The power of asking the wrong question

 Sometimes the problem isn't the problem. The problem is the question.

And that, in itself, is a problem for...er problem solving.

Let me explain. Imagine you have a client has asked you to build a better mousetrap.

You may spend many a fruitless hour seeking incremental improvements. You set off a stream of work on spring mechanics. Another on bait testing. Still another expends effort on reducing the number and cost of moving parts. After much effort you present you MVP. It ain't going to remake the market.

But what if we reframe the problem - by asking a different question?

How do I rid buildings of mice?

Now we have a world of new possibilities to explore - sonic and scent deterrents, scare cats, etc.

Sometimes the problem isn't the problem. The problem is the question. It introduces constraints that need not be applied.

Photo by Ricky Kharawala on Unsplash