1 Why Values Matter for Problem Solving

Problem solving is the process of finding and implementing solutions to challenges or opportunities. It involves creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. Problem solving is influenced by many factors, such as your knowledge, skills, resources, and context. But one of the most important factors is your values. Your values affect how you define the problem, what criteria you use to evaluate solutions, how you communicate and cooperate with others, and how you measure and learn from the results. Your values can either enhance or hinder your problem-solving performance and outcomes, depending on how well they align with the situation and the stakeholders.

3 How to Align Your Values with Your Problem Solving

Once you have identified your values, you need to align them with your problem-solving process and goals. This means that you need to ensure that your values are reflected in the way you approach, execute, and evaluate your problem-solving activities. For example, if one of your values is innovation, you need to foster a culture of creativity and experimentation, use methods and tools that encourage divergent and convergent thinking, and measure and reward the generation and implementation of novel and useful solutions. You can use a framework, such as the Values Alignment Framework from the Center for Creative Leadership, to help you align your values with your problem-solving process and goals.

5 How to Improve the Impact of Your Values on Your Problem Solving

Finally, you need to use the data and insights from your measurement to improve the impact of your values on your problem-solving performance and outcomes. This means that you need to identify and address any gaps, misalignments, or conflicts between your values and your problem-solving process and goals. You also need to celebrate and reinforce any positive impacts and alignment between your values and your problem-solving process and goals. You can use a cycle, such as the Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle, to help you improve the impact of your values on your problem-solving performance and outcomes in a continuous and iterative way.