Often, when we encounter difficult problems, people, or issues, our initial reaction can be to run or try and shut it (or them) out. This is only natural, and likely led to survival back when the problem was a life-threatening predator. These days, however, our problems tend to be less dangerous, but far more morally complex. Daniel Pink, bestselling author and host of Pinkcast, posted one of his short yet informative videos recently about a simple linguistic change that can have a profound impact on your problem-solving abilities.
Based on research published in the Academy of Management Journal, Ting Zhang of Harvard University, along with colleagues Francesca Gino and Joshua D. Margolis found that there was one trick to use when trying to fix a dilemma. They found that posing the question “What could I do?”, as opposed to “What should I do"?” can generate moral insight and more creative solutions to the issue at hand. Not only is the ‘could’ approach inherently altruistic, but it also opens up possible solutions to the issue. Check out the full article here and see how this one small change can change your mindset the next time you’re in a difficult situation.
