How can you integrate different perspectives and expertise in collaborative problem-solving?

To truly solve a problem in a groundbreaking way, it’s important to approach it from a customer-centric approach, invite wildly creative ideas, and be inspired by various disciplines. This will allow one to define both the scope of the issue and which team members could potentially help overcome the challenge. Inviting team members to embrace this way is also part of the solution as it will invite innovation and solution forward thinking.

Collaborative problem-solving is akin to a symphony where diverse instruments must harmonize to create a beautiful melody. Before we embark on this creative journey, it's imperative to tune our instruments, ensuring they're in sync. "An unexamined problem is not worth solving." Thus, we begin with understanding – comprehending the intricacies of the challenge before us. Just as a captain must know every nook and cranny of their ship, we identify our key stakeholders, recognizing their unique vantage points and aspirations.

It can help to start thinking about the problem in questions - as opposed to jumping into the problem framing, asking yourself questions about what you don't know regarding the problem. It is helpful to get everyone on the same level of understanding about the unknowns, as well as identify preliminary patterns. And the same way we ideate on solutions, spend time ideating on the problem as well - it's harder than we think to define a problem!

One thing I've fund helpful in this space is mapping sponsor coalition to enable integrated change management when involving diverse participants.

Make sure that you don´t blindly take anyone from different areas. Make sure you have someone that experienced the problem personally and is willing to solve it for the future.

With an interdisciplinary team, creating a space of high psychological safety and a deep sense of belonging is important for collaboration. Especially for problem-solving, inviting people to share every idea they have while ensuring that every contribution is heard and considered creates a safe space full of innovation. Viewing interdisciplinary members as a superpower for the company, even if it requires a higher investment in communication, is the key here.

The key to harnessing the power of diverse perspectives and expertise lies in cultivating a safe and inclusive space. As the saying goes, "Unity is strength... when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved." This is particularly true when individuals from different backgrounds, disciplines, and experiences come together to tackle complex challenges. To unlock this potential, we must establish a foundation of mutual respect and trust, where each voice is valued and heard. In the words of Maya Angelou: "We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value, no matter their color."

A space where different personality types can contribute is also important - some people prefer to speak while others prefer to write; some brainstorm out loud while others need reflection time. Factor this into the methodology you use to facilitate the discussion.

The choice of tools and methods depends on the complexity of the problem and the need for creativity, validation, and decision-making. For instance, when brainstorming solutions, techniques like mind mapping can help visualize and connect ideas contributed by team members with varying backgrounds. Prototyping and testing come into play when refining concepts, allowing for feedback from stakeholders with distinct expertise. Decision-making tools like the Analytic Hierarchy Process can facilitate the selection of the most viable solution by weighing diverse criteria, ensuring all perspectives are considered. Prioritization matrices are useful in ranking ideas based on their alignment with different perspectives and problem-solving criteria.

Ideaz board, Google Jam board, and Miro have been great online tools to help integrate difference perspectives and expertise.

An interesting aspect to consider here is also the depth of information that is shared depending on the medium in which people share their thoughts - for instance, when we express ourselves using words vs drawing vs building a physical prototype, different aspects of communication emerge. It's important to provide a diverse way for people to share their thoughts, so they can share in the way that is most comfortable for them.

You can use metrics to track improvement objectives. Start with the objective, define 2-3 metrics that allow you to see whether you´re approaching your objective. Derive actions from the metrics. Revise regularly to see if the metrics are moving.

Action Learning Sets (ALS) is a great method to support this as well I have found from experience to reinforce and sustain the learning from change.

Running retrospectives can be a valuable way to reflect on the experience and capture learnings as a group / team. In a non-linear process, this can be particularly handy to "retrace your steps" and tell the story in a more linear way, and with the key important moments as highlights.

Identifying stakeholders: Recognize key individuals or groups with diverse knowledge and viewpoints related to the problem. Effective communication: Encourage open, respectful dialogue to share ideas and insights. Active listening: Ensure that everyone's input is heard and understood, promoting empathy. Common goals: Establish a shared objective to unify efforts and align diverse perspectives. Combine various ideas and solutions to create a holistic approach to the problem. Continuously refine and adapt the strategy based on feedback and new insights from all collaborators.