Five ways to unlock breakthrough ideas

1. Be a better listener and observer

Listening and observing are skills that we don’t always consciously nurture. Think of it like this: every moment you speak is a moment when you’re not learning. Apply this to your own life. In meetings, for instance, prioritize listening and observing, and focus on receiving new information that you can process afterward.

2. Switch your perspective

Switching perspective helps you reframe things. The more purposeful you are about it, the better you get. Stop during a discussion or disagreement, for example, and summarize the point of view of the other person. Repeat what they have said, articulate their position, and ask if this is what they are actually telling you.

3. Recognize your biases and assumptions

We all have our biases – we all subconsciously process information in ways that align with what we already know – and we don’t automatically seek out views that differ from our own. Reframing happens more easily when you stop, challenge your preconceptions, and purposefully open your mind to diverse points of view.

4. Challenge your causal models

It’s human nature to look for causal relations, connecting the more obvious dots that lead to certain outcomes – but things often happen due to a confluence of immediate and indirect events. To reframe contexts and situations, purposefully think about the indirect effects of your actions or decisions. Was this really the result of that? If I do this, will it have the outcome I want, or might there be unintended consequences?

5. Stay curious

Perhaps the biggest driver of reframing is curiosity. Stop to make sense of everything, ask questions, ensure you’ve seen the full picture, and fill in any blanks in your knowledge or understanding. Never be satisfied with face value. Ask yourself over and over: Have I got this right? Have I understood? What might I be missing?