"Win at Work"

Weekly Newsletter by Yasar Ahmad

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It was 2015. My son was 5 years old. He taught me a lesson that changed my life.

Today, I want to tell you this story and hopefully, it will transform the way you think about "creative thinking" and problem-solving in your career.

But before we dive in, I have something for you:

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Week 25 - A Lesson in Creative Problem-Solving

In rapidly changing workplaces, creative thinking is a superpower. It’s not just for artists or inventors – no matter your role, the ability to find fresh solutions and new ideas will set you apart. Companies thrive on innovation, and the professionals who can think outside the box become the go-to problem solvers.

“Creativity is intelligence having fun.”
— Albert Einstein

The Story: It was autumn 2015 when I visited my mother at her three-story Victorian house. Using my keys, I let myself in to find the place empty. My son immediately ran into the living room presumably to watch TV, while I headed downstairs to make myself a cup of tea and grab some digestives (the chocolate-covered ones, naturally).

When I returned upstairs, I found my son sitting on the sofa, shining a laser pen at the Xbox.

Bemused, I asked, "What are you doing?"

"I'm turning the Xbox on," he replied matter-of-factly.

"You can't turn on the Xbox like that," I said, confused. "You need to press the power button!"

He smiled. "No, I can..."

Growing more frustrated, I issued a challenge: "If you can turn it on with that laser pen before I finish my tea, I'll buy you an Xbox."

His face lit up with excitement.

As I sipped my tea, my mother's cat suddenly bounded into the room and smacked the Xbox turning it on.

Key Takeaways: When Clever Isn't Always Better

Shocked, I realized two things:

I now needed to buy an Xbox
Although he was technically right, he'd never understand why his method was impractical

I paused, ready to point out his flawed approach, then reconsidered. Instead, I acknowledged his achievement: "Wow, that's amazing! You know, in the time you spent doing that, you could've just pressed the button and had more time to play. Since I've finished my tea now, we need to go..."

The Lesson:

Creative thinking is valuable, but we must remain mindful of its practical implications. Sometimes our clever solutions create more work than they solve these are our "unknown unknowns." My son's creative approach worked (thanks to the cat), but it required:

More time and effort than the simple solution
Reliance on unpredictable factors (a wandering cat)
Lost playtime for a technically impressive but inefficient result

Before implementing a creative solution, ask yourself: Am I solving the real problem, or am I creating complexity for its own sake? The simplest path often delivers the most value. Innovation should increase efficiency, not just demonstrate ingenuity.