Effective Problem Solving by Overcoming Functional Fixedness

Everyone has problems and learning to solve them is an incredibly important skill. If you are a manager or leader, this skill is something you use multiple times a day. Being able to effectively solve problems is not just nice to have, it’s a must.

However, the specific problem solving skills required will always differ depending on the type of problem in question. And once you achieve these specific skills, you’ll have the power to overcome almost anything life throws at you with much more proficiency and effectiveness.

For instance, one way of getting better at problem solving is to address your ‘functional fixedness’. This is something that many people experience without realizing it and which can seriously impede their ability to find solutions to their challenges.

What is Functional Fixedness?

Essentially, functional fixedness is the inability to think of an item as being useful for anything other than its intended purpose. In an extreme case of functional fixedness then, you might not realize that a piece of cardboard could be used to stop a table from wobbling. Most of don’t experience functional fixedness to this degree, but it can affect us regardless.

The Candle Box Problem

A perfect example of functional fixedness is ‘the candle box problem’. Basically, this is a cognitive performance test where researchers provided participants a box which had tacks, a candle and matches.  The participants were then asked to attach the candle to the wall so that it will burn while staying elevated off of the ground and without it dripping onto the table below. Most people tried to tack the candle directly to the wall- which fails, of course- rather than realizing that the box itself is a resource. The correct solution is to empty the box of thumbtacks then tack the box to the wall and to stand the candle inside of it.

Just like many participants didn’t consider all uses of the items they had to solve the problem,  there are probably challenges you are facing right for which you have all the necessary resources, you just need to look at it a different way.

Overcoming Functional Fixedness

So how do we overcome our functional fixedness to solve our issues? The answer is to use a simple mental trick. Each time  you face a problem, break down the resources or things you have to use into their component parts. Don’t think about just items or tools, think about raw resources and possible roles as well.

For example, considering the candle box experiment, this means you don’t have candles and a box of tacks, you have:

• Candles
• A box of tacks
• A container
• Wood (the matches)
• Cardboard (the box)
• String/wick
• Wax
• A cylinder
• A cube
• A wedge

Suddenly you will start to see lots of options!

Can you see how looking at the problem and possible resources to solve that problem in unique ways could be your best solution? Just as participants who were able to see that they could use the thumbtack box as the holder for the candle was the right solution, you can do the same.

What problem do you currently have that you may be stuck in because you haven’t considered all the ways you can use your resources? For example, in business, you may have specific individuals with a certain job title, but they may have additional skills not currently being used. Have you reached out to all your employees to find out if there are other ways they can support the completion of the business goals?

By allowing others to use their skills beyond their current role, you are developing them and ensuring they are more engaged. Let’s not get stuck in our functional fixedness. Use your own creativity to seek new solutions to old or current problems. After all, isn’t that how many inventions were born?