How to become a better thinker
One common trait of exceptional thinkers is they ask the right questions. So naturally a key way to become a better thinker is to become a better questioner. Asking the right questions gives your mind the best chance to find the right answers, ideas, and solutions. The result of not asking questions is to greatly diminish thinking capabilities. Several Einstein quotes that support this are:
1.“The key to thinking is never to stop asking questions.”
2.“What's different about me? It's my ability to ask the right questions clearly & cleanly.”
Or consider this Chinese proverb: “He who asks a question may appear a fool for a minute, but he who does not ask a question remains a fool for life.”
1.“The key to thinking is never to stop asking questions.”
2.“What's different about me? It's my ability to ask the right questions clearly & cleanly.”
Or consider this Chinese proverb: “He who asks a question may appear a fool for a minute, but he who does not ask a question remains a fool for life.”
21 COMMON COACHING / FACILITATING TASKS
Step 1: Define current state
Thinking is shaped by how things are defined. Too often people rush into developing solutions without taking enough time to identify the correct problem or situation. It is far better to have difficulty solving the correct problem than to develop a brilliant solution to the wrong problem. Step 2: Identify goal state Goal setting is generally a prerequisite for success. Without a clear goal, people are likely to go down the wrong thinking pathway and develop ineffective solutions. Use these questions to develop a goal statement that describes what the situation/ problem will look like after it has been resolved. Step 3: Understand facts & data There is a positive correlation between people & teams who develop more and better ideas/solutions with those who understand all the relevant facts about the situation. These questions will help you acquire the right knowledge about your situation/problem. Step 4: Create ideas & Innovative solutions This step is about generating ideas without judgment or criticism. All ideas should be considered because any one of them could hold the seed of a brilliant innovative solution. Step 5: Decide idea/solution to implement All the hard work of developing good ideas can be negated if you make the wrong decision. One common trait of good decision makers is they are constantly asking probing questions to aid with decision making. Use these questions to help make the right decision. Step 6: Take action & Follow-up All the hard work of “thinking” will be lost if no action is taken. Use these questions to create action steps and work activities that will lead to successful implementation. Note: A key to implement any solution (no matter how complex or how difficult it appears to be) is implementing the “easiest part first.” This method provides a gradual way of overcoming what appears to be an insurmountable situation/problem. |
Step 1: Define current problem state
1: Understand basic problem (or situation). 2: State problem (situation) in 15 words. 3: Confirm work is on the right problem. Step 2: Identify goal state 4: Decide why it's important to resolve 5: Write a goal statement in 15 words. 6: Determine solution requirements. Step 3: Understand facts & data 7: Gather relevant facts. 8: Analyze facts for root cause. 9: Understand the big picture. 10: Anticipate future facts. Step 4: Create ideas & Innovative solutions 11: Develop corrective action ideas. 12: Develop creative new ideas. 13: Develop future sustainable ideas 14: Turn ideas into practical solutions. Step 5: Decide idea/solution to implement 15: Criteria to judge alternative solutions. 16: Pick decision making tools. 17: Make decision and verify correctness. Step 6: Take action & Follow-up 18: Determine testing requirements. 19: Plan actions to implement decision. 20: Put plan into effect. 21: Feedback for on-going improvement |
Universal Debriefing & Coaching Questions
1.1 Describe current situation
Use these facilitator questions to help write a short background description of the current situation or problem. Writing this description will help you understand the nature, scope, and potential impact of the situation. The description should point out the uniqueness of the situation in order to avoid simply looking for canned solutions. |
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1.2: Write a situation problem statement
Developing a good problem statement may be the most important task in problem solving. A correctly and clearly stated problem focuses people's thinking, energies, and actions. A precise statement enhances proper diagnosis and resolution. A vague statement has people thinking all over the place. |
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1.3: Correctly frame situation or problem
Typically, most of us learn analytical thinking habits that consider problems in isolation. However, as the world becomes more interconnected, problems are generally no longer isolated but are on a continuum that is always subject to change. This question set helps provide a broader context in which the problem resides and will better ensure you are developing solutions that benefit the whole. |
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2.1: Reasons for needing to resolve
Understanding the reasons and purposes for wanting to resolve the problem or situation helps expand thinking to produce all-encompassing ideas/solutions. Clearly knowing the purpose is a major motivator and people should be encouraged to continually ask; What is the purpose for wanting to resolve this situation? |
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2.2: Write goal statement
The goal statement represents a final outcome. It describes what the problem or situation will look like after it has been resolved. A clear goal statement gives a higher probability of developing appropriate solutions and ideas. |
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2.3: Establish idea/solution requirements
Documenting requirements (outcomes or deliverables) is probably one of the most overlooked steps in thinking. It is difficult or impossible to develop good ideas or solutions if you do not have some agreement on the end requirements. Use these questions to identify requirements that 'must' be included in any proposed idea/solution. |
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3.1: Understand current facts/data
It is difficult to analyze and effectively resolve any situation without a complete understanding of all the relevant data. In general, the more a problem is understood, the more effective the thinking will be. Be careful, however, of analysis-paralysis where you collect too much data and information. |
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3.2: Understand past changed facts/data
Past or transient data is the data that describes the changes that occurred that lead to the current problem/situation. Knowing this type of data helps to identify the driving forces affecting both the current situation and possible solutions. |
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3.3: Understand systems data
Typically, most of us apply analytical thinking habits that consider problems in isolation; however, problems and opportunities generally do not exist in isolation. These questions help provide a systems understanding to better ensure you are developing whole solutions and not causing damage to another part of the system. |
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3.4: Predict future ideal facts/data
This question set helps predict what the facts will look like in a desired or ideal future state. This type of data helps to expand thinking and the development of better innovative solutions. |
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4.1: Ideas to return to a past condition
If you need to return to a prior state or condition, use this question set. These kinds of problems/situations should be resolved at their source (root cause); otherwise, the solution itself might become a problem. |
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4.2: New creative ideas
Use this question set to help generate a large number of different ideas that might solve the problem or situation. The chances of developing a truly creative solution are increased substantially when you have a large pool of ideas to consider. |
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4.3: Ideas for an ideal future
These questions represent a shift away from a traditional thinking that focuses on developing ideas that are a reaction to current changes and problems. Instead, these questions focus on developing ideas about what the future should be and taking pro-active action steps today to manage change. |
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4.4: Turn ideas into innovative solutions
Developing creative ideas is relatively easy. Transforming them into practical and innovative solutions can be very difficult. This question set helps refine ideas by taking the best qualities and combining them into solutions that are 'implement-able'. |
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5.1: Develop evaluation criteria
Deciding which solution or alternative to implement goes beyond simply selecting the solution that best resolves the situation. Evaluation criteria such as: ease of implementation, cost to implement, and mandatory or legal requirements should be considered. Use this question set to help identify the decision making criteria that is right for your situation. |
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Nutcracker Questions > What is the single most important criterion for predicting the effectiveness of a proposed idea/solution? What evaluation criterion measures the outgoing product or the incoming gain? What criteria can be used to judge that ideas/solution will not have negative impacts on other situations? Can the idea be patented or copyright protected? |
5.2: Select decision making tools
It does no good if the best solution is discarded because fixed mental models and decision-making habits take over. Pick the right decision making method for your situation. To give the best chance for making the right decision, consider using several different methods. |
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5.3: Pick solution/idea to implement
A decision is only as good as it can be successfully executed without creating more damage than it solves. After an initial decision has been made, use these questions to validate the correctness of the decision. |
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6.1: Design & test the idea/solution
A critical flaw in many work efforts is waiting until the project is almost completed before reviewing solution deliverables. This task minimizes re-work because the user can make changes upfront to proposed design deliverables. It then tests the design to uncover any fatal flaws that would prevent successful implementation. |
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6.2: Plan implementation actions
The objective of this question set is to identify the work activities that will lead to successful implementation. Typically this means assigning responsibility for work tasks, determining milestones and deadlines, etc. Note: While developing solutions often requires escaping organizational structure, implementation usually requires engaging and working within organizational structures and rules. |
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6.3: Put the solution into effect
No plan can be perfect. Be flexible about implementing the plan if the situation demands. Anticipate potential implementation problems and prepare for them rather than simply waiting and reacting to them. |
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6.4: Follow-up to prevent future problems
Feedback is a process that promotes adapting to ongoing change. This question set helps identify feedback mechanisms to: 1) Make ongoing corrections; 2) Prevent problem recurrence; 3) Avert future problems; or 4) Promote continuous improvement. |
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