Years ago, I digested materials related to "creative problem solving" (CPS) and practiced the skill with the Auxano team at one of our annual off-sites called "Resync." I am amazed at how valuable the experience can even though it is rarely used in the church. In fact, in the last 20 years of ministry (from seminary, to pastoring, to carnivorously devouring conferences, to full-time consulting) I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANYONE TEACH OR PRACTICE CPS in a ministry setting.
Here is the basic assumption of the process: We starting solving problems too quickly, before we have really defined the nature of the problem. Therefore we must brainstorm and collaborate to state the problem accurately before we impatiently run at potential solutions. It is in the process of determining the precise way of stating the problem that genius arises.
Yesterday at Faithbridge, I facilitated a problem solving meeting that arose from a 700 person unanticipated attendance spike on January 4th services. Even though we only had a 3-1/2 block of time, I spent the first 45 minutes stating the problem. Here are some of the alternative ways we stated the problem:
- How might we shift satisfied worshippers at the 9:30 and 11:00 to a different service time?
- How might we provide three "Live" venue worship opportunities on Sunday morning?
- What's stopping us from creating alternative entrance/exit access roads?
- How might we simply shift services times in a way that solves every other problem?
- How might we accommodate 1000 more people without modifying the facility?
- What's stopping us from doing a capital campaign/phase II immediately?
- How might we better clarify our long-term strategy with worship styles and venues?
- What's stopping us from adding 250 parking spaces immediately?
- How might we add more square footage for worship venues with the existing facility?
Next time you are solving a problem, start by trying to state the problem in the form of a question as may ways as possible using the "How might we..." and "What's stopping us..." question template.