Problem Solving

What does “yellow” actually mean on your performance scorecard? For most teams it’s a gray zone, where the response depends on workload, mood, and who’s paying attention, and that ambiguity drives inconsistent behavior. In this video I explain why you should either give yellow a precise definition or remove it,

Most of us break down problems by asking what is causing them. Fewer of us ask a second question that changes almost everything about the work: by when? A problem statement is a vector. It has a direction, the gap you need to close, and a magnitude, how far you

AI should never replace problem-solving, as problem-solving is a truly human skill, or a combination of skills, that is an act of discovery. However, AI can act as a great co-intelligence, helping us broaden our perspective, challenge our logic, or simply get unstuck when our wheels are spinning. In this

Section 1 from the People Solve Problems Book Why Problem-Solving Fails—and How to Fix It Problem-solving isn’t just about having the right tools—it’s about how we apply those tools in different problem-solving scenarios. In these videos, we’ll challenge conventional thinking, revealing why standardization alone doesn’t drive better solutions. This section

Are you starting your problem solving on auto-pilot? Do you need some kind of trigger to drive systemic, rigorous problem solving? Most people do, and it’s a missed opportunity. I came across this quote from Marvin Minksy, co-founder of MIT’s AI lab: The way people solve problems is first by

    To problem solve, or not to problem solve. That is a question that we all face when something goes wrong. This graphic was included in my book, People Solve Problems, as I tried to help illuminate this choice. The choice itself can lead to some challenges. First, some

Every problem-solver hits walls, no matter how experienced they are. The difference between success and failure often comes down to how you handle those stuck moments. In this white paper, I’ll share the four proven ways you can break through when you’re stuck on a tough problem. Download the PDF

What’s the best interview question you’ve ever received or given? Your list of bad interview questions is likely much longer than your list of great interview questions. I’ve heard some amazing horror stories about interviews derailed by terrible questions!  But still, there seems to be more advice available about responding

People approach solving problems differently, even if they’re using the same tools and methods. It’s one of the reasons for the name of my book, and one of the reasons I’m talking to people on the People Solve Problems podcast. Because problem solving is a collection of applied skills that

As AI continues to gain momentum within companies, it’s important to distinguish between two main categories of AI usage: stationed, strategic projects, and the personal, often hidden, use of AI by individuals in their workflows. One challenge in the latter category is that people are hiding the fact that they