Poke your head

The rules were that they were not allowed to tear the paper or make any other adjustments, so most of them tried their best to fit the paper over their head, seemingly in the way that we were taught to approach problems head-on 🤯. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t work — they either ended up tearing the paper or gave up. The solution, however, was much simpler than they had expected, and it was actually already in the instructions. All they had to do was just put their arm through the paper and somehow use their fingers to reach their head.

After laughing at the video, the seemingly impossible task prompted me to reflect on how to approach problem solving:

1. Listen carefully and pay attention to the instructions. The solution was there from the very beginning, but many people overlooked it because they focused more on solving the problem than understanding what was actually being asked. Taking a moment to listen or read and interpret instructions carefully can save a lot of unnecessary time and effort.

2. Challenge your assumptions. As some wise-ass put it, “assume” makes an ass of you and me. Most participants assumed that “poking your head through the paper” meant fitting the paper over their head in the conventional way. Their assumptions limited the solutions they considered. This is a reminder that the way we frame a problem often determines the solutions we see. The saying “If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” is so befitting here as we were taught in school to answer questions one way only and all other ways are wrong. We end up thinking in the box, in one direction only.

3. Think creatively and out of the box. Not every problem is meant to be solved using the most obvious approach. Sometimes the best solution comes from looking at the situation from a different perspective and being willing to question the first idea that comes to mind. If the participants just evaluated different scenarios and possible solutions before attempting to solve it, they might be less likely to end up with frustration and a bad solution.

4. Don’t overcomplicate simple problems. When faced with a challenge, it’s easy to assume that the answer must be equally complicated. In reality, the simplest solution is often the right one. Before trying harder, it can be worth taking a step back and asking whether there is an easier way. Instead of just hammering away or squeezing their head against the paper, clarifying the question might have brought to mind the answer quicker.

5. Pause before acting. Many participants immediately started trying to force the paper over their heads. Spending a few extra seconds to think before acting could have helped them identify the intended solution much sooner. A little planning can often be more effective than jumping straight into action.

6. Be open to changing your approach. When the initial method wasn’t working, some participants kept repeating the same attempt instead of trying something different. As another saying goes “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results,” recognising when to adapt and being willing to change strategies is an important problem-solving skill, especially when faced with unfamiliar challenges.

The Angle

Seek first to understand, then to solve.

Sometimes a solution is just around the corner, but we don't see it as we were too fixated on trying to solve the problem immediately.

This video was mostly just for the laughs as part of social media shenanigans, but it also showcased the deep, dark truth behind human thinking. Life is often simple, we are often the ones who complicate it. Here’s to thinking clearly and sharpening our mindsets. Before trying harder, make sure you’re solving the right problem.