The creative problem solving process – from dream to reality

Creative problem solving, otherwise known as resourcefulness, is the fine art of turning “What now?” into “What’s next?”. It’s the quiet hero of our everyday battles— This skill doesn’t just stop at solving problems; it opens doors you didn’t know existed and opportunities you didn’t know you wanted. In a world that loves to throw curveballs, it’s your secret weapon for staying one step ahead.

You might think the phrase ‘creative problem solving’ doesn’t apply to you. In a problem solving workshop with Engineers, one participant contested the phrase.

“I just need to get things done,” he remarked.

“Right. So I’m assuming, given the challenging situations in which you work, you need to be resourceful.” I suggested.

They all agreed. So whether you need to be more creative, innovative or resourceful, here’s a process for helping you to find solutions, such as the ones I’ve used with clients.

These include:

• defining a marketing approach for a Tech company.
• pinpointing a purposeful strategy for a Council.
• helping leaders and managers define ways to motivate staff, even if in dispersed teams.

How to solve problems QUICKLY (free download)

What this process looks like:

Divergent, Emergent, and Convergent Thinking – 3 Thinking Modes from Charles Leon

The Breakdown

1. Diverge: unpack the problem and generate ideas.

What it looks like: often non-linear and spontaneous.

Ensure you: narrow down the problem, defer judgement, withold solutions

How: visualise – play music, go for a walk, break a pattern by doing something differently, mind map, have a range of different conversations. AI might even come into play here with a multitude of possibilities.

2. Emerge: explore, tease out the possibilities

What it looks like: messy, as you can see from Charles Leon’s diagram above, which is why the Emergence phase is also known as ‘The Groan Zone’. This is where you start to combine different ideas from the Divergent phase which then seem to birth new solutions from those combinations.

Ensure you: look for patterns, sift and sort ideas, test but allow for the unexpected and surprising.

How: Here’s a method, ‘Yes, if…’, you can even use with yourself.

3. Converge: assess opportunities make decisions, organise next steps

What it looks like: analysis and planning.

Ensure you: form the ideas into concrete outcomes meaning evaluation of ideas? What’s feasible?

How: Picture of dot voting and graphic game plan from one of my Appreciative Enquiry Workshops, exploring how to spread motivation and commitment organisation-wide, for one of my clients in a local authority.

Here’s part of the final stage I ran of a day of strategic problem solving related to employee motivation within a council.  The small stars on the post-its are an example of dot voting. 

The ones that gained the most stars were the ideas the group explored in the next stage.  Here’s an example of how they then broke these ideas into a plan:

With another client, I simply used this template from Gamestorming, as it fitted their purpose better:

How to unblock your drains using this method.

Let’s take a bland domestic problem such as blocked drains and apply the creative problem solving stages of Diverging, Emerging, and Converging to this issue.

1. Diverging: This is where you let the ideas flow (unlike your drain, unfortunately). You brainstorm all possible solutions—plungers, drain snakes, baking soda and vinegar, boiling water, even calling a professional. No idea is too simple or too wild; you’re just generating options here.
2. Emerging: Now, you explore and test these possibilities. Does the plunger create enough suction to shift the clog? What happens when you pour that bubbling concoction of baking soda and vinegar? Maybe you try a combination of methods or investigate further to understand what’s causing the blockage. It’s a phase of curiosity, tinkering, and experimentation.
3. Converging: Finally, you focus on what works best. Perhaps the baking soda and vinegar softened the clog enough for the plunger to do its job. Or maybe you had to go with the trusty drain snake. At this stage, you refine your efforts into an effective, final solution that restores the drain to its free-flowing glory.

See? Even a clogged drain is no match for creative problem solving. It’s not just a household nuisance—it’s a chance to flex your innovative muscle!

Methods of Creativity depend on context

Before I continue, be aware that every company and country has its own unique culture and dynamic which impact on how problems are approached and solved.

In Finland, for example, long silences are common to reflect on questions before a response. In other contexts, a faster moving flow may be the norm.

Since it’s a blog, use the comments to let me know any specific challenges you may have.

I bet you’d even be able to add a suggestion or two of your own.

AI has its uses

I’ve already mentioned the application of AI above in the Divergent phase. A recent study involving Procter & Gamble employees revealed that when generating ideas for new consumer products, individuals using AI performed as effectively as two-person teams working without AI. Moreover, two-person teams utilizing AI were even more successful in producing ideas ranked within the top 10 percentile compared to other methods.

Within the study of over 700 of the employees, the researchers found that solutions were more balanced as a result of using AI.

The researchers remark that “..without AI, R&D professionals tended to suggest more technical solutions, while Commercial professionals leaned towards commercially-oriented proposals.”

The fact that AI can cut through functional silos in generating ideas is a benefit not to be ignored.

Your Action:

1. Ensure you’re really emptying the bucket on your ideas in the emerge stage.  You don’t have to do this all in one sitting.  In fact, some of the best ideas might even happen while you’re doing the most mundane of tasks.  Get them here: How to solve problems QUICKLY (free download)
2. Test out the idea or find ways of collating opinion.
3. PLAN – without that, your idea is a dream.  If you don’t break it into steps, allocate people and timing it’s less likely to happen.  The important point is to keep it simple.

By embracing the stages of *Diverge*, *Emerge*, and *Converge,* creative problem solving becomes a dynamic and adaptable process. It’s a powerful tool for individuals and organizations to overcome barriers, harness creativity, and achieve their goals.

Are you using AI to help with any of these phases?  If so how specifically? (Please share in the comments) ⬇️

If you’re looking at upgrading your Creative Problem Solving go here and see how I help companies and individuals tap into a problem solving mindset, generate ideas and see them to fruition. Want to know more? Get in touch with me here.

This article was originally published in September in 2022 and was completely updated in March 2025

Photo by Shukhrat Umarov at pexels.com