The Invisible Mentor

Posts Tagged ‘Problem Solving’

There is a new field called biomimicry, just over two decades old, where nature is used to solve problems in the world. This may sound odd to you, but George de Mestral invented Velcro after burrs stuck to his jacket, and when examined them he recognized the potential for a fastener. 

Today, let’s take a look at the palm tree. I will include some of the characteristics of a palm tree and use them (add some of your own) to associate with a pressing problem that you are having, to see if you can open a new avenue of thought to aid with creative problem solving.

When you think of a palm tree what immediately comes to mind?

• Tall and majestic
• Towering beauty
• Slender
• Graceful
• Evergreen
• Provides shade
• Withstands drought
• Stands strong even in the most inclement weather

Facts About, and Characteristics of, Palm Trees

• Evergreen, mostly tropical plant in the family Palmae (also known as Arecaceae).
• 202 currently known genera with over 2,600 species of palms.
• First appeared in the fossil record around 80 million years ago.
• Growing from three to 100 feet.
• Strong Foundation: Before it begins to sprout upwards, it attains its maximum girth beneath the ground first. That is, it grows deep first.
• Grow best in moist soil to dry, desert conditions – rainforests to deserts.
• Crowned by a mass of branches from 40 to 80 in number, and on these the fruit grows.
• Fan shaped (palmate) or feather shaped (pinnate) compound leaves arranged at the top of an un-branched stem. The leaves of palms are found in an equal distance apart on the spine of the branch.
• Flexible: The tree bends and sways back and forth but does not break.
• The coconut tree is a type of palm tree.

If you assigned the characteristics of a palm tree to your problem, how would you solve it? For instance, consolidation is taking place in many industries, so perhaps you are no longer earning enough income. Like a palm tree, you have strong roots since you have built a strong Foundation of knowledge. Now could be the perfect time to sprout upwards, and like the palm leaves, which spread outwards, you could move into adjacent industries, or provide complementary products and services.

Further Action

Spend some time exploring http://www.AskNature.org.  Nature may be the solution to your most pressing problems. I have included photos of palm trees that I took while on vacation in Barbados a few years ago. Take a look at the pictures, you may notice other characteristics that stimulate problem solving.

Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the right hand side) by email or RSS Feed.

We have talked about problem solving and generating great ideas on this blog a few times, but it’s never a bad idea to be exposed to other techniques or related techniques. Recently I attended a presentation “The Secrets of Creative Problem Solving” by Otto Schmidt hosted by Innovation Initiative. The Innovative Initiative is a non-profit forum supporting innovative businesses, so many inventors are members. The technique outlined below is also good for inventors who need some stimulation.

Key Objective for Creative Problem Solving

• Observe and notice more
• Improve ability to analyze
• Learn and use problem solving
• Practice solving real problems and situation

Observe and Notice More

• Scan: Notice and identify as many details as possible. Gather a set of details which the mind processes into ideas, concepts and understanding.
• Search: Consciously find details.
• Focus: Make clear in the foreground, middle or background. What the senses make clear is what the mind will think about.
• Attention: A willingness to give things time.

Improve Ability and Analyze:

Examine things methodically by separating into parts and studying interrelations to discover essential features.

1. Take things apart and put them back together. Notice the relationships when putting it back together, can you leave parts out?
2. Look from different points of view.
3. Use your imagination and determine the orders and steps. Why in that order?
4. Notice cycles or systems in the world. An example they gave is to look at your digestive system, if you take it away, the body stops to function.
5. Sort things in different ways.
6. Look for double meanings and hidden elements (parallels to past problems).
7. Find “ING” Words (Gerunds). An example: Say for instance your task is to build a superior bicycle, what are the important things you have to think about? Using “ing” words you would probably come up with sitting, pedaling, steering, braking, levering, changing, rolling, balancing, turning, protecting, rotating. You would use this concept with other problems.

• Problem Solving (Graham Wallas Creativity Model)
• Preparation: Data collection
• Incubation: Laying the issue aside, unconscious processing
• Illumination: Aha, new ideas emerge
• Verification: Check it out

Problem Solving Model Simplified

• Identify the real problem.
• List ways to solve it.
• Plan and test solution.
• Review the effectiveness of the solution.
• Adjust the solution.

How can you use this information? What do you have to add to the conversation? Let’s keep the conversation flowing, please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the right hand side) by email or RSS Feed.

Image Credit: Google images (redferret.net)

Further Reading

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

The Art of Invention

Creative Problem Solving

How to Read to Problem Solve

Do You Have This Critical Workplace Skill?

Learning and memory specialist James D. Weinland developed 10 steps to remember a particular fact. In the 1960 book, Learn While You Sleep: The Theory and Practice of Sleep-Learning, the author David Curtis reported:

“In defining memory, James D. Weinland writes that there is no sharp dividing line between learning and memory, since all learning is based on memory. He makes time the one distinction, in that memory is learning that persists. A memory so ingrained that it requires no effort at all is a habit. Memory is a function of the mind, and greater intelligence and better memory usually occur together.”

In previous blog posts I have stressed the importance of learning for a reason and not for the sake of learning, and I have also emphasized that when you learn you shouldn’t do so in a vacuum, but connect it to what you already know. This is paramount, especially when you are working toward becoming an expert in a particular field.

Here are James Weinland’s 10 steps to remember a particular fact:

• What’s the value in remembering the fact? How will it benefit you? Try to see its significance, try to be interested in it.
• Focus on the fact, be sure you have it right.
• Be sure you fully understand it.
• Intend to remember it.
• Be confident you can remember it.
• Involve the ego if possible.
• Associate it with other related facts. What do you already know that you can relate to this new piece of information?
• File it in its proper place in your memory system.
• Nothing exists in a vacuum, see the fact as a part of a larger whole.
• If there is a basis for doing so, learn it as part of a small group of related facts.

(Source: Learn While You Sleep; The Theory and Practice of Sleep Learning, David Curtis, 1960)

The 10 steps are simple, yet profound. I have added to some of the steps based on my experience and what I know. To learn and retain any information, you stand a better chance if you are motivated and have an interest in learning the new information. It’s also good to evaluate, interpret and analyze the information, all critical steps in problem solving.

What do you have to add to the conversation? What process do you use to remember facts? Let’s keep the conversation flowing, please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the right hand side) by email or RSS Feed.

Further Reading

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

The Art of Invention

Creative Problem Solving

How to Read to Problem Solve

Do You Have This Critical Workplace Skill?

Photo Credit: Flickr via Apture

Book link is affiliate link.

You have heard the phrase that assume makes an ass out of you and me. And in The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, one of the four agreements is Don’t make assumptions (the other three are Be impeccable with your word, Always do your best and Don’t take things personally).

But there are situations where you have to make assumptions. Let’s say you are working on a new project, and you have to gather information to understand the situation. You talk to the stakeholders, you observe how things are done, and you use other types of data collection techniques such as surfing the internet or online databases. At some point you have to stop collecting information and start analyzing what you have found. You stop collecting information because it doesn’t make sense cost-wise, or you simply cannot find more information on the topic.

The point is that you will never have all the information you need to make decisions in life, so you have to make assumptions based on your experience – what you already know. But you have to make it clear what assumptions you have made. So a simple rule to follow is to state:

1. What the facts are
2. What you don’t know
3. What assumptions you’ve made to fill in the information gaps, and why you’ve made them

So there are situations when you have to make assumptions, but making assumptions about people because you do not like them, or whatever reason, or making assumptions about situations and circumstances, shouldn’t be done lightly. Follow the three steps above.

What do you have to add to the conversation? Let’s keep the conversation flowing, please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the right side) by email or RSS Feed.

Book link is Amazon affiliate link.

The ability to write and problem solve effectively are  excellent skills to have. Below are three websites that allow you to cultivate those skills.

Daily Writing Tips

This website is a free subscription-based one. I like this website because it presents words that people often use incorrectly and provides examples for correct usage. Many people will find this website very useful and it will prevent you from making embarrassing mistakes.

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/

The English Club

Though the English Club website is for people who want to learn or teach English, it has a lot of good information. If you spend some time browsing the website you’ll discover a very good grammar guide among other things.

http://www.englishclub.com/

Ask Nature

Ask Nature is a project of the Biomimicy Institute. If you have challenges to resolve and problems to solve and are looking for some creative solutions, the Ask Nature  portal is the perfect place to start. Biomimicry is a new field, only about 20 years old, is innovation inspired by nature. To start the problem solving process, at the Ask Nature website, type in your question in the search box. You will receive responses that will take you down a path that you would likely have not taken, isn’t that what innovation is about?

http://asknature.org

Please refer to How to Problem Solve, Reverse Problem Solving and  How to Read to Problem Solve. Let’s keep the conversation flowing, please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the right side) by email or RSS Feed. I created a Mini Learning Toolkit and you can grab a copy by clicking here.