😩 There is at least one big thing I wish the public school system didn’t teach me about problem solving.

It has taken time to unlearn.

Public school taught me that problem solving is a linear path leading to an inevitable, single “right” answer.

📉 This “linear problem solving” thinking slowed down my growth beyond public school.

I was looking at life with a “what’s the right answer?” perspective. Surely, there was a right answer.

🤯 Luckily, I’ve had several experiences which taught me this problem solving paradigm is false.

Especially the way my college courses were structured where there was more autonomy given for the problem solving path and potential “answers”, as long as the outcomes were achieved.

🎯 So what is a better way to think about problem solving?

Problem solving is a non-linear path. Usually resulting in multiple potential “right answers” that can achieve the outcome in different ways. Each option with its own set of consequences.

Any TPM worth their salt knows that there are rarely cut-and-dry easy solutions for complex, scaled problems.

🧩 There are multiple "correct answers".

The real challenge is being able to strategically digest each option, it’s consequences, and align teams on the chosen “right answer”.

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Stepping down from my soap box now.

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