185. Reframing Your Problems with Thomas Wedell-Wedellsborg (Part 1)
Apr 6, 2023
25:44
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Quick takeaways
Reframing problems uncovers deeper issues and more effective solutions.
Challenging conventional problem-solving methods leads to innovative outcomes and multiple solutions.
Deep dives
The Importance of Reframing Problems
Thomas Swidell discusses the importance of reframing problems instead of accepting them at face value. He uses the analogy of a slow elevator problem in an office building to illustrate this concept. Instead of immediately trying to make the elevator faster, he suggests looking deeper into the real issue, which in this case is people's dislike for waiting. By reframing problems, individuals can uncover more creative and effective solutions that address the root causes rather than just the symptoms.
Challenging Existing Perspectives on Problem Solving
Thomas Swidell challenges the conventional approach to problem solving and highlights the tendency to fixate on surface-level issues without questioning their validity. He emphasizes that many problems have multiple solutions and causes, debunking the idea of a singular 'real' problem. Swidell advocates for constantly questioning and reframing problems to discover more effective and innovative solutions, particularly in scenarios where traditional problem-solving methods have not yielded desired outcomes.
Application of Reframing in Personal and Professional Scenarios
Swidell provides tangible examples of applying problem reframing in personal and professional settings. He shares stories of couples resolving relationship conflicts by redefining the underlying issues and businesses unlocking better solutions by avoiding prescriptive problem descriptions. By encouraging individuals to question their initial problem perceptions, Swidell underscores the broad applicability of reframing in addressing challenges effectively and fostering creative problem-solving approaches.
How much time, money, and energy do you waste solving the wrong problems? That's a question posed by my guest today. This is part one of a two-part interview with Thomas Wedell-Wedellsborg. I became aware of his work after reading an article that he wrote in Harvard Business Review. By the end of this episode, you'll be able to reframe problems in order to reveal unexpected solutions.