When you have a tough problem to solve, conventional management wisdom dictates that you gather your team members and collectively “think outside the box.”

But, what is that “box,” anyway?

How, exactly, are people supposed to “think outside” it?

And, most importantly, is “thinking outside the box” truly the best way to develop innovative solutions to work problems?

Nope. At least, not according to Art Markman, author of this Harvard Business Review article. Markman purports that the key to solving a problem lies in the way you define it.

Here’s why:

The human brain contains a network of linked information, and retrieval of memories is sparked by cues. For example, if you ask someone how to change a flat tire, they’d automatically picture a vehicle. That thought would then trigger a cascade of related memories, which could include anything from seeing a family stuck on the side of the highway, to actually changing a flat tire themselves.

According to this logic, groups typically solve problems by tapping the memories of the individuals working on them. The assumption is that someone in the group already knows information that will be the key to solving the problem; they just haven’t accessed that memory yet.

So, the way the group defines a problem greatly impacts their success in solving it. By framing a problem using different words, people elicit novel memory cues which retrieve new information from their collective memory.

It’s simple. It makes perfect sense. And it’s free to try!

To apply this technique in your organization:

1. Assemble your team as you would for a typical brainstorming session.
2. Instead of trying to solve the problem, spend your time defining it differently.
3. Create several variations of the problem’s description:
   1. Some should be specific, and refer to the “object(s)” to be acted on.
   2. Other descriptions should focus on the relationships among the problem’s key elements.
   3. Challenge your team to describe the problem in other ways that are abstract, high-level or novel.
4. Use the multiple problem descriptions to brainstorm potential solutions. Don’t be afraid to “go down a rabbit hole”; creative insights often come from the most unlikely places!

Looking for more creative problem-solving techniques to implement in your organization?

Check out our earlier post, “Fresh Strategies for Creative Problem Solving.”

Need more problem-solvers on your team?

Exact Staff’s recruiting experts will refer candidates with the creativity, perseverance and other soft skills. Contact our team today for additional insight and information!