessons (an on-line language learning site).
Sab is available for training in innovative thinking, creative problem solving and mind mapping. Please get in touch here to find out how increased creativity and innovation can help boost your business.
© 2016 Sab Will / Creative Business Mind