The following is a conversation between Thomas Wedell-Wedellsborg, the Author of What's Your Problem? To Solve Your Toughest Problems, Change the Problems You Solve, and Denver Frederick, the Host of The Business of Giving.

Denver: The World Economic Forum lists complex problem solving as the number one skill for 21st-century jobs. But how many of us, faced with a problem, just dive right in looking for a solution? My next guest says there's a better way, and that's taking a moment to reframe the problem presented to you and determine whether it, in fact, is the right problem to be working on. He is Thomas Wedell-Wedellsborg, the Author of What's Your Problem? To Solve Your Toughest Problems, Change the Problems You Solve.

Key Points from This Episode

Thomas on what led him to write a book about problem-solving [00:42]
The basic definition of a problem according to Thomas [01:59]
Reframing is not a new idea [02:50]
Reframing a problem vs analyzing a problem [04:24]
Five reframing strategies [06:13]
How Lori Weise reframed America's shelter dog problem [12:54]
Why the skill of reframing a problem is important [15:40]
Reframing is an iterative process [16:26]
The key contribution Thomas is making through his reframing strategies [18:01]
Reframing is not just about the big problems but also getting the small things right [19:05]
The relationship between good problem solvers and frustration [21:41]
Three framing indicators to keep an eye out for [22:03]
Real-world problem: The brilliant way a leader reframed his boss problem
Paralysis Analysis [25:09]
Thomas' vision [25:49]

Bennington College President on the Importance of the Liberal Arts and Humanities

The Business of GivingBy The Business of GivingJul 07, 2021