Cognitive Flexibility

It is probably safe to say that most of us in tech have tried an approach to solving a problem before, only to have it fail entirely. In such moments, not wanting to give up, we ask ourselves “Where do I go from here?”

And at this point, as we try to adapt and pivot, we are using something called cognitive flexibility. The word ‘cognitive’ comes from a Latin verb that means ‘getting to know’ or ‘knowledge’. So cognitive flexibility refers to the ability to learn or use knowledge in ways that reflects being adaptive and open to change. When faced with an unexpected setback, someone without much cognitive flexibility--not adapting to the situation--might attempt to do the same thing again and again and keep failing, which can make it difficult to persist. On the other hand, by thinking about the situation differently and generating multiple solutions, someone who has more cognitive flexibility will be open to new ideas and stretching their problem-solving approach to adapt.

It can be hard to anticipate every outcome, and research shows the ability to adapt is a core piece of creative problem-solving. When faced with a roadblock, we can pause and remind ourselves that we have overcome all kinds of challenges before, and we absolutely can again.

And how can we better stretch ourselves to adapt? We can do this strategically by being open to new ideas, seeing different perspectives, and coming up with multiple solutions. We can ask ourselves to be open to trying something new, even if it means changing our original plan completely. Doing this can help us better position ourselves to pivot. Viewing the situation in new ways by perspective taking will help us create different solutions. Seeking different vantage points might mean moving out and around instead of focusing and narrowing the problem further. Or it might mean taking a closer look at an earlier choice and even abandoning our current path for a different approach altogether. This can be hard, but remember that you can always get help from others. A fresh pair of eyes can provide us with another perspective and solution.

So when we face an unexpected setback and need to pivot, collaboration becomes especially valuable and can set the stage for improving your cognitive flexibility. A team with a diverse set of backgrounds and experiences is better positioned to see the situation from many perspectives and can come up with a variety of solutions. But if your team misses out on those perspectives, it’s harder to innovate new solutions.

So the next time you hit an unexpected setback and wonder “Where do I go from here?”,

remember that you can exercise your cognitive flexibility -- you can stretch and adapt.

This week, when you encounter an unforeseen challenge, pause, and remind yourself that you can approach it strategically if you stay open and confident. Try looking at it from a different perspective, and always be open to new possibilities to generate new possibilities and solutions.