Problem Solving is for Everyone

Sometimes, moving forward is the strategy.

Training Your Brain to Notice What’s Next

Sarah introduced the idea of the reticular activating system, the part of our brain that filters what we notice. It’s the reason you suddenly see the same car everywhere after buying one. And it works the same way with problems and solutions. When we intentionally start paying attention to a challenge, our brain begins surfacing connections we might have missed before.

It’s not always about a lightning-bolt moment. Once you’ve told your brain, “Hey, this matters,” sometimes changing environments, revisiting a problem at a different time of day, or simply giving your brain space can help new ideas appear can help solutions show up quietly.

Getting Into Flow (and Letting Go of Perfection)

One of the most freeing ideas from the conversation was that loosening up can actually make us better problem solvers. Sarah shared several simple ways to help the brain relax and get into a productive flow: saying “yes, and” instead of shutting ideas down, letting yourself get a little silly, or doing quick exercises like building a story one word at a time.

Writing short lists – things you’re grateful for, moments that made you smile, or ideas you want to build on – can also shift your mindset. Even speaking an idea out loud can turn something vague into something workable. Progress doesn’t always come from thinking harder; sometimes it comes from thinking differently.

Exploring Before You Decide

Sarah also talked about the balance between divergent and convergent thinking. Divergent thinking opens things up; it’s where curiosity, exploration and “what if?” live. Convergent thinking narrows things down and helps you make decisions. Most of us favor one over the other, but effective problem solving often means moving back and forth between the two.

It’s okay to explore ideas that don’t pan out. And that exploration isn’t wasted. It becomes part of understanding what does work.

Designing Solutions with People in Mind

Using the framework of design thinking, Sarah emphasized a human-centered approach to problem solving that begins with empathy. Understand the person behind the problem, not just the problem itself. From there, we define and redefine the real issue by digging into root causes. Ideation encourages curiosity and creativity, followed by prototyping, or creating a simple, early version of a solution.

Testing isn’t about getting it right the first time. It’s about learning by doing, adjusting and trying again. Failure isn’t the end of the process. It’s feedback.

You Don’t Need the Whole Staircase

The biggest takeaway from the event? You don’t need to see the entire path forward. You just need the first step. Brainstorming sessions and ideation meetings only matter if they end with action, whether that’s scheduling a follow-up conversation, doing research or taking a small step toward testing an idea.

Clear next steps, often guided by SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound) goals, help keep momentum going. When we keep moving forward – testing, learning, and adjusting – we avoid getting stuck waiting for perfect conditions that may never arrive.

Because progress doesn’t come from standing still. It comes from moving forward, one imperfect step at a time.