How to Solve Any Problem In 60 Minutes or Less
Are you ready to tackle that annoying problem that’s been holding you back? Get ready to unlock your extraordinary problem-solving abilities and conquer any challenge that comes your way in 7 steps (and a bonus 8th step) that will take you a grand total of 60 minutes or less - exactly the way we help and support our clients solving their problems in our one-on-one Power Hour.
Let’s dive right in!
Step 1: The Power of Perspective
(Almost) every problem is an opportunity in disguise. Start by shifting your perspective and seeing challenges as stepping stones to growth and innovation. What we’re working on in this step is reframing the problem.
Reframing a problem is exactly what it sounds like, it’s the act of looking at a problem from a different perspective or angle in order to change the way you see and think about it. We do this to help you break free from limited or unproductive thinking patterns and allow you to approach the problem or challenges with greater creativity and flexibility.
Here’s an example of how we work on this step in our one-on-one Power Hour sessions:
The client is a grad student who has a really hard time staying motivated for their last exams. We start by challenging the belief that studying is boring and reframe it to them getting to explore and deepen their understanding of a subject that interests them. We change the context a little bit, focusing on how the knowledge they’re gaining is going to be useful in the future, not just in the exam. Finally, we focus on the positives they get from a study session such as a sense of accomplishment.
Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to practice changing your perspective and reframing your current problem:
What underlying assumptions or beliefs am I holding about this problem? How might I challenge or question these assumptions to see the situation from a different angle?
If I were to approach this problem from the point of view of someone completely unrelated to my current situation, how might I see it differently? What insights or suggestions might they offer?
How can I rephrase or redefine the problem to focus on the positive aspects or potential opportunities it presents? What new problem statement can capture a more optimistic or creative angle?
So embrace the belief that there's always a solution waiting to be discovered. Keep an open mind and apply just a dash of curiosity, and you will uncover hidden possibilities. As one of my favorite advertising executives says, the opposite of a good idea can also be a good idea.
Step 2: Define the Problem with Precision
What’s your problem? No, seriously. What’s your problem? Because sometimes, we think we have one problem, but in reality, our problem is something else, and therefore the solution is different too.
Here’s an example of how we can work on this in a Power Hour:
A client came to us with a clearly defined problem: they were adamant they wanted and deserved a promotion in their company, but they were on the brink of burnout from working so hard trying to prove themselves, yet making no progress toward getting a promotion from their boss. They wanted to know what they should be doing instead in order to finally secure the promotion because working themselves into the ground clearly wasn’t it.
That seems like a pretty clear-cut problem. But when we dug deeper together with our client, we discovered that creating a new strategy to win over their boss wasn’t the right problem to work on. After some more brainstorming and reframing the problem, we came to the conclusion that the problem they should be working on is getting different types of experience, more resume-friendly experience while looking for a position on the level they believed they belonged in a different company.
So here’s the lesson from this step:
Clarity is key. Define the problem you're facing with precision. Break it down into its core components and identify the underlying causes. By understanding the problem at its root, you will be much better equipped to tackle it head-on, and we want to make sure you’re actually working on the right problem.
Get your pen and paper out, and answer the following:
What exactly is the problem?
What are the underlying causes of the problem?
What assumptions do I have about this problem, and are they true and correct?
Explain the problem in a different way using different words.
Want some help solving your problem? Imagine this: we will tackle any challenge, overcome any obstacle, and solve your problem with one-on-one support in just 60 minutes.
Book your Power Hour session here and unlock your potential for success.
Step 3: Leverage the Power of Constraints
Constraints are catalysts for creativity. Anyone who has ever been challenged to provide a solution with absolutely NO constraints will know this first-hand. It’s a lot easier to get your ideas going when there are some factors that can’t be changed.
That is why you’re working on embracing the limitations and boundaries of the problem at hand in this step. Instead of viewing them as obstacles, see them as opportunities to think differently and explore alternative solutions. Because the constraint can be the factor that sparks the most innovative ideas that lead to breakthrough solutions. And what more could you ask for than that?
Here’s how you can get the ball rolling when you’re working on embracing and leveraging the constraints of your problem:
What constraints do I have to work with?
How can these limitations be advantages?
This may take some practice at first, so don’t be too hard on yourself if this proves difficult.
Here’s an example of how we work through this:
Our client struggles to find time for their self-care routine because of a busy work schedule and a lot of family commitments. Here’s how we tackle the time constraint: instead of seeing her lack of time as an obstacle, we reframed it as an opportunity to prioritize her well-being in short and meaningful bursts. We worked on identifying brief, effective self-care practices that could seamlessly fit into her daily routine. Here’s how we tackle the family commitment constraint: we chose to see this as an opportunity to involve her loved ones and create some shared self-care activities for the whole family to explore. The best of both worlds.
Step 4: Tap Into the Wisdom of Analogies
Analogies are powerful problem-solving tools. This is why this step is all about looking for parallels in unrelated domains or industries and drawing inspiration from them. How have others solved similar problems in different contexts?
By borrowing ideas from unexpected places, you'll infuse fresh perspectives into your problem-solving approach.
Let’s provide an example of how we can work through this exact step in a Power Hour:
The client works as a project manager for a software development team, and their team is struggling to meet deadlines due to regular communication breakdowns. Looking to another industry for some problem-solving inspiration, we’re choosing to focus on the aviation industry, but honestly, it could be nearly any industry.
How do they avoid communication breakdowns and not being on time in the aviation industry? Without being an expert, we know that pilots and air traffic controllers need precise communication to ensure safe takeoffs, landings, and flight paths. They use standardized communication protocols, clear instructions, and cross-checking procedures to mitigate misunderstandings and errors. So drawing on that, here are a few lessons we can learn from them and apply to our own problem:
Adopt standardized communication protocols within your team.
Implement regular status update meetings, define clear roles and responsibilities, and encourage concise and unambiguous communication, such as previously agreed upon codes for different stages of the project.
Cross-checking progress and milestones can help catch misunderstandings early.
Using analogies or looking for parallels in different fields does not in itself solve your problem. But that’s not why we do this step. It’s meant to help you see the problem in a new, different light. The added bonus is that this distances you from the problem, which can make it less emotional when you’re brainstorming solutions.
Now it’s time for you to look for a useful analogy or draw parallels from a different area and apply it to your own problem.
Here’s how you can get started:
Identify two unrelated domains or industries and explore how they have solved similar problems.
Draw parallels between their approaches and your current problem, and consider how you can adapt their solutions to your situation.
Step 5: Encourage Divergent Thinking
‘Normal’ is boring. So let’s break free from conventional thinking patterns. This will be hard, but it’s both an incredibly useful skill to have, and it can be a lot of fun to do.
Here’s how you can practice this skill: Take 7 minutes for a brainstorming session where no idea is off-limits. And no, I’m not suggesting 7 just to keep you inside the 60-minute limit, but because having a time limit is known to be conducive to increasing creativity. 7 minutes is not too short and not too long.
Now that you’ve got your timer out, it’s time to encourage wild, out-of-the-box thinking and create an environment where unconventional solutions can flourish. Change locations from where you usually work to somewhere new and exciting. Remember, brainstorming sessions are judgment free, the point is to get an idea out of your head and down onto the paper, so come prepared with enough blank papers. Let the words flow, don’t stop to consider spelling, conciseness, quality, and so on. This should be a stream-of-consciousness type of writing. Embrace the power of "what if" and explore uncharted territories of possibility.
If you struggle to get started, here’s a quick and easy exercise: instead of trying to come up with useful and productive ideas, do the opposite. Come up with answers to how you can make the problem even worse than it already is. This gets the creative juices flowing and helps your brain to truly be creative.
Step 6: Embrace the Art of Decision-Making
Effective problem-solving requires decisive action. It’s time to trust your instincts and make bold decisions. This comes easy to some and is almost impossible for others. Wherever you land on the scale, it’s important to remember that not making a decision is a decision of its own.
Embrace the art of making calculated choices, and remember that inaction can be the biggest obstacle to solving a problem. If you struggle with this, do a proper risk assessment, then ask yourself “what’s the best outcome if the worst outcome happens?”.
Avoid analysis paralysis by setting clear criteria for how you will evaluate potential solutions. Rather than being paralyzed by an overload of options, take a structured approach.
Start by defining clear criteria against which you'll evaluate potential solutions. These criteria could be based on the factors that matter the most to you – efficiency, cost-effectiveness, long-term benefits, or alignment with your goals are some examples. By having these benchmarks in place, you'll find it easier to assess your options objectively.
To put this into action, follow these steps:
Identify key factors: Determine the key factors or metrics that hold the most importance in your decision-making process. These factors will serve as your guiding lights.
List potential solutions: Brainstorm and list potential solutions to the problem at hand. Don't hold back – let your creativity flow.
Apply your criteria: Evaluate each solution using the criteria you've established. This step-by-step assessment will help you see the options more objectively.
To give you some context and help you understand, here’s what this can look like in a Power Hour scenario:
Our client is a marketing manager at a cosmetics company who is gearing up for a new product launch. The team is divided between two marketing strategies, an influencer campaign on social media or a print campaign in magazines. First, we identify the key factors together: target audience reach, cost-effectiveness, and brand alignment. Secondly, we brainstorm solutions: a couple for the social media campaign and a couple for the print campaign. Thirdly, we apply the criteria: we methodically evaluate each option: the influencer campaign provides broad reach and authentic engagement, but it might strain the budget. The print campaign offers a tangible presence in respected magazines, but the reach is limited. Lastly, we make a decision: our client is a bit unsure, so we quickly map out what the best outcome is if the worst-case scenario comes true. For the influencer campaign, if it doesn't resonate as expected, the brand could still benefit from influencer relationships. As for the print ad, even if the response is modest, it still aligns with the brand's aesthetic. Armed with this fresh perspective and different scenarios, making a decision is not as scary or daunting. This is when they consider all the information and trust their instinct to make a decision and know they can stand firm in it.
Step 7: Take Action and Learn From the Journey
Problems are meant to be solved, not dwelled upon. Once you’ve put some thought into it, it’s time to get to the doing part. This is when you implement your chosen solution and observe the outcomes.
While finding a solution is all well and good, it won’t matter unless you actually execute it, which is what the seventh step is all about. Depending on the type of problem and solution you’re dealing with, an action plan or implementation plan may be useful to further break down what you’ll take action on and how. Make sure that for each task you set out, you know exactly what it looks like when you’ve completed or succeeded at that task.
So here’s an easy step-by-step guide for you to use as a starting point when you’re creating your own action plan or implementation plan. You’ll need to expand or simplify this so it works for your specific problem:
Clearly articulate your solution
Break down the tasks you’ll complete to implement your solution
Define how you’ll measure each task’s success or completion
Decide how you’ll prioritize the tasks
Set deadlines
Track your progress
Remember to keep an open mind when you’re in the action-taking stage, you might have to adapt your approach. Embrace a growth mindset, and adapt your approach based on feedback and evolving circumstances. Learn from the journey, and gather insights and lessons along the way.
This ‘formula’ for how you can solve (almost) any problem in 60 minutes or less is how a typical Power Hour is conducted. But as with everything else, the magic happens when you take action. After a Power Hour, you will have clarity and a plan for what action to take, but it’s up to you to actually go out there and do it.
Once you’ve taken action, it’s time for the last step which of course is impossible to do within that Power Hour or 60-minute time frame as it requires data from the action-taking:
Step 8: Iterate and Refine
Rapid experimentation is the key to finding the ‘best’ solution.
I suggest you think of the final solution you reached in these 60 minutes as a hypothesis that needs to be tested. Avoid getting emotionally attached to your solution, and treat it as an experiment.
Go out and test your solution in the real world and gather feedback. In order to do this well, it’s important that you have a clear idea of what a successful outcome looks like, which you should’ve done in step 7. If you didn’t do it then, it’s not too late now. Ask yourself how you know if you’ve succeded or completed the task. When you have clarity on this, assessing your progress becomes much easier.
Once you have done that, it’s time to iterate.
Iteration is basically coming back to the drawing board with lessons and feedback from your real-world test and refining your solution by taking everything you learned into consideration. Learning from both successes and failures and continuously refining your approach until you find the perfect solution will ensure long-lasting success.
Here are two action steps to start iterating:
Analyze feedback and identify key improvements. Based on this analysis, generate a list of improvements or modifications to refine your solution.
Evaluate the identified improvements and prioritize them based on their potential impact and feasibility, and develop an implementation plan.
Iteration is all about tinkering, changing, and testing your approach after learning from the experiment of implementing your solution. It’s the step that people most often forget about, and once they do remember, they lack the necessary structure to do it well. But you, who made it this far, you know exactly what to do and how.
You’re Ready to Solve Problems!
Whew, that was a lot! If you made it this far, I already know you’ll succeed in solving your problem because you’ve just proven that you’re truly dedicated to finding a solution and that you’re more than willing to put in the work.
Trust your instincts, take decisive action, and remember that we are always here to help you out if you so desire. Now, go forth and conquer my problem-solving superhero!
PS.: remember you can get 1:1 support in our Power Hour!
