In an article about creative problem solving, author J.Baumgartner said: “The secret to creative thinking is to start with good problems. Then you need to turn those problems into thought provoking challenges.”

We are our best when we allow problems to help craft our creativity. In order for this theory to become practice, we have to understand the necessity we have as leaders to respond to issues and not react to them. Often we rush to resolve symptoms and don’t understand that our best creativity is birthed when we are looking to cure diseases.

Problems are not only important…they are necessary. We have to embrace our problems and leverage them for the future of our creative process. Creativity, new ideas, and execution that allows us to cure the diseases of our organizations will help everything we do get more healthy.

1. Diagnose our Issue. As we face problems, if we want to creatively solve theme, we can start with a few questions that will help us collect data:

Why do we have this problem?
Is this problem the core issue or a symptom of a bigger issue?
Why do we have this problem?
If we solve this problem, what new problems could develop?
What is the motivation of this problem? What causes the problem to exist?
What chain reactions will occur when this problem gets stolid?

2. Find Solutions. Once we have the problem identified, we have to move into solution mode. In solution mode we find the “new”, new ideas, new angles, new opportunities that our problems have uncovered. Solution mode requires all the tools of a brainstorming meeting. (No “no’s”, no boundaries, no bad ideas)

How can we solve this?
What if we tried this?
Could we experiment with this?
What could possibly be created to correct this?
If we do this…THIS could happen.

3. Start to Execute. The final step is identifying the viability of these new ideas.

Does this fit into our mission?
Do we have the resource?
What speed do we need to execute these solutions?
Is possible to execute this successfully?
Will this new solution position us in a better place than our previous problem?

Approaching our problems creatively helps us not be as intimidated or resistant to embracing the opportunity that lives inside of our problems.

What other ways have you found to use creativity to address your problems?

Stuff we found this week we hope inspires you.

What can you share that will inspire others?

It’s not about us.

It’s not about the songs we sing.

It’s not about the videos we make.

It’s not about the art we create.

It’s not about the messages we bring.

It’s not about our ideas, opinions, or emotions.

It IS about a chance to help someone bump into God.

It IS about the opportunity for someone to walk in one way and leave changed.

It IS about lives being changed and HIS will being done.

So don’t buy the hype this weekend.

If you accept the failure, you have to accept the praise. Both are equally destructive.

Remember: we are a conduit for HIS church, not our own agenda.

Now – go kill it.

Photo Props:

At some point we’re all going to fail. We may not like it, but it’s a necessary step in the process of succeeding.

In his book Adapt, Tim Hartford talks about the process of adapting to failure. Hartford contends that it’s not only okay to fail, but that it’s necessary; that “success comes through rapidly fixing our mistakes rather than getting things right the first time.”

The creative mind fears failure. So much of our identity is tied to – and found in – our art. In this, we fear failure will take away our influence, voice, equity, or stature. Basically, we get full of pride and think it’s all about us and we don’t want to look bad. It’s okay – that’s natural. But real success is found when we’re comfortable knowing that failure is part of the process and when we realize tho we respond to failure is more important than how we hide it.

Being creative gives us a different lens. We see things in a way not everyone can. But because of our uncanny connection to our art, we often have blind spots that hinder our own self critique – or worse, we are so hard on ourselves and we never allow our art the space to
win.

Hartford continues, “When you’re fixing your own mistake, you’re challenging a status quo that you yourself made. That’s a terribly difficult thing to do, but it’s a brilliant skill if you can acquire it.”

• So breathe.
• It is okay.
• We’re all going to fail.
• When we do, we’re going to get back up.
• We will adjust.
• We will adapt.
• We will move quickly.
• We will choose responding and avoid reacting.
• We will challenge the status quos that exits around us – especially our own.
• Then, we will fail again.
• And again.
• And again.
• Right up until we succeed.

Have you embraced the fact we are all going to fail our way to success? How have you gotten comfortable with this concept? Are you building a culture where failure is permitted?

What have you seen this week that you could share?