creative problem solving mind

What is creative problem-solving?

Table of Contents

An introduction to creative problem-solving.

Creative problem-solving is an essential skill that goes beyond basic brainstorming . It entails a holistic approach to challenges, melding logical processes with imaginative techniques to conceive innovative solutions. As our world becomes increasingly complex and interconnected, the ability to think creatively and solve problems with fresh perspectives becomes invaluable for individuals, businesses, and communities alike.

Importance of divergent and convergent thinking

At the heart of creative problem-solving lies the balance between divergent and convergent thinking. Divergent thinking encourages free-flowing, unrestricted ideation, leading to a plethora of potential solutions. Convergent thinking, on the other hand, is about narrowing down those options to find the most viable solution. This dual approach ensures both breadth and depth in the problem-solving process.

Emphasis on collaboration and diverse perspectives

No single perspective has a monopoly on insight. Collaborating with individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and areas of expertise offers a richer tapestry of ideas. Embracing diverse perspectives not only broadens the pool of solutions but also ensures more holistic and well-rounded outcomes.

Nurturing a risk-taking and experimental mindset

The fear of failure can be the most significant barrier to any undertaking. It's essential to foster an environment where risk-taking and experimentation are celebrated. This involves viewing failures not as setbacks but as invaluable learning experiences that pave the way for eventual success.

The role of intuition and lateral thinking

Sometimes, the path to a solution is not linear. Lateral thinking and intuition allow for making connections between seemingly unrelated elements. These 'eureka' moments often lead to breakthrough solutions that conventional methods might overlook.

Stages of the creative problem-solving process

The creative problem-solving process is typically broken down into several stages. Each stage plays a crucial role in understanding, addressing, and resolving challenges in innovative ways.

Clarifying: Understanding the real problem or challenge

Before diving into solutions, one must first understand the problem at its core. This involves asking probing questions, gathering data, and viewing the challenge from various angles. A clear comprehension of the problem ensures that effort and resources are channeled correctly.

Ideating: Generating diverse and multiple solutions

Once the problem is clarified, the focus shifts to generating as many solutions as possible. This stage champions quantity over quality, as the aim is to explore the breadth of possibilities without immediately passing judgment.

Developing: Refining and honing promising solutions

With a list of potential solutions in hand, it's time to refine and develop the most promising ones. This involves evaluating each idea's feasibility, potential impact, and any associated risks, then enhancing or combining solutions to maximize effectiveness.

Implementing: Acting on the best solutions

Once a solution has been honed, it's time to put it into action. This involves planning, allocating resources, and monitoring the results to ensure the solution is effectively addressing the problem.

Techniques for creative problem-solving

Solving complex problems in a fresh way can be a daunting task to start on. Here are a few techniques that can help kickstart the process:

Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a widely-used technique that involves generating as many ideas as possible within a set timeframe. Variants like brainwriting (where ideas are written down rather than spoken) and reverse brainstorming (thinking of ways to cause the problem) can offer fresh perspectives and ensure broader participation.

Mind mapping

Mind mapping is a visual tool that helps structure information, making connections between disparate pieces of data. It is particularly useful in organizing thoughts, visualizing relationships, and ensuring a comprehensive approach to a problem.

SCAMPER technique

SCAMPER stands for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Reverse. This technique prompts individuals to look at existing products, services, or processes in new ways, leading to innovative solutions.

Benefits of creative problem-solving

Creative problem-solving offers numerous benefits, both at the individual and organizational levels. Some of the most prominent advantages include:

Finding novel solutions to old problems

Traditional problems that have resisted conventional solutions often succumb to creative approaches. By looking at challenges from fresh angles and blending different techniques, we can unlock novel solutions previously deemed impossible.

Enhanced adaptability in changing environments

In our rapidly evolving world, the ability to adapt is critical. Creative problem-solving equips individuals and organizations with the agility to pivot and adapt to changing circumstances, ensuring resilience and longevity.

Building collaborative and innovative teams

Teams that embrace creative problem-solving tend to be more collaborative and innovative. They value diversity of thought, are open to experimentation, and are more likely to challenge the status quo, leading to groundbreaking results.

Fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement

Creative problem-solving is not just about finding solutions; it's also about continuous learning and improvement. By encouraging an environment of curiosity and exploration, organizations can ensure that they are always at the cutting edge, ready to tackle future challenges head-on.

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How to Be a More Creative Problem-Solver at Work: 8 Tips

• 01 Mar 2022

The importance of creativity in the workplace—particularly when problem-solving—is undeniable. Business leaders can’t approach new problems with old solutions and expect the same result.

This is where innovation-based processes need to guide problem-solving. Here’s an overview of what creative problem-solving is, along with tips on how to use it in conjunction with design thinking.

Access your free e-book today.

What Is Creative Problem-Solving?

Encountering problems with no clear cause can be frustrating. This occurs when there’s disagreement around a defined problem or research yields unclear results. In such situations, creative problem-solving helps develop solutions, despite a lack of clarity.

While creative problem-solving is less structured than other forms of innovation, it encourages exploring open-ended ideas and shifting perspectives—thereby fostering innovation and easier adaptation in the workplace. It also works best when paired with other innovation-based processes, such as design thinking .

Creative Problem-Solving and Design Thinking

Design thinking is a solutions-based mentality that encourages innovation and problem-solving. It’s guided by an iterative process that Harvard Business School Dean Srikant Datar outlines in four stages in the online course Design Thinking and Innovation :

• Clarify: This stage involves researching a problem through empathic observation and insights.
• Ideate: This stage focuses on generating ideas and asking open-ended questions based on observations made during the clarification stage.
• Develop: The development stage involves exploring possible solutions based on the ideas you generate. Experimentation and prototyping are both encouraged.
• Implement: The final stage is a culmination of the previous three. It involves finalizing a solution’s development and communicating its value to stakeholders.

Although user research is an essential first step in the design thinking process, there are times when it can’t identify a problem’s root cause. Creative problem-solving addresses this challenge by promoting the development of new perspectives.

Leveraging tools like design thinking and creativity at work can further your problem-solving abilities. Here are eight tips for doing so.

8 Creative Problem-Solving Tips

1. empathize with your audience.

A fundamental practice of design thinking’s clarify stage is empathy. Understanding your target audience can help you find creative and relevant solutions for their pain points through observing them and asking questions.

Practice empathy by paying attention to others’ needs and avoiding personal comparisons. The more you understand your audience, the more effective your solutions will be.

2. Reframe Problems as Questions

If a problem is difficult to define, reframe it as a question rather than a statement. For example, instead of saying, "The problem is," try framing around a question like, "How might we?" Think creatively by shifting your focus from the problem to potential solutions.

Consider this hypothetical case study: You’re the owner of a local coffee shop trying to fill your tip jar. Approaching the situation with a problem-focused mindset frames this as: "We need to find a way to get customers to tip more." If you reframe this as a question, however, you can explore: "How might we make it easier for customers to tip?" When you shift your focus from the shop to the customer, you empathize with your audience. You can take this train of thought one step further and consider questions such as: "How might we provide a tipping method for customers who don't carry cash?"

Whether you work at a coffee shop, a startup, or a Fortune 500 company, reframing can help surface creative solutions to problems that are difficult to define.

3. Defer Judgment of Ideas

If you encounter an idea that seems outlandish or unreasonable, a natural response would be to reject it. This instant judgment impedes creativity. Even if ideas seem implausible, they can play a huge part in ideation. It's important to permit the exploration of original ideas.

While judgment can be perceived as negative, it’s crucial to avoid accepting ideas too quickly. If you love an idea, don’t immediately pursue it. Give equal consideration to each proposal and build on different concepts instead of acting on them immediately.

4. Overcome Cognitive Fixedness

Cognitive fixedness is a state of mind that prevents you from recognizing a situation’s alternative solutions or interpretations instead of considering every situation through the lens of past experiences.

Although it's efficient in the short-term, cognitive fixedness interferes with creative thinking because it prevents you from approaching situations unbiased. It's important to be aware of this tendency so you can avoid it.

5. Balance Divergent and Convergent Thinking

One of the key principles of creative problem-solving is the balance of divergent and convergent thinking. Divergent thinking is the process of brainstorming multiple ideas without limitation; open-ended creativity is encouraged. It’s an effective tool for generating ideas, but not every idea can be explored. Divergent thinking eventually needs to be grounded in reality.

Convergent thinking, on the other hand, is the process of narrowing ideas down into a few options. While converging ideas too quickly stifles creativity, it’s an important step that bridges the gap between ideation and development. It's important to strike a healthy balance between both to allow for the ideation and exploration of creative ideas.

6. Use Creative Tools

Using creative tools is another way to foster innovation. Without a clear cause for a problem, such tools can help you avoid cognitive fixedness and abrupt decision-making. Here are several examples:

Problem Stories

Creating a problem story requires identifying undesired phenomena (UDP) and taking note of events that precede and result from them. The goal is to reframe the situations to visualize their cause and effect.

To start, identify a UDP. Then, discover what events led to it. Observe and ask questions of your consumer base to determine the UDP’s cause.

Next, identify why the UDP is a problem. What effect does the UDP have that necessitates changing the status quo? It's helpful to visualize each event in boxes adjacent to one another when answering such questions.

The problem story can be extended in either direction, as long as there are additional cause-and-effect relationships. Once complete, focus on breaking the chains connecting two subsequent events by disrupting the cause-and-effect relationship between them.

Alternate Worlds

The alternate worlds tool encourages you to consider how people from different backgrounds would approach similar situations. For instance, how would someone in hospitality versus manufacturing approach the same problem? This tool isn't intended to instantly solve problems but, rather, to encourage idea generation and creativity.

7. Use Positive Language

It's vital to maintain a positive mindset when problem-solving and avoid negative words that interfere with creativity. Positive language prevents quick judgments and overcomes cognitive fixedness. Instead of "no, but," use words like "yes, and."

Positive language makes others feel heard and valued rather than shut down. This practice doesn’t necessitate agreeing with every idea but instead approaching each from a positive perspective.

Using “yes, and” as a tool for further idea exploration is also effective. If someone presents an idea, build upon it using “yes, and.” What additional features could improve it? How could it benefit consumers beyond its intended purpose?

While it may not seem essential, this small adjustment can make a big difference in encouraging creativity.

8. Practice Design Thinking

Practicing design thinking can make you a more creative problem-solver. While commonly associated with the workplace, adopting a design thinking mentality can also improve your everyday life. Here are several ways you can practice design thinking:

• Learn from others: There are many examples of design thinking in business . Review case studies to learn from others’ successes, research problems companies haven't addressed, and consider alternative solutions using the design thinking process.
• Approach everyday problems with a design thinking mentality: One of the best ways to practice design thinking is to apply it to your daily life. Approach everyday problems using design thinking’s four-stage framework to uncover what solutions it yields.
• Study design thinking: While learning design thinking independently is a great place to start, taking an online course can offer more insight and practical experience. The right course can teach you important skills , increase your marketability, and provide valuable networking opportunities.

Ready to Become a Creative Problem-Solver?

Though creativity comes naturally to some, it's an acquired skill for many. Regardless of which category you're in, improving your ability to innovate is a valuable endeavor. Whether you want to bolster your creativity or expand your professional skill set, taking an innovation-based course can enhance your problem-solving.

If you're ready to become a more creative problem-solver, explore Design Thinking and Innovation , one of our online entrepreneurship and innovation courses . If you aren't sure which course is the right fit, download our free course flowchart to determine which best aligns with your goals.

About the Author

Creative Problem-Solving Approach: Skills, Framework, 3 Real-life Examples

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• Clarify and Identify the Problem:  The first step is clearly defining and understanding the problem you are trying to solve. Ask questions to determine the root cause of the problem and identify any underlying issues that may be contributing to it.
• Generate Ideas:  In this step, you must generate as many ideas as possible without constraints or judgment. Brainstorming is a valuable technique to use here. Encourage everyone to contribute ideas and build on each other’s ideas.
• Evaluate Ideas:  Once you have generated a list of ideas, it’s time to evaluate them. Look for the most promising ideas with the most significant potential to solve the problem. Evaluate the ideas against criteria such as feasibility, impact, and cost.
• Develop Solutions:  Now, it’s time to develop solutions based on the best ideas. Combine, refine, or modify the ideas to create a solution that meets the criteria identified in the previous step. Test the solution with a small group to see how it works.
• Implement and Evaluate:  The final step is implementing the solution and evaluating its effectiveness. Monitor the solution to ensure it works as intended and make any necessary adjustments.
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• Netflix:  The company revolutionized how we watch TV shows and movies. However, when the company started, it faced a big challenge – getting people to watch their content when they were not a well-known brand. Instead of relying on traditional advertising, Netflix used creative problem-solving to develop a unique solution. They created an algorithm recommending TV shows and movies based on a user’s viewing history, leading to a highly personalized viewing experience. This recommendation engine became a critical factor in the company’s success, helping them attract and retain customers.
• NASA:  NASA had to devise an instant solution to save the Apollo 13 mission and their team. Their spacecraft was damaged, and they needed a solution to bring their astronauts safely back to Earth. The team fitted a square CO2 filter into a round hole using available materials on the spacecraft; the team used creative problem-solving to develop this approach. This innovative solution allowed the astronauts to return safely to Earth and set this incident as a classic creative solving example.
• IKEA:  IKEA makes stylish and affordable furniture and is a well-versed company. However, they faced significant challenges entering the Japanese market. Japanese apartments are comparatively smaller than the rest of the world, so the regular product range was irrelevant to Japanese customers. So, IKEA used creative problem-solving to develop a solution appealing to the Japanese market. They launched a variety of products specially created for smaller spaces that are easy to assemble and disassemble—they also introduced a range of futons designed to look like beds, appealing to Japanese customers who prefer sleeping on the floor. This innovative and creative approach helped IKEA successfully enter the Japanese market.

• Flexibility:  Being able to adapt to changing circumstances and consider multiple perspectives.
• Open-mindedness:  Being open to new ideas and willing to challenge assumptions.
• Curiosity:  Seek more information by questioning and better understanding the problem.
• Persistence:  If a solution does not work, apply another solution, but continue until the problem is solved.
• Divergent thinking:  Generating multiple ideas and exploring different possibilities.
• Convergent thinking:  Evaluating and selecting the best ideas based on specific criteria.
• Visualization:  Using mental imagery to explore solutions and ideas.
• Collaboration:  Working with others to combine different perspectives and knowledge.
• Risk-taking:  Being willing to take calculated risks and try new approaches.
• Innovation:  Combining ideas and approaches in novel ways to create new solutions.

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Overview of the Problem-Solving Mental Process

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Rachel Goldman, PhD FTOS, is a licensed psychologist, clinical assistant professor, speaker, wellness expert specializing in eating behaviors, stress management, and health behavior change.

• Identify the Problem
• Define the Problem
• Form a Strategy
• Organize Information
• Allocate Resources
• Monitor Progress
• Evaluate the Results

Frequently Asked Questions

Problem-solving is a mental process that involves discovering, analyzing, and solving problems. The ultimate goal of problem-solving is to overcome obstacles and find a solution that best resolves the issue.

The best strategy for solving a problem depends largely on the unique situation. In some cases, people are better off learning everything they can about the issue and then using factual knowledge to come up with a solution. In other instances, creativity and insight are the best options.

It is not necessary to follow problem-solving steps sequentially, It is common to skip steps or even go back through steps multiple times until the desired solution is reached.

In order to correctly solve a problem, it is often important to follow a series of steps. Researchers sometimes refer to this as the problem-solving cycle. While this cycle is portrayed sequentially, people rarely follow a rigid series of steps to find a solution.

The following steps include developing strategies and organizing knowledge.

1. Identifying the Problem

While it may seem like an obvious step, identifying the problem is not always as simple as it sounds. In some cases, people might mistakenly identify the wrong source of a problem, which will make attempts to solve it inefficient or even useless.

Some strategies that you might use to figure out the source of a problem include :

• Asking questions about the problem
• Breaking the problem down into smaller pieces
• Looking at the problem from different perspectives
• Conducting research to figure out what relationships exist between different variables

2. Defining the Problem

After the problem has been identified, it is important to fully define the problem so that it can be solved. You can define a problem by operationally defining each aspect of the problem and setting goals for what aspects of the problem you will address

At this point, you should focus on figuring out which aspects of the problems are facts and which are opinions. State the problem clearly and identify the scope of the solution.

3. Forming a Strategy

After the problem has been identified, it is time to start brainstorming potential solutions. This step usually involves generating as many ideas as possible without judging their quality. Once several possibilities have been generated, they can be evaluated and narrowed down.

The next step is to develop a strategy to solve the problem. The approach used will vary depending upon the situation and the individual's unique preferences. Common problem-solving strategies include heuristics and algorithms.

• Heuristics are mental shortcuts that are often based on solutions that have worked in the past. They can work well if the problem is similar to something you have encountered before and are often the best choice if you need a fast solution.
• Algorithms are step-by-step strategies that are guaranteed to produce a correct result. While this approach is great for accuracy, it can also consume time and resources.

Heuristics are often best used when time is of the essence, while algorithms are a better choice when a decision needs to be as accurate as possible.

4. Organizing Information

Before coming up with a solution, you need to first organize the available information. What do you know about the problem? What do you not know? The more information that is available the better prepared you will be to come up with an accurate solution.

When approaching a problem, it is important to make sure that you have all the data you need. Making a decision without adequate information can lead to biased or inaccurate results.

5. Allocating Resources

Of course, we don't always have unlimited money, time, and other resources to solve a problem. Before you begin to solve a problem, you need to determine how high priority it is.

If it is an important problem, it is probably worth allocating more resources to solving it. If, however, it is a fairly unimportant problem, then you do not want to spend too much of your available resources on coming up with a solution.

At this stage, it is important to consider all of the factors that might affect the problem at hand. This includes looking at the available resources, deadlines that need to be met, and any possible risks involved in each solution. After careful evaluation, a decision can be made about which solution to pursue.

6. Monitoring Progress

After selecting a problem-solving strategy, it is time to put the plan into action and see if it works. This step might involve trying out different solutions to see which one is the most effective.

It is also important to monitor the situation after implementing a solution to ensure that the problem has been solved and that no new problems have arisen as a result of the proposed solution.

Effective problem-solvers tend to monitor their progress as they work towards a solution. If they are not making good progress toward reaching their goal, they will reevaluate their approach or look for new strategies .

7. Evaluating the Results

After a solution has been reached, it is important to evaluate the results to determine if it is the best possible solution to the problem. This evaluation might be immediate, such as checking the results of a math problem to ensure the answer is correct, or it can be delayed, such as evaluating the success of a therapy program after several months of treatment.

Once a problem has been solved, it is important to take some time to reflect on the process that was used and evaluate the results. This will help you to improve your problem-solving skills and become more efficient at solving future problems.

A Word From Verywell​

It is important to remember that there are many different problem-solving processes with different steps, and this is just one example. Problem-solving in real-world situations requires a great deal of resourcefulness, flexibility, resilience, and continuous interaction with the environment.

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You can become a better problem solving by:

• Practicing brainstorming and coming up with multiple potential solutions to problems
• Being open-minded and considering all possible options before making a decision
• Breaking down problems into smaller, more manageable pieces
• Asking for help when needed
• Researching different problem-solving techniques and trying out new ones
• Learning from mistakes and using them as opportunities to grow

It's important to communicate openly and honestly with your partner about what's going on. Try to see things from their perspective as well as your own. Work together to find a resolution that works for both of you. Be willing to compromise and accept that there may not be a perfect solution.

Take breaks if things are getting too heated, and come back to the problem when you feel calm and collected. Don't try to fix every problem on your own—consider asking a therapist or counselor for help and insight.

If you've tried everything and there doesn't seem to be a way to fix the problem, you may have to learn to accept it. This can be difficult, but try to focus on the positive aspects of your life and remember that every situation is temporary. Don't dwell on what's going wrong—instead, think about what's going right. Find support by talking to friends or family. Seek professional help if you're having trouble coping.

Davidson JE, Sternberg RJ, editors.  The Psychology of Problem Solving .  Cambridge University Press; 2003. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511615771

Sarathy V. Real world problem-solving .  Front Hum Neurosci . 2018;12:261. Published 2018 Jun 26. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2018.00261

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

The Palgrave Encyclopedia of the Possible pp 298–313 Cite as

• Creative Problem-Solving
• Gerard J. Puccio 2 ,
• Barry Klarman 2 &
• Pamela A. Szalay 2  
• Reference work entry
• First Online: 01 January 2023

105 Accesses

Life and work in the beginning of the twenty-first century has been described as volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. In this fast changing, innovation-driven environment, Creative Problem-Solving has been identified as a fundamental skill for success. In contrast to routine problem-solving, with straightforward and repeatable solution paths, today’s problems are described as being complex and wicked. To generate the possibilities that can effectively address complex problems, individuals need to draw on the highest level of human thought – creativity. Creative Problem-Solving explicitly draws on, and promotes, effective creative thinking. The purpose of this entry is to describe and distinguish Creative Problem-Solving from other forms of problems-solving. Moreover, as Creative Problem-Solving is a deliberate creativity methodology, this chapter also provides a description of the more specific thinking skills that are embodied by the higher-order skill of creative thinking and are explicitly called on in Creative Problem-Solving. Complex problems require complex thinking, and Creative Problem-Solving provides a structured process that allows individuals to more easily and efficiently deploy their creative thinking skills.

• Complex problem-solving
• Creative thinking
• Solution path

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Puccio, G.J., Klarman, B., Szalay, P.A. (2022). Creative Problem-Solving. In: Glăveanu, V.P. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of the Possible. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90913-0_41

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Problem-Solving Mindset: How to Achieve It (15 Ways)

One of the most valuable skills you can have in life is a problem-solving mindset. It means that you see challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, rather than obstacles to avoid or complain about. A problem-solving mindset helps you overcome difficulties, achieve your goals, and constantly improve yourself. By developing a problem-solving mindset, you can become more confident, creative, and resilient in any situation.A well-defined problem paves the way for targeted, effective solutions. Resist the urge to jump straight into fixing things. Invest the time upfront to truly understand what needs to be solved. Starting with the end in mind will make the path to resolution that much smoother.

Sanju Pradeepa

* This Post may contain affiliate Links, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you using such links. *

Ever feel like you’re stuck in a rut with no way out? We’ve all been there. The problems life throws at us can seem insurmountable. But the truth is, you have everything you need to overcome any challenge already within you. It’s called a problem-solving mindset. Developing the ability to see problems as puzzles to solve rather than obstacles to overcome is a game changer. With the right mindset, you can achieve amazing things.

In this article, we’ll explore what having a problem-solving mindset really means and how you can cultivate one for yourself. You’ll learn proven techniques to shift your perspective, expand your creativity, and find innovative solutions to your biggest problems. We’ll look at examples of people who have used a problem-solving mindset to accomplish extraordinary feats. By the end, you’ll have the tools and inspiration to transform how you think about and approach problems in your own life.

Table of Contents

What is a problem-solving mindset.

A problem solving mindset is all about approaching challenges in a solution-focused way. Rather than feeling defeated by obstacles, you look at them as puzzles to solve. Developing this mindset takes practice, but the rewards of increased resilience, creativity and confidence make it worth the effort.

• Identify problems, not excuses. Rather than blaming external factors, look for the issues within your control. Ask yourself, “What’s really going on here and what can I do about it?”
• Focus on solutions, not problems. Once you’ve pinpointed the issue, brainstorm options to fix it. Don’t get stuck in a negative loop. Shift your mindset to answer the question, “What are some possible solutions?”
• Look for opportunities, not obstacles. Reframe the way you view problems. See them as chances to improve and learn, rather than roadblocks stopping your progress. Ask, “What’s the opportunity or lesson here?”
• Start small and build up. Don’t feel overwhelmed by big challenges. Break them into manageable steps and celebrate small wins along the way. Solving little problems builds your confidence to tackle bigger issues.

Be patient with yourself and maintain an open and curious attitude . With regular practice, you’ll get better at seeing the solutions, rather than the obstacles. You’ll become more flexible and innovative in your thinking. And you’ll discover that you have the ability to solve problems you once thought insurmountable. That’s the power of a problem-solving mindset.

Why Developing a Problem Solving Mindset Is Important

Developing a problem-solving mindset is crucial these days. Why? Because life throws curveballs at us constantly and the only way to overcome them is through creative solutions.

Having a problem-solving mindset means you view challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles. You approach them with curiosity and optimism instead of dread. This allows you to see problems from new angles and come up with innovative solutions.

Some key characteristics of a problem-solving mindset include:

• Flexibility. You’re open to different perspectives and willing to consider alternative options.
• Creativity. You think outside the box and make unexpected connections between ideas.
• Persistence. You don’t give up easily in the face of difficulties or setbacks. You continue experimenting and adjusting your approach.
• Adaptability. You accept change and are able to quickly adjust your strategies or plans to suit new situations.
• Resourcefulness. You make the most of what you have access to and find ways to overcome limitations.

Developing a problem-solving mindset takes conscious effort and practice.

The Key Characteristics of Effective Problem Solvers

To become an effective problem solver, you need to develop certain characteristics and mindsets. Here are some of the key traits shared by great problem solvers:

1. Openness to New Ideas

Effective problem solvers have an open and curious mind. They seek out new ways of looking at problems and solutions. Rather than dismissing ideas that seem “out there,” they explore various options with an open mind.

2. Flexibility

Great problem solvers are flexible in their thinking. They can see problems from multiple perspectives and are willing to adapt their approach. If one solution isn’t working, they try another. They understand that there are many paths to solving a problem.

3. Persistence

Solving complex problems often requires persistence and determination. Effective problem solvers don’t give up easily. They continue exploring options and trying new solutions until they find one that works. They see setbacks as learning opportunities rather than failures.

Why Persistence is Important: 8 Benefits & 6 Ways to Develop

4. creativity.

Innovative problem solvers think outside the box . They make unexpected connections and come up with unconventional solutions. They utilize techniques like brainstorming, mind mapping, and lateral thinking to spark new ideas.

5. Analytical Thinking

While creativity is key, problem solvers also need to be able to evaluate solutions in a logical and analytical manner. They need to be able to determine the pros and cons, costs and benefits, and potential obstacles or issues with any solution. They rely on data, evidence, and objective reasoning to make decisions.

7 Types of Critical Thinking: A Guide to Analyzing Problems

How to cultivate a problem-solving mindset.

To cultivate a problem-solving mindset, you need to develop certain habits and ways of thinking. Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Look for Opportunities to Solve Problems

The more you practice problem solving, the better you’ll get at it. Look for opportunities in your daily life to solve small problems. This could be figuring out a better way to organize your tasks at work or coming up with a solution to traffic in your neighborhood. Start with small, low-risk problems and work your way up to more complex challenges.

2. Ask Good Questions

One of the most important skills in problem solving is asking good questions. Questions help you gain a deeper understanding of the issue and uncover new perspectives. Ask open-ended questions like:

• What’s the real problem here?
• What are the underlying causes?
• Who does this impact and how?
• What has been tried before? What worked and what didn’t?

3. Do Your Research

Don’t go into problem solving blind. Do some research to gather relevant facts and data about the situation. The more you know, the better equipped you’ll be to come up with innovative solutions. Talk to people with different viewpoints and life experiences to gain new insights.

4. Brainstorm Many Options

When you start thinking of solutions, don’t settle for the first idea that comes to mind. Brainstorm many options to open up possibilities. The more choices you have, the more likely you are to discover an unconventional solution that really fits the needs of the situation. Think outside the box!

5. Evaluate and Decide

Once you have a list of possible solutions, evaluate each option objectively based on criteria like cost, time, and effectiveness. Get input from others if needed. Then make a decision and take action. Even if it’s not the perfect solution, you can make changes as you go based on feedback and results.

6. Question your beliefs

The beliefs and assumptions you hold can influence how you perceive and solve problems. Ask yourself:

• What beliefs or stereotypes do I have about this situation or the people involved?
• Are these beliefs grounded in facts or just my personal experiences?
• How might my beliefs be limiting my thinking?

Challenging your beliefs helps you see the problem with fresh eyes and identify new solutions.

The Ultimate Guide of Overcoming Self-Limiting Beliefs

7. seek different perspectives.

Get input from people with different backgrounds, experiences, and thought processes than your own. Their unique perspectives can reveal new insights and spark innovative ideas. Some ways to gain new perspectives include:

• Discuss the problem with colleagues from different departments or areas of expertise.
• Interview customers or clients to understand their needs and priorities.
• Consult experts in unrelated fields for an outside-the-box opinion.
• Crowdsource solutions from people of diverse ages, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

8. Look beyond the obvious

We tend to focus on the most conspicuous or straightforward solutions, but the best option isn’t always obvious. Try these techniques to stimulate unconventional thinking:

• Restate the problem in new ways. A new phrasing can reveal alternative solutions.
• Remove constraints and imagine an ideal scenario. Then work backwards to find realistic options.
• Make unexpected associations between the problem and unrelated concepts or objects. Look for parallels and analogies in different domains.
• Play with hypothetical scenarios to find combinations you may not logically deduce. Some of the wildest ideas can lead to innovative solutions!

With an open and curious mindset, you can overcome assumptions, gain new insights, and find unconventional solutions to your most complex problems. The key is looking at the situation in new ways and exploring all possibilities.

Mindset is Everything: Reprogram Your Thinking for Success

9. practice active listening.

To become an effective problem solver, you need to practice active listening. This means paying close attention to what others are saying and asking follow-up questions to gain a deeper understanding of the issues.

Listen without judgment

When someone is explaining a problem to you, listen with an open mind. Avoid interrupting or criticizing them. Your role is to understand their perspective and concerns, not pass judgment. Nod, make eye contact, and give verbal affirmations like “I see” or “go on” to show you’re engaged.

Ask clarifying questions

If something is unclear or you need more details, ask questions. Say something like, “Can you explain that in more detail?” or “What specifically do you mean by that?” The more information you have about the problem, the better equipped you’ll be to solve it. Ask open-ended questions to encourage the other person to elaborate on their points.

Paraphrase and summarize

Repeat back parts of what the speaker said in your own words to confirm you understood them correctly. Say something like, “It sounds like the main issues are…” or “To summarize, the key points you’re making are…” This also shows the other person you were paying attention and care about addressing their actual concerns.

10. Withhold suggestions initially

When someone first presents you with a problem, avoid immediately suggesting solutions. Your first task is to understand the issue thoroughly. If you start proposing solutions too soon, it can seem like you’re not really listening and are just waiting for your turn to talk. Get clarification, summarize the issues, and ask any follow up questions needed before offering your input on how to solve the problem.

Developing the patience and discipline to actively listen takes practice. But by listening without judgment, asking clarifying questions, paraphrasing, and withholding suggestions initially, you’ll gain valuable insight into problems and be better equipped to solve them. Active listening is a skill that will serve you well in all areas of life.

11. Ask Lots of Questions

To solve problems effectively, you need to ask lots of questions. Questioning helps you gain a deeper understanding of the issue, uncover hidden factors, and open your mind to new solutions.

Asking “why” helps you determine the root cause of the problem. Keep asking “why” until you reach the underlying reason. For example, if sales numbers are down, ask why. The answer may be that you lost a key client. Ask why you lost the client. The answer could be poor customer service. Ask why the customer service was poor. And so on. Getting to the root cause is key to finding the right solution.

Challenge Assumptions

We all have implicit assumptions and biases that influence our thinking. Challenge any assumptions you have about the problem by asking questions like:

• What if the opposite is true?
• What are we missing or ignoring?
• What do we think is impossible but perhaps isn’t?

Questioning your assumptions opens you up to new perspectives and innovative solutions.

12. Consider Different Viewpoints

Try to see the problem from multiple angles by asking:

• How do others see this problem?
• What solutions might employees, customers, or experts suggest?
• What would someone from a different industry or background recommend?

Getting input from people with diverse experiences and ways of thinking will lead to better solutions.

13. Brainstorm New Possibilities

Once you have a good understanding of the root problem, start generating new solutions by asking open-ended questions like:

• What if anything were possible, what solutions come to mind?
• What are some wild and crazy ideas, even if implausible?
• What solutions have we not yet thought of?

Don’t judge or evaluate ideas at this stage. Just let the questions spark new creative solutions. The more questions you ask, the more solutions you’ll discover. With an inquisitive mindset, you’ll be well on your way to solving any problem.

14. Document what you find

As you research, keep notes on key details, facts, statistics, examples, and advice that stand out as most relevant or interesting. Look for common themes and threads across the different resources. Organize your notes by topic or theme to get a better sense of the big picture. Refer back to your notes to recall important points as you evaluate options and determine next steps.

Doing thorough research arms you with the knowledge and understanding to develop effective solutions. You’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity of the problem and be able to make more informed choices. Research also exposes you to new ideas you may not have considered. While it requires an investment of time, research is a crucial step for achieving an optimal solution.

15. Start With the End in Mind: Define the Problem Clearly

To solve a problem effectively, you need to first define it clearly. Without a concrete understanding of the issue at hand, you’ll waste time and energy grappling with a vague, nebulous challenge.

Identify the root cause

Ask probing questions to determine the underlying reason for the problem. Get specific by figuring out who is affected, what’s not working, where the breakdown is happening, when it started, and why it’s an issue. Look beyond the symptoms to find the source. The solution lies in resolving the root cause, not just alleviating surface-level pain points.

Gather objective data

Rely on facts, not opinions or assumptions. Observe the situation directly and collect information from multiple sources. Get input from people with different perspectives. Hard data and evidence will give you an accurate, unbiased view of the problem.

Define constraints and priorities

Determine any restrictions around time, money, resources, or policies that could impact your solution. Also identify what’s most important to solve—you can’t fix everything at once. Focus on high-priority issues and leave lower-priority problems for another time.

Frame the problem statement

With a clear understanding of the root cause, supporting data, and constraints, you can craft a concise problem statement. This articulates the issue in 1 or 2 sentences and serves as a guiding vision for developing solutions. Refer back to your problem statement regularly to ensure you stay on track.

Final Thought

Developing a problem-solving mindset is within your reach if you commit to continuous learning, looking at challenges from new angles, and not being afraid to fail. Start small by picking one problem each day to solve in a creative way. Build up your confidence and skills over time through practice.

While it may feel uncomfortable at first, having an adaptable and solution-focused mindset will serve you well in all areas of life. You’ll be able to navigate obstacles and setbacks with more ease and grace. And who knows, you may even start to enjoy the problem-solving process and see problems as opportunities in disguise. The problem-solving mindset is a gift that keeps on giving. Now go out there, face your challenges head on, and solve away!

Solve It!: The Mindset and Tools of Smart Problem Solvers by  Dietmar Sternad

• Creative Problem Solving as Overcoming a Misunderstanding by Maria Bagassi  and  Laura Macchi * (Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy) ,
• Mindsets: A View From Two Eras by Carol S. Dweck 1  and  David S. Yeager 2 published in National Library of Medicine ( Perspect Psychol Sci.  Author manuscript; available in PMC 2020 May 1. Published in final edited form as: Perspect Psychol Sci. 2019 May; 14(3): 481–496. )

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With regular practice, a problem solving mindset can become second nature. You’ll get better at seeing opportunities, asking the right questions, uncovering creative solutions, and taking action. And that will make you a highly valuable thinker in any organization or team.

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Break open your mind – Boost creative problem solving in 5 steps

Have you ever wished you could be more creative ? Perhaps you need to solve a challenging problem or want to develop a novel idea? Or maybe you’re an organization that wants to encourage employees to be more creative in order to stay ahead of the competition? Today’s your lucky day! Read the following post to help understand and improve divergent thinking skills , which are responsible for creative thinking and problem solving.

Many people feel as though they’re just not creative types –they struggle to think outside the box or dive deep into their brain to come up with creative ideas and solutions. The good news is that you can improve your creative thinking . Specifically, you can practice something called “divergent thinking” that will help you think more creatively in the future.

“Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way.” – Edward de Bono

Our team of PhDs have reviewed 100s of papers on creative problem solving, divergent thinking, associative networks, approach motivation, and incubation to bring you this post, which will hopefully be the starting point for great things to come.

Specifically, we are going to outline the key processes involved in creative thinking and give you the following 5 steps to help encourage and improve your divergent thinking and creative problem solving:

• Exercise two types of thinking involved in creativity–divergent and convergent
• Understand and capitalize on what happens in the brain during divergent thinking
• Induce approach orientation before creative thinking
• Take breaks in the process of creative thinking
• Practice your divergent thinking skills by brainstorming, free writing, or playing a game

Step 1. Exercise two types of thinking involved in creativity–divergent and convergent

Creativity is characterized by novelty, and there are two broad processes that produce effective novelty: divergent and convergent thinking . Divergent thinking can be described as generating ideas. Convergent thinking occurs when people evaluate their ideas to reach appropriate conclusions. In this sense, convergent thinking judges the ideas that arise during divergent thinking to determine their suitability.

For example, a civil engineer might look at both steel reinforcing rods and spaghetti, and recognize that they have some similarities: long, tubular, sometimes flexible. This recognition requires observing and processing spaghetti in a different way than its intended use (divergent thinking). At this point, the engineer would assess that using spaghetti in place of metal rods would be a poor decision, and reject the idea as unfeasible (convergent thinking).

source – batesmeron.com

Exercise your divergent thinking. Follow these steps to test your divergent thinking skills:

• Set a timer for three minutes.
• Look around and find the object that is closest to you.
• Start the timer.
• Be as silly or “out there” as you would like.
• Write down every idea, even if you think it’s bad.
• When the three minutes are up, take a look at your list to see how many creative, or novel uses, you were able to come up with for the object.

Now evaluate your ideas based on the three aspects of divergent thinking:

• Fluency – How many ideas did you come up with? Did you struggle to come up with uses, or did ideas flow quickly?
• Flexibility – How diverse were the ideas? Did they tend to be similar to one another, or did they cut across many different types of uses?
• Originality – How novel were the ideas? How did the uses you wrote down compare to the typical use of that object? Were they similar to the typical use or vastly different?

Exercise your convergent thinking. Next use your convergent thinking skills to determine which of the ideas is the most suitable.

Convergent thinking relies on knowledge and evaluation, which may require you to slowly build your experience and fact-base over time. By realizing that convergent thinking is a separate process from divergent thinking, you can practice allowing yourself to generate ideas without judgement. Then you can apply convergent thinking to evaluate the suitability of the ideas that you come up with through divergent thinking.

Let’s go back to the ideas generated from the divergent thinking exercise.

• Pick out the most creative ideas you wrote down.
• Examine each one to determine whether it is actually possible.
• Use your logic and knowledge to narrow down the list of ideas to find the best one.

Another way to exercise your convergent thinking is with the Remote Associates Test , which presents three words and requires you to come up with a fourth word that links the original three together. For instance, when given the words “cottage”, “swiss”, and “cake”, the linking word is “cheese.”

Step 2. Understanding the importance of a defocused and associative brain

What’s happening in the brain. Before we jump into our tips for improving divergent thinking to maximize your creative potential, let’s take a look at what’s happening in the brain during divergent thinking.

Perhaps surprisingly, the brain is less active overall when engaging in divergent thinking. This is because divergent thinking leads to a state of low excitability and requires defocused attention rather than focused attention. Defocused attention allows people to process multiple aspects of a situation, and to activate additional neural structures in long-term memory (including the hippocampus and inferior frontal gyrus ) to find new associations.

Specifically, the brain activates memory traces (mostly in the left temporal, central, and parietal regions) that include primary associations, which are superficial representations. For instance, if you look at a tin can, your brain might make the primary association that it is a round, aluminum container.

This primary association is the gateway to more complex representations. For example, when your aluminum container association is activated, all other neural structures related to aluminum are also activated (e.g. pop can, window frame). Activating these secondary associations can, in turn, activate more complex and distant tertiary associations, such as recycling, durability, or even personal experiences related to tin cans. The deeper into the associative network you go, the more creative the ideas you generate are.

source – earth-chronicles.com

So how can you help cultivate a defocused, associative state of mind in order to improve your divergent thinking and generate more creative ideas?

Next we’ll discuss how to do just that by inducing an “ approach orientation ”, taking productive breaks, and practicing.

Step 3. Induce an approach orientation before creative thinking. That is, think about what you want to achieve, not what you want to avoid

There are two types of motivation that drive individuals – approach and avoidance motivation . When people are driven by approach motivation, they seek out what they want. In contrast, when people are driven by avoidance motivation, they try to avoid what they don’t want. For example, one person could decide to join a gym to get in shape (approach motivation), whereas another person might join a gym in order to not gain weight (avoidance motivation).

In the context of creativity, approach motivated people typically generate more creative ideas than those who are avoidance motivated. In an approach motivated state, people’s attention scope is broad, making it easier to access and restructure different mental associations . They don’t want to leave things out, even if they might be wrong.

In contrast, when in an avoidance motivated state, attentional scope is narrow, and people are more focused on local perceptual details. They don’t want to risk including something that might be incorrect. Research finds that cueing approach motivation, compared to avoidance motivation , can lead to greater creative insight and creative generation.

Getting into an approach state of mind:

• Set aside a couple of minutes.
• This can be anything, ranging from goals that are extremely short-term to ones that are very long-term. If you want to achieve it, write it down!
• Make sure to include how and why achieving these goals will lead to positive outcomes in your life.

Not only does this put you in an approach state of mind, it also strengthens your goals.

Handling specific tasks or problems with an approach mindset:

What to do when you’re facing a task you really don’t want to complete or a problem you aren’t sure how to solve:

• Think about the task.
• For example, maybe you’re having an issue with your boss and don’t know how to talk to him or her. Instead of worrying about the outcome of your interaction, think about how overcoming this issue will be a learning experience and personal accomplishment.
• For instance, if you resolve the issue with your boss, you will ultimately be more satisfied at work. This can have far-reaching benefits.

Step 4. Take a break.

One of the easiest ways to help your brain defocus and become more associative in order to bolster your divergent thinking skills is to simply take a break from what you’re doing.

Oftentimes when people put aside a complex problem, they experience an “aha” moment in which a solution emerges seemingly out of nowhere. Temporarily shifting focus away from an unsolved problem is called the incubation period .

Each time you come back to the problem after taking a break, you improve your performance by extending your mental search to previously unexplored areas.

Incubation is especially effective for creative problem solving. This reflects the fact that such problems often have a variety of possible solutions. When faced with a creative problem, individuals benefit from performing a wide search of their knowledge to identify as many relevant connections as possible with the presented stimuli.

Every time individuals re-approach the problem after taking a break, they improve their performance by extending their search to previously unexplored areas of their associative network.

Make the most of the incubation period

• Take frequent breaks : By doing this, you engage in a more diverse mental search.
• Take strategic breaks : By taking a break after you’ve spent time exhausting one line of thought, it is more likely that you will explore a new domain in your second phase of problem solving. However, the initial think-time doesn’t have to be long. It can be as short as 1 minute.
• Take longer breaks : The longer the break you take, the more time your brain has to make associations, and the more original your ideas will be.
• Take busy breaks: Maximize your incubation period by engaging in low demand tasks, such as easy Sudoku puzzles or simple crosswords that don’t require elaborate thought. This ensures that you actually stop directing your attention to the problem, and gives your brain a chance to process in the background.

Step 5. Practice 

In general, the best way to get better at something is to practice. There are a wide variety of methods people can use to practice divergent thinking, such as brainstorming, free writing, and playing games.

Brainstorm: Brainstorming is a tried and tested method of generating a large number of creative ideas. It’s important that when engaging in brainstorming, you do not simultaneously judge the ideas you’re generating.

Rather than putting on your convergent thinking cap, you want to remain in the divergent thinking mode and generate as many ideas as you can. Evaluating them comes later, after you’re finished brainstorming.

Pro tip : If your organization has several people working on a project, consider having them brainstorm individually before coming together to brainstorm collectively and discuss ideas. This has been shown to increase originality.

Free write : Free writing is another method of divergent thinking. When attempting to solve a problem, set aside a predetermined chunk of time (e.g., 5, 10, or 15 minutes) and record whatever ideas come to mind when writing about the problem or situation.

Don’t stop to think about what you’re writing or to proofread. Think of it as a stream-of-consciousness that should not be interrupted. When the allocated time is up, you can read through what you’ve written down and restructure or reorganize in whatever way is most useful to you.

Play a game: Games are a great and fun way to practice divergent thinking and making creative and unique associations. There are a wide range of games that capitalize on divergent thinking abilities, including Scattergories, Codenames, or Taboo .

source – oxfordgames.co.uk

Recap of Break open your mind – Boost creative problem solving in 5 steps

Overall, creativity and creative problem solving play important roles in not just your personal life, but your work life too. Divergent thinking is responsible for generating creative ideas, therefore it can be beneficial to capitalize on the techniques outlined in this blog. Next time you’re dealing with a problem and are having a difficult time coming up with a solution, use one (or more!) of the techniques outlined in this post.

• Take a step back to consider the distinction between divergent and convergent thinking so that you know which type of thinking is more appropriate for the task at hand.
• Remind yourself that it can be beneficial to be in a defocused and associative frame of mind.
• Becoming more approach motivated – think about what you want to achieve and how it will benefit you.
• Take a lot of breaks to stimulate incubation and more creative ideas.

source – unsplash.com

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Mind wandering in creative problem-solving: Relationships with divergent thinking and mental health

Akina yamaoka.

1 Department of Human Welfare Counseling, Okinawa International University, Ginowan, Okinawa, Japan

Shintaro Yukawa

2 Faculty of Education, Hakuoh University, Oyama, Tochigi, Japan

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Previous research has shown that mind wandering has both positive and negative effects. Mind wandering may improve creative problem solving; however, it could also lead to negative moods and poor mental health. It has also been shown that some forms of mental illness are positively related to creativity. However, the three factors of mind wandering, divergent thinking, and mental health have not been examined simultaneously, so it is possible that these relationships are manifested by spurious correlations. Therefore, we examined the relations among the three factors while controlling for each of their confounding effects. We asked 865 participants (458 men, 390 women, 17 unknown; M age = 18.99 years, SD = 1.16) to complete a questionnaire measuring mind wandering traits, divergent thinking, and mental health measures including depressive symptoms and schizotypal personality. Multiple regression analysis showed that people who reported more depressive symptoms, schizotypal personality, and divergent thinking, were more likely to engage in mind-wandering. Our results indicated that frequency of mind wandering was linked to a risk of poorer mental health as well as to higher divergent thinking ability. In future research, we will examine the features of mind wandering related to divergent thinking and mental health by considering the contents of wandering thoughts and whether they are ruminative or not. We also need to examine whether the same results will be found when studying professionals in creative occupations, and when using different scoring methods in divergent thinking tests.

Introduction

It is sometimes difficult for people to concentrate and stay in the here and now. Our minds tend to wander and generate thoughts that are unrelated to the current situation or task. This familiar mental phenomenon has been given various names such as daydreaming, thought intrusions, task irrelevant thought, spontaneous thought, stimulus independent thought, respondent thought, fantasy, task unrelated thought, task unrelated images, internally generated thought, self-generated thought, absentmindedness, zoning out, offline thought, undirected thought, unconsciousness thought, and “mind wandering” [ 1 , 2 ]. After Smallwood and Schooler [ 3 ] suggested integrating these various lines of research into a conceptual body under the term mind wandering, the amount of research investigating this phenomenon increased. Most studies focused on the negative effects of mind wandering (e.g., [ 1 , 4 ]). For example, it has been shown that mind wandering prevents sustained attention to response tasks, which include major recognition tasks (e.g., [ 5 , 6 ]), reading tasks [ 1 , 7 ], and lectures [ 8 ]. It has also been shown that mind wandering is associated with negative mood (e.g., [ 9 – 13 ]) and depression [ 14 ]. On the other hand, a few studies have focused on the positive aspects of mind wandering, such as its relationship with creativity [ 14 – 19 ] or planning for the future [ 4 , 20 , 21 ]. In particular, it is worth noting that past research on creativity tasks has shown that mind wandering that occurred during an incubation period improved scores on divergent thinking tests [ 16 , 18 ] and insight problem-solving [ 17 ]. Accordingly, we examined both the positive and negative effects of mind wandering, including its associations with mental illness and divergent thinking.

Previous research has shown that mind wandering is positively related to some mental illnesses. Huba, Aneshensel, and Singer [ 22 ] distinguished between a) positive constructive daydreaming/mind-wandering; b) guilty-dysphoric daydreaming/mind-wandering, and c) poor attentional control, suggesting the influence of mind wandering is different depending on its type. For example, it has been shown that when mind wandering takes the form of rumination, it is associated with increased health risks and worsening of mood [ 23 ], and only mind wandering without awareness was positively associated with depression [ 24 ]. In addition, some research suggests that wandering thoughts that were past- and other-related were associated with subsequent negative mood even if the thought content that followed was positive. On the other hand, future- and self-related wandering thoughts preceded improvements in mood, even when the subsequent thought content was negative [ 25 ]. Franklin et al. [ 26 ] noted that wandering thoughts that were rated as interesting were associated with an increase in positive mood. Although these studies suggest that the relationship between mind wandering and mood may be dependent on the content and form of mind wandering, many studies have found that the overall frequency of mind wandering is associated with worsening of mood [ 9 , 11 – 13 , 25 ]. Moreover, the relationship appears to be reciprocal: when a negative mood was induced, people’s minds also tended to wander more [ 10 – 13 ]. Based on this evidence, Ottaviani et al. [ 23 ] suggested that the relationship between mind wandering and depression is bi-directional. In fact, depressed patients showed a higher frequency of mind wandering than did healthy people [ 15 ]. Therefore, mind wandering is expected to be positively associated with proneness to depression.

Some studies have indicated that mind wandering is related to other mental health conditions such as schizophrenia [ 27 ]. For example, both mind wandering and schizophrenia are said to include a sense of being decoupled from the real world [ 27 – 30 ]. Cognitive disinhibition, which is a common trait of schizophrenia, is a condition similar to mind wandering [ 19 ]. In cognitive disinhibition, the cognitive filter—often called “latent inhibition”—becomes weak and the brain is flooded with often irrelevant information [ 31 ], which is much like mind wandering. In both cases, the influx of information seems to promote creativity. A study has also shown a significant relationship between creative achievement and reduced latent inhibition for people with high IQ [ 31 ]. Others have found a link between frequent mind wandering and higher creativity, which included results from divergent thinking tests [ 14 , 19 ] and the Creative Achievement Questionnaire [ 15 ].

Moreover, recent neuroscience research has shown that, on a brain structural level, higher creativity is consistently associated with higher gray matter density in the default mode network regions [ 32 – 34 ], which has been observed to become active during mind wandering [ 35 – 37 ]. These neurophysiological findings indicate that the association between creativity and mind wandering might even manifest at a trait level [ 38 ].

These studies showed that mind wandering is linked to both mental illness and creativity, and also showed the possibility of a positive relationship between mental illness and creativity. In fact, previous studies have often suggested a positive relationship between creativity and manifestations of mental illness, such as schizotypy, which is a tendency to have aberrant experiences that resemble milder versions of schizophrenia symptoms [ 39 – 41 ], especially positive schizotypy (odd perceptions and magical thinking) [ 42 – 45 ], bipolar disorder [ 41 , 46 ], and insomnia [ 47 , 48 ]. Although some articles reported that there were no significant relationships between creativity and mental illnesses such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, social anxiety, negative affect, and depression [ 49 , 50 ], recently, Baas et al. [ 46 ] integrated these findings that positive schizotypy and bipolar disorder were positively related to creativity, whereas negative schizotypy (physical and social anhedonia), depressed mood, and anxiety were negatively related to it.

This, if creativity and mental illness are directly related, it is possible that the relationships between mind wandering and creativity, and between mind wandering and mental illness, are merely spurious correlations. Therefore, we conducted a survey of general college students and examined whether both mental health and creativity predict mind wandering while controlling for confounding effects of each of the other variables using multiple regression analysis. In our study, we used divergent thinking as an indicator of creativity. Divergent thinking is often used as an indicator of creativity, although some researchers have criticized it, arguing that it does not guarantee actual creativity [ 51 ]. We defined divergent thinking as involving a high potential for creative ideation and activation of associational networks to generate multiple unique solutions in a limited time period [ 52 , 53 ]. Additionally, we used depression tendency, which is commonly examined for its relationship to mind wandering and schizotypal personality, which has shown relationships with both mind wandering and creativity, as indicators of mental health.

Participants and missing data procedure

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Faculty of Human Sciences’ Research Ethics Committee in University of Tsukuba.

We collected 890 participants’ questionnaires; however, we excluded data from 22 participants. This is because these participants answered on less than three scales, and the answers were dropped from the analysis; we also eliminated data from three participants because they responded using the same number across all scales, indicating that they may have answered carelessly. Therefore, we analyzed data from 865 respondents (458 men, 390 women, 17 unknown; M age = 18.99 years, SD = 1.16) using SPSS Version 24.0 for Microsoft Windows (IBM company). We employed a single imputation method using the Expectation-Maximization Method and estimated the few missing data points. A power analysis showed that a sample size ≥ 92 is required to detect a medium-sized effect ( f 2 = 0.15; α = 0.05; 1- β = 0.8). Thus, the sample size in this study was confirmed to be was sufficient for the effect size.

Procedure and ethical considerations

We conducted a survey by recruiting participants from 13 classes at the University of Tsukuba. A questionnaire was distributed to the students after the class and we announced that the purpose of this survey was to examine the relationships between creativity, mental health, and attention, and explained the following ethical considerations: (a) this questionnaire is not related to your grade evaluation, (b) even if you do not participate in this survey or withdraw participation, you will never be at a disadvantage, (c) since the survey is done anonymously, your privacy will be strictly maintained and the results of the survey will be used only for research, and (d) with your answer, it is assumed that you agree to cooperate with the survey. This information was also printed on the face sheet of the questionnaire. We also told them not to open the questionnaire until they received our instruction.

We instructed them that, “If you do not agree, do not answer the questionnaire and if you agree to cooperate with the survey, please open the face sheet of the questionnaire.” First, we conducted the divergent thinking test at the same time because the divergent thinking test has a time limit for answering of three minutes for each question. After the divergent thinking test, we told them to move on and complete the next questionnaire at their own pace. Our survey took about 15 minutes and participants did not receive any reward.

Questionnaires

We used the Unusual Uses Test (UUT) [ 54 ] as an indicator of divergent thinking. In this test, participants are required to list as many unusual uses for common things as they can within a time limit. First, we conducted the test using the object “brick” with a time limit of 30 seconds as practice. After that, “can” and “socks” were used with a time limit of three minutes each. Answers were scored according to three aspects of divergent thinking: fluency, flexibility, and originality. Fluency indicates the ability to generate a significant number of answers, so the number of answers was scored as fluency [ 54 ]. Flexibility is the ability to propose various perspectives, so the number of categories that could be assigned to answers was scored as flexibility [ 54 ]. For example, if a participant answered, “dust box” and “jewelry box,” as unusual uses of a can, “box” became a category. Each category was worth one point. Lastly, originality is the ability to produce unique ideas. Thus, each answer was compared to the answers from other respondents. If an answer was provided by less than 5% of respondents, one point was given and if less than 1%, two points were given. In accordance with these instructions and the example, the first author calculated fluency and originality, and an evaluator who belongs to the faculty of psychology scored flexibility.

We then measured participants’ depressive symptom levels using the Japanese version of The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) [ 55 , 56 ], which is a 20-item list using a four-point Likert scale for each item (“A: rarely or none of the time” “B: some or a little of the time,” “C: occasionally or a moderate amount of time,” and “D: most or all of the time”). We modified the instructions of the scale to measure students’ daily tendencies toward depression, as opposed to those in the past week (“We will ask about your daily mental and physical condition”). We calculated total scores of the CES-D by coding A = 0, B = 1, C = 2, and D = 3 (items 4, 8, 12, and 16 were reversed), so the possible score range was from 0 to 60 points. Cronbach’s α was .88 in our sample.

We measured schizotypal personality using the Japanese version of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire Brief [ 57 , 58 ], which consists of 22 items. Participants are asked to select “Yes” (one point) or “No” (zero points). We calculated the total schizotypal personality score and the possible score range was 0 to 22. Cronbach’s α was .75 in our sample.

Finally, we measured participants’ tendency toward mind wandering using the Japanese version of the Mind-Wandering Questionnaire [ 59 , 60 ]. The test includes five items and a six-point Likert scale (from “1: almost never” to “6: almost always”). We calculated the average score of the mind wandering trait. Although Cronbach’s α was lower than the usually accepted threshold (α = .69 in our sample), this seemed to be so because a ceiling effect occurred in the fifth item. However, considering content validity, we used all items for analysis.

Table 1 shows the means and standard deviations of each variable and Table 2 shows Pearson’s correlation coefficients among all variables. Significant positive relationships between mind wandering and each subscale of divergent thinking (fluency: r = .14, p < .001; flexibility: r = .16, p < .001; originality: r = .12, p < .001) were found, along with positive relationships between mind wandering and mental health (schizotypal personality: r = .23, p < .001; depressive symptoms: r = .33, p < .001). In addition, although the correlation coefficients were small, there were significant positive relationships between subscales of divergent thinking and schizotypal personality (fluency: r = .17, p < .001; flexibility: r = .17, p < .001; originality: r = .17, p < .001), and depressive symptoms (fluency: r = .07, p < .05; flexibility: r = .07, p < .05). Except for the correlation between divergent thinking and depressive symptoms, p -values were lower than the alpha level adjusted by Bonferroni correction (0.05/21 = 0.002).

Means of schizotypal personality and depressive symptoms are total scores of each scale. Possible score ranges are as follows: schizotypal personality– 0 to 22 points and depressive symptoms– 0 to 60 points.

*** p < .001,

** p < .01,

* p < .05

Next, we conducted multiple regression analysis ( Table 3 ). To avoid multicollinearity, we used the variable “divergent thinking,” which comprised total scores of standardized fluency, standardized flexibility, and standardized originality. In the multiple regression analysis, we used mind wandering as a dependent variable and divergent thinking, schizotypal personality, and depressive symptoms as independent variables. We also controlled for age and sex. Expect for control variables, all independent variables positively predicted mind wandering ( βs = .08–.28).

* p < .05,

*** p < .001

In this study, we examined whether mental health and divergent thinking each predict mind wandering while controlling for confounding effects of each of the other variables. The multiple regression analysis results showed that people who have higher levels of depressive symptoms and schizotypal personality tended to report a higher frequency of mind wandering. The results, which showed a relationship between depression and mind wandering, were consistent with those of previous studies that demonstrated that frequency of mind wandering is related to negative mood (e.g., [ 9 , 25 , 26 ]) and depression [ 14 ]. According to previous research [ 23 ], a two-way causal relationship can be considered in which people with high depression tend to experience mind-wandering with negative content or ruminative mind-wandering, and their depression tends to increase.

Schizotypal personality was positively correlated with depression tendency, but schizotypal personality also predicted mind wandering independently, even after controlling for the effects of depression tendency. This supports previous research [ 27 ], and is likely attributable to the fact that mind wandering and schizotypal personality share some similar aspects in that participants are said to have a sense of being decoupled from the real world [ 27 – 30 ] and there is a great influx of information in both mind wandering and cognitive disinhibition, which is a common factor with schizophrenia [ 19 ]. Thus, our study measured depression and schizotypal personality as indicators of mental health, but these variables independently predicted mind wandering and their associations have different causes.

The regression coefficient between mind wandering and divergent thinking was also statistically significant, which is consistent with previous research (e.g., [ 15 ]). An association between creativity and mind wandering has been found, and this included studies examining the relation with the default mode network and conducted on the brain structure level [ 32 – 34 , 38 ]. Our findings supported these previous studies. Furthermore, although our research does not show a causal relation, this positive relation could have occurred because people who engage in mind wandering in everyday life have an abundance of information in their minds, which promotes divergent thinking, as with people high in cognitive disinhibition [ 31 , 61 ]. In fact, previous research [ 16 – 18 ] has showed that when mind wandering occurred during an incubation period, creative problem solving was enhanced.

Therefore, in further research, we should examine whether, when mind wandering has occurred, creativity would be improved and negative affect would also be generated. Our results indicated the possibility that, although state level mind wandering can improve creativity, it may also lead to poor mental health.

Limitations

Overall, our results seem to indicate the possibility that more mind wandering is accompanied by greater divergent thinking and decreased mental health. However, our study has several limitations. First, according to previous research, although the overall trait of mind wandering is positively related to depression, it is possible that only past- and other-related thoughts [ 25 ], ruminating thoughts [ 22 ], or mind wandering without awareness [ 24 ] are positively related to depression. Moreover, Agnoli et al. [ 15 ] showed that deliberate mind wandering is positively related to creativity while spontaneous mind wandering is negatively related to it. Although they used the Creative Achievement Questionnaire [ 52 ] as an indicator of creativity, not as an indicator of divergent thinking, there is a possibility that the association with divergent thinking differs depending on the intentionality behind the mind wandering. Second, the size of the regression coefficient between mind wandering and divergent thinking was small. A third variable such as intelligence or working memory capacity may affect the relationship between them [ 19 ]. In fact, previous research on cognitive disinhibition has shown that people low in latent inhibition showed high creative achievement when they also had high intelligence [ 31 ]. They hypothesized that high intelligence enables a person to process and manipulate unfiltered stimuli that result from low latent inhibition, thereby increasing the odds of original recombinant ideation. Thus, we need to account for other variables in future research. Third, we need to examine whether the same positive relationship between mind wandering and divergent thinking is found when using other types of creativity tests. Although the UUT is a common test of divergent thinking and is sometimes used as a creativity test, we should examine other types of creativity tests such as insight tests that require mainly convergent thinking. Previous research has shown that mindfulness is positively associated with insight problem-solving [ 62 ]. Thus, it is possible that mind wandering is positively related to performance on divergent thinking tests and negatively related to performance on convergent thinking tests such as insight problem-solving tests. Moreover, we need to examine whether different methods of scoring divergent thinking would lead to different results because previous research showed that relationships between psychopathology measures and divergent thinking depend on how divergent thinking tests are scored [ 63 ]. In addition, professional artists, musicians, writers, or other professionals in creative occupations need to be surveyed to determine whether they showed results similar to those of the students in our study.

Although there are several limitations to our study and more detailed surveys are needed, we showed fundamental and overall relationships between mind wandering, divergent thinking, and mental health, while controlling for the possibility of spurious correlations. In the future, we will examine these relationships more elaborately, considering the creativity test type, participants’ attributes, and the specific nature of mind wandering.

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Funding statement.

The authors received no specific funding for this work.

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Creative Problem-Solving Technique

Using divergent and convergent thinking.

By the Mind Tools Content Team

Creative problem solving can be broken down into a six-step process which you can use to identify problems and arrive at higher quality creative solutions than you would reach through more conventional problem-solving methods.

Most approaches to creative problem-solving involve two kinds of thinking – creative thinking and critical thinking. You need a combination of the two in order to come up with creative solutions.

Creative Thinking

This kind of thinking involves making connections which enable you to:

• think up lots of possibilities
• think and experience in various ways, from differing perspectives
• think of new and unusual options
• generate and select alternatives

Critical Thinking

By contrast, critical thinking involves analyzing and developing possibilities so that you can:

• compare and contrast a range of ideas
• improve and refine promising options
• screen, select, and support ideas
• make effective decisions and judgments
• create a platform for effective action

The Problem-Solving Process [1]

The following creative problem solving diagram is designed to guide you through the process of understanding the problem, generating ideas, and planning for action. The problem-solving process is broken down into six stages, each of which has a creative and a critical ‘phase’.

Start with step 1 in the creative phase, then move across to step 2 in the critical phase. Repeat this process for each of the six stages by following the numbered steps in the following diagram.

[1] Diagram adapted from Isaksen, paraphrased in Gardner, ‘The Dynamic Balance: Divergence and Convergence’. Previously available at: //www.buffalostate.edu/orgs/cbir/Readingroom/html/Gardner-99.html - now no longer available online.

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May 14, 2023 Leaders today are confronted with more problems, of greater magnitude, than ever before. In these volatile times, it’s natural to react based on what’s worked best in the past. But when you’re solving the toughest business challenges on an ongoing basis, it’s crucial to start from a place of awareness. “If you are in an uncertain situation, the most important thing you can do is calm down,” says senior partner Aaron De Smet , who coauthored Deliberate Calm  with Jacqueline Brassey  and Michiel Kruyt. “Take a breath. Take stock. ‘Is the thing I’m about to do the right thing to do?’ And in many cases, the answer is no. If you were in a truly uncertain environment, if you’re in new territory, the thing you would normally do might not be the right thing.” Practicing deliberate calm not only prepares you to deal with the toughest problems, but it enhances the quality of your decisions, makes you more productive, and enables you to be a better leader. Check out these insights to learn how to develop a problem-solving mindset—and understand why the solution to any problem starts with you.

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