Page 209 - kf fyi for your improvement license eng 3-4-15

Want to learn more? Take a deep dive…

Cherry, K. (n.d.). What is problem-solving? About.com Psychology.
Dreifus, C. (2008, January 8). In professor’s model, diversity = productivity. The New York Times.

Mind Tools. (n.d.). Root cause analysis: Tracing a problem to its origins. Mind Tools.

7. Want to speed up the learning cycle? Try different solutions and learn from the results. Don’t
expect to get it right the first time. Being safe and doing what has worked in the past leads to stale
solutions. Instead, be willing to experiment. Many studies show that the second or third try is when we
really understand the underlying dynamics of problems. If you have trouble going back the second or
third time to get something done, then switch approaches. Sometimes people get stuck in a repeating
groove that’s not working. Do something different next time. To increase learning, build feedback
loops into your experimentation. Aim for immediate and timely feedback from others. If it’s not
forthcoming, ask for it. The more frequent the cycles, the more opportunities to learn. Try something
new on a regular basis. Instead of looking at learning as a formal process that has to be scheduled,
try to learn one new thing every day. This increases your learning opportunities and increases the
chance of finding the right answer.

8. Want to innovate but don’t know how? Do quick experiments. Studies show that 80% of
innovations occur in unexpected places and by unexpected people. Dye makers developed
®
detergent. Post-it Notes came from an error in a glue formula. These people were not looking for this
solution. They stumbled upon it. They experimented. Build time into your schedule to try new things.
Think outside of the box. Pursue a new idea. Try lots of quick, inexpensive experiments to increase
the chances of success. Be curious. Draw on ideas from other people. Other industries. Other
functional areas. Even if you come up with an idea that you can’t use yourself, think about where else
it can be applied. Sometimes the best ideas won’t work in your area. Will it help in other areas? Can
you pass it along?

9. Afraid of failure? Take more risks. Not all new ideas are successful. Prepare yourself for this.
About 30%–50% of technical innovations fail in tests within the company. Even among those that
make it to the marketplace, 70%–90% fail. The bottom line on change is a 95% failure rate, and the
most successful innovators try lots of quick, inexpensive experiments to increase the chances of
success. Research indicates that more successful people have made more mistakes than the less
successful. Try new things often. Go for small wins. You can recover quickly if you miss, and more
importantly, learn from the results. Start with the easiest challenge, then work up to the tougher ones.
Recognize that you won’t always be successful. But keep trying. Never give up when you believe
there is a way to make something better. Many problem-solving studies show that the second or third
try is when we really understand the underlying dynamics of problems. Think of exploring as a series
of try-learn-try again-learn some more.

© Korn Ferry 2014-2015. All rights reserved. WWW.KORNFERRY.COM

209