Brian Tracy outlines three techniques for solving business problems: repeatedly ask what you're trying to do and how, continually test your assumptions, and use zero-based thinking to ask whether you'd make the same decisions again knowing what you know now. He emphasizes writing objectives as if already achieved and being willing to try completely new approaches.
A major stimulant to creative thinking is focused questions. There's something about a well worded question that often penetrates to the heart of the matter and triggers new ideas and insights. Some of the best questions I found for business problem solving are the Question one what are we trying to do? Whenever you become frustrated with slow progress for any reason, step back and ask this again and again. What are we really trying to do here? And sometimes, if you're honest, you'll find that what you're trying to do is not clear or it's different from what you seem to be trying to do.
Question number two is how are we.
Trying to do it? If you're experiencing resistance, perhaps your method is wrong.
Be willing to objectively analyze your approach.
By asking how are we trying to do it?
Is this the right way?
Could there be a better way? What if our method was completely wrong?
How else could we Approach requires courage.
To face the possibility that you may be wrong, but it also leads to your seeing new possibilities. The rule is always decide what's right before worrying about who's right. Another great question is what are our assumptions about the person, the product, the market, the business? What are our assumptions? Could we be assuming something that is incorrect? Someone once said that errant assumptions lie.
At the root of every failure.
So always test your assumptions. Never assume that you are correct. What if your unspoken or implied assumptions were wrong? What would you have to do differently? Another form of focused questioning is my favorite. It's what I call zero based thinking. This method requires that you put every past decision on trial for its life by regularly asking the question, if I had not made this decision, knowing what I now know, would I make it again today? If I had not hired this person or gotten involved in this project or investment, knowing what I now know, would I do it over again? If the answer is no, that you would not do it again now, based on your current knowledge, then your next question should be to how do I get out of this and how fast? Be willing to cut your losses and try something else. There are two things you can do.
To trigger more and better ideas.
First, be very clear about exactly what it is that you are trying to do. Write it down and describe it as if it were already achieved. Second, question your assumptions continually what if.
There were a better way? Be willing to try out something completely new and different.
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