How can you stay motivated when faced with difficult problems?

Creative problem solving (CPS) is a skill that can help you overcome challenges and achieve your goals in any situation. However, it can also be frustrating and exhausting when you encounter difficult problems that seem to have no clear or easy solutions. How can you stay motivated when faced with such problems? Here are some tips that can help you keep your enthusiasm and confidence as you apply your CPS skills.

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Clarify your purpose:

Remind yourself why you’re solving the problem and how it benefits you or others. This focus will help maintain your enthusiasm and guide your progress toward a meaningful outcome.### *Break down the problem:Divide large, complex issues into smaller, manageable parts using tools like mind maps. This approach reduces overwhelm and makes it easier to generate effective solutions.

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Gijsbertus J.J. van Wulfen

Innovation keynote speaker, Number One…

1 Identify your purpose

The first step to staying motivated is to remind yourself why you are solving the problem in the first place. What is your desired outcome? How will it benefit you or others? How does it align with your values and vision? By clarifying your purpose, you can focus on the positive aspects of the problem and the potential impact of your solution. You can also use your purpose as a guide to evaluate your progress and make adjustments as needed.

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Gijsbertus J.J. van Wulfen

Innovation keynote speaker, Number One Thought Leader Design Thinking 2024, LinkedIn Top Voice helping you and your organisation, to become amazing innovators with keynotes, workshops, and a proven innovation method.
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WENNOVATE together instead of INNOVATE alone The main reason why innovation projects get stopped is according to a linkedin poll: ‘LACK OF MANAGEMENT BUY-IN. That’s why in my experience as facilitator of 100+ projects you should better WENNOVATEinstead of INNOVATE. Let me explain… Innovation is a long journey with high uncertainty. That’s why you should get all your internal - and external partners and the decision makers aligned as from the start, agreeing all on both your assignment and process. When you WENNOVATE in the way your project will be based on: - commitment, - trust, and - openness. Check out the FORTH innovation methodology, which comebines design thinking with business thinking, which is based on this WENNOVATE principle.

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2 Break down the problem

Sometimes, the problem can seem too big or complex to tackle at once. This can make you feel overwhelmed and discouraged. To avoid this, you can break down the problem into smaller and more manageable parts. You can use tools like mind maps, diagrams, or matrices to organize and visualize the problem. You can also use questions like who, what, when, where, why, and how to explore different aspects of the problem. By breaking down the problem, you can reduce its ambiguity and scope, and make it easier to generate and test ideas.

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3 Seek feedback and support

Another way to stay motivated is to seek feedback and support from others who can help you with your problem. You can ask for opinions, suggestions, or critiques from people who have relevant expertise, experience, or perspectives. You can also collaborate with others who share your purpose or interest in the problem. By seeking feedback and support, you can gain new insights, perspectives, and resources that can improve your problem-solving process and outcome. You can also build relationships and networks that can support you emotionally and practically.

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4 Celebrate your achievements

One of the most important ways to stay motivated is to celebrate your achievements along the way. You can set milestones and goals that mark your progress and success in solving the problem. You can also reward yourself and others who have contributed to your problem-solving efforts. By celebrating your achievements, you can acknowledge your efforts and results, and boost your self-esteem and confidence. You can also reinforce your positive attitude and behavior, and motivate yourself to continue solving the problem.

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5 Learn from your mistakes

Finally, you can stay motivated by learning from your mistakes. You can view mistakes as opportunities to learn and improve, rather than as failures or setbacks. You can use tools like reflection, feedback, or analysis to identify and understand the causes and consequences of your mistakes. You can also use strategies like brainstorming, prototyping, or experimentation to test and refine your ideas and solutions. By learning from your mistakes, you can enhance your knowledge and skills, and avoid repeating the same errors in the future.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you stay motivated when faced with difficult problems?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Identify your purpose

2 Break down the problem

3 Seek feedback and support

4 Celebrate your achievements

5 Learn from your mistakes

6 Here’s what else to consider

Creative Problem Solving

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How can you stay motivated when faced with difficult problems?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Identify your purpose

2 Break down the problem

3 Seek feedback and support

4 Celebrate your achievements

5 Learn from your mistakes

6 Here’s what else to consider

Creative Problem Solving

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