Questions Bring Great Creative Results
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Question, question, and question. One of the greatest mistakes people make is they ask questions but are too quick in analyzing them. Look at the problem from different angles and see if you can find another take on the problem at hand. Lets say the problem is that our organization has discovered that our running cost exceeds our profits. How can we fix the problem within our organization to insure that our company is profitable? For starters that would be the only question people will ponder. Why limit yourself to one blown out question? Lets take this question further and see if we can develop a solution. Start by making a list of questions. Don’t think about them; just keep writing them out one by one. Do not bother to go back and read that list. That is not the point. We want to try to develop as many questions as possible. This way many things can be discovered.
What would happen if we layoff employees?
If we lay off employees would we be efficient?
Is there a way we can sell more of our products/services?
Can we cut a budget in a department for some period of time?
Where are we spending the most money? Advertising?
Can we outsource some work to reduce running cost?
Are there other vendors we can look into?
Is there opportunity to renegotiate with vendors?
What if we start doing things in house? Will it become cheaper in the long run?
Develop the longest list possible for your problem (about 6-7 pages). Once the list has been developed, the go back and read each question. You will find that there are lots of things that can be done. Something that seems difficult to answer is only a million of your questions away. This process makes solving a problem easy. It positions your mind to think right to the point and many angles are then discovered and possibly great solutions are found.
Give this creative technique a try. You will find it makes problem solving easier and a lot less stressful.
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