Problem Solving
Problem Solving Insights
Each of the following is intended provoke thought, change perspective, or inject a little humor—all while revealing something insightful about how effective problem-solving really works. Where available, sources are included.
"Your brain is lying to you—and that’s a problem."
Studies show that over 90% of decisions are made subconsciously, influenced by biases we’re not even aware of.
Source: Harvard Business School / Daniel Kahneman’s work on cognitive biases"The CIA, a firefighter, and a chess master walk into a crisis..."
They all solve problems—but in completely different ways.
Take away: What can we steal from elite problem-solvers in high-stakes fields?"Most meetings aren’t problem-solving—they’re problem-deferring."
According to McKinsey, only 11% of executives believe their organization's problem-solving is effective.
Source: McKinsey & Company, “How good is your problem solving?”"Good problem-solvers aren’t smarter—they just think differently."
Top problem-solvers tend to reframe problems rather than attack the obvious solution first."NASA once solved a billion-dollar problem with a pen cap."
A minor redesign saved critical oxygen flow on a space mission.
Source: NASA engineering case studies (e.g., Apollo 13 CO2 scrubber solution)"The FBI has a checklist. What’s yours?"
From hostage negotiation to fraud detection, elite organizations rely on structured thinking—not guesswork."Einstein was asked how he’d solve a tough problem."
He said: “I'd spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem, and 5 minutes on the solution.”
Anecdotally attributed to Albert Einstein"Most people don’t solve problems. They solve symptoms."
And then they wonder why the issue keeps coming back.
Take Away: Real problem-solvers aim at the root."The average person makes 35,000 decisions a day."
Most are automatic. Some are bad.
Source: Cornell University Food and Brand Lab, Brian Wansink (2007)"Pilots don’t panic when an engine fails. They reach for a checklist."
Take Away: Do you have a checklist—or just chaos?"Thomas Edison failed 1,000 times to invent the lightbulb."
He called it 1,000 steps to success."The biggest mistake in problem solving? Solving the wrong problem brilliantly."
"The U.S. military trains soldiers to solve problems under fire."
They use OODA loops: Observe, Orient, Decide, Act.
Source: U.S. Air Force Colonel John Boyd"Want to be a better problem-solver? Get more wrong answers first."
Divergent thinking—generating bad ideas on purpose—makes your good ones better.
Source: Guilford’s Alternative Uses Task, creativity studies"In medicine, the wrong diagnosis kills. In business, it just takes longer."
Take away: Do you diagnose before you prescribe?"NASA’s engineers have a motto: 'In God we trust, all others bring data.'"
"The Wright brothers beat Harvard engineers to flight—with scrap metal and a bicycle shop."
"Ever notice the best solutions feel... obvious in hindsight?"
That’s the ‘Aha!’ effect. It feels sudden—but it’s built on structure.
Source: Psychology of insight, Gestalt problem-solving theory"If you only have a hammer, every problem looks like a nail."
"In 1982, Tylenol pulled 31 million bottles from shelves in 24 hours."
It was the right call—and saved the brand.
Source: Johnson & Johnson’s 1982 Tylenol Crisis Management Case Study"Creativity and discipline aren’t opposites. They’re teammates."
"A McKinsey study found that top problem-solvers outperform peers by 2x to 10x."
Source: McKinsey & Company, Problem Solving report (2023)"The average executive spends 60% of their time on recurring problems."
"‘Why’ is your most powerful tool—and the first one people stop using."
Asking ‘why’ five times beats working late five nights.
Source: Toyota Production System, “Five Whys” technique"A 5-year-old asks 100+ questions a day. Adults ask about 6."
Source: Susan Engel, developmental psychologist; studies on childhood curiosity"In Japan, Toyota teaches line workers to pause production to fix a problem."
Source: Toyota’s Andon cord / Lean manufacturing principles"When Netflix faced a DVD mailing crisis, they pivoted—and invented streaming."
"Military strategy and chess both teach the same lesson: anticipate, don’t react."
"Smart problem-solvers aren’t afraid of dumb questions."
"When Google studied its best teams, it found one key trait: psychological safety."
Source: Google’s Project Aristotle (2012–2015)