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Helping kids with flexible thinking.

How flexible thinking can help children handle uncertainty and change

Writer: Rae Jacobson

What You'll Learn

What is flexible thinking.

• Why is flexible thinking helpful?
• How can we help kids think more flexibly?

Bouncing back from disappointment. Going with the flow when plans change. Getting comfortable with change and managing uncertainty. These are all skills that rely on a key executive function called flexible thinking.

Flexible thinking is the ability to think about things in a new or different way. Flexible thinking is also an important part of self-regulation and handling big emotions. When kids are able to think flexibly about a problem they’re less likely to fall apart if things don’t go according to plan.

For example, if a trip to see Grandma has to be cancelled, a child who can’t think flexibly might be unable to see a way out of their disappointment and get upset. A child who can think flexibly might feel disappointed, but be more open to solutions. “I know you’re sad we can’t see Grandma. Let’s FaceTime her tonight and bake cookies together!”

Managing disappointment or uncertainty is hard. And that’s okay. It’s important to validate kids’ feelings before trying to move on. For example, “I know you’re sad the game was cancelled. I’m sorry. That’s really hard.”  When kids are ready, invite them to help come up with ideas for making the best of difficult changes. When kids feel like part of the team, they’ll feel more in control and have the chance to practice their flexible thinking skills.

Kids look to parents for cues on how to behave. Modeling flexible thinking for your child will help them learn to practice it themselves. Let kids see you work through problems. When your child sees you handle with changes in a reasonable way, they’ll be more likely to do the same. Of course, sometimes there’s no clear solution. When that happens show kids your other coping skills, like mindfulness, or self care, to manage stress.

Dealing with uncertainty is challenging for all of us — bouncing back from disappointment, going with the flow when plans change unexpectedly, getting comfortable with new realities.

Tolerating uncertainy was especially exhausting during the pandemic, when all our routines and expectations were upset. But many of the skills we were forced to practice rely on a key executive function called flexible thinking. It’s a skill with lifelong benefits but it’s one that many kids (and many adults) often struggle to learn.

Flexible thinking is the ability to think about things in a new or different way. It helps us deal with uncertainty, solve problems, adjust to changes, and incorporate new information into our plans and ideas. Flexible thinking is also a key aspect of self-regulation and handling big emotions. When kids (and, let’s get real, parents, too) are able to take a flexible approach to a problem they’re less likely to fall apart when things don’t go according to plan.

Kids who can think flexibly are more adaptable and less likely to see setbacks as unfixable disasters. For example, if a trip to see Grandma has to be cancelled, a child who can’t think flexibly might break down (“Now we’ll NEVER get to see Grandma!!!”) and be unable to see a way out of their disappointment. A child who can think flexibly will also feel disappointed, but they are likely to be more open when you offer alternate solutions: “I know you’re really sad that we can’t see Grandma. I am too. What if we FaceTime her tonight and bake cookies together?”

How to help kids with flexible thinking

So what can parents do to help kids get better at thinking flexibly?

Validate emotions

Managing disappointment or uncertainty is hard. And that’s okay. It’s important to validate kids’ feelings, no matter how outsized or confusing they may be, before trying to move on. “I see how sad you are to miss your friend’s birthday party when we’re away. It’s really hard.” When kids feel heard and understood they’re less likely to dwell on the negative emotion and more able to move on to finding a solution.

Get them involved

But remember, getting from frustration or sadness to acceptance and action takes time. Kids may not respond as quickly you’d like them to. When that happens, be patient and encourage kids to try flexible thinking to help manage distress and build resilience. “I can see you’re still upset about missing the birthday party, I wonder if there’s anything that might help? Maybe we could make a birthday video to share with them?”

When kids are ready, invite them to help you come up with ideas for how to manage uncertainty as well as difficult changes. For example: “Okay. I’m really excited to go to the pool tomorrow, but there’s a chance it might rain. Let’s come up with some awesome ideas for what else we can do if that happens.” When kids feel like part of the team, they’ll have a greater sense of control and get the chance to practice their flexible thinking skills.

Model flexibility

Kids look to parents for cues on how to behave. Modeling healthy coping skills will help you, and your child, develop better habits and feel less overwhelmed when things don’t go as expected.

Speaking your thoughts aloud as you solve a problem is a great way to do this. For example, if an important friend can’t come to your child’s dance performance, let your child see you processing the change in a healthy way: “Aw, that’s disappointing. I know! I bet there will be a video we can share with them.” When your child sees you navigate changes or surprises in a reasonable, solution-focused way, they’ll be more likely to do the same.

It’s also important to let kids see you cope when there’s not an immediate solution to be had. For example, if you are all waiting to see if a beloved relative will recover from an illness, saying “Right now, we just don’t know. It’s frustrating and scary, but let’s do something to take our minds off it. How about a bike ride? ” shows kids that in an uncertain situation you don’t have to assume the worst.

Get help if they (or you) need it

Flexible thinking can be very hard to practice if a child is experiencing mental health issues like anxiety or depression or your family has recently experienced a traumatic event like the loss of a loved one, job, or home.

When a family is under stress, new uncertainty may trigger difficult emotions. If you notice that your child is unusually inflexible, upset, anxious, or sad, it may be a sign that they are struggling with a mental health issue. Talk to your child about how they’re feeling, and reach out to a pediatrician, clinician, or school guidance who can help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Flexible thinking is the ability to think about things in a new or different way. It is also an important part of self-regulation and handling big emotions. When kids can think flexibly about a problem, they’re less likely to fall apart if things don’t go according to plan.

Some examples of flexible thinking include bouncing back from disappointment, going with the flow when plans change, getting comfortable with change, and managing uncertainty.

You can help kids by modeling flexible thinking. Let kids see you work through problems. When your child sees you handle changes in a reasonable way, they’ll be more likely to do the same.

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Developing Flexible Thinking Improves Resilience

Change the way you think about outcomes..

Posted November 12, 2020 | Reviewed by Matt Huston

Saturday was another gorgeous fall day. We went for a hike in the Shenandoah, stopped for lunch, and greeted some friendly cows along our path. On our way back, we heard the announcement that we had a new President-Elect of the United States. About half the country engaged in a jubilant celebration of the potential for new beginnings, healing, and unity in our nation. The other half of the country expressed disappointment, fear , and anger over the results. Turn back the clock to four years ago, and the tables were turned. In 2016, millions of Americans were excited about the future of our country, while others mourned, feared, and expressed contempt. This blog post isn’t about politics ; however, what I have described provides an excellent example of how easy it is to engage in all-or-nothing thinking.

It is tempting to think that there is one outcome that will solve all of our problems and make everything better, whether it’s the election of a new leader , finding that perfect job, or meeting our soulmate. Believing that our lives will change for better or worse depending on certain outcomes can provide us with feelings of relief, happiness , and hope. These emotions are short-lived, however, if the desired outcomes do not happen, or if they do not provide the results that we originally think they will. We then often feel despair, hopelessness, helplessness, and resentment toward others who have gotten their desired outcome. Engaging in all-or-nothing thinking often prevents us from considering alternatives, balancing reason and emotion , or envisioning a future with any other possibilities; thus, we are unprepared when things don’t go our way or circumstances change.

Flexible thinking, in contrast, allows us to have hope in the outcomes we desire, but it also prepares us to create multiple solutions, outcomes, or alternative thoughts. For example, instead of saying, “If I don’t get this job, my career will never advance," one can frame it as, “This job would be a great opportunity to advance my career,” without deciding that this job is the only job that will improve one’s career. There’s still hope even if the job isn’t offered.

It can be difficult to think flexibly, especially when our culture does a great job of engaging in all-or-nothing thinking about what is good, bad, attractive, worthy, or valuable. Thus, we have to train ourselves to think flexibly. Here are some suggestions to consider.

• Avoid using words that indicate only one good option or outcome. Examples include words such as never , always , won’t , or can’t . There are certainly instances when it makes sense to use these words, but it’s important to recognize that their regular inclusion in our thought processes may decrease the potential for flexible thinking.
• Be careful about placing high value on particular things, people, and situations while denying the potential value of others. Placing certain items, individuals, or outcomes on a pedestal while dismissing or minimizing the value of alternatives runs the risk of leaving you very few acceptable options. The feeling that we have no other options when something doesn’t work out can lead to hopelessness.
• Remember that our circumstances are often temporary. Attaching too much significance to specific events and thinking of outcomes as permanent can make us feel trapped. It can decrease our ability to be resilient because we either believe the best of life is behind us or we feel powerless to find ways to improve our situation. Instead, we should acknowledge our feelings while reminding ourselves that situations will change, and we can work to change them.

Recognizing negative thought patterns such as all-or-nothing thinking is an important reflective process. The sooner that we are aware of thought patterns that are preventing us from thinking flexibly, problem-solving, and finding silver linings in our cloudy days, the less likely we are to stay stuck in those patterns indefinitely. We can then see a world of options and possibilities where we can actively engage, rather than being a passive participant in our suffering.

Carla Shuman, Ph.D., is the owner and director of Mindful Solutions, LLC in Arlington, Virginia, a private practice that provides comprehensive mental health services with a mission to promote resilience.

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March 21, 2018

The Power of Flexible Thinking

The cognitive style you need in times of change, explained by best-selling author Leonard Mlodinow

By Gareth Cook

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The future belongs to the elastic mind. This is the argument behind best-selling author Leonard Mlodinow’s new book, Elastic , which examines the swirl of change we find ourselves living through, and the ways of thinking best suited to it. We all have what is needed for “elastic thinking”—to a greater extent, perhaps, than we realize. It’s just a matter of recognizing the needed skills, Mlodinow argues, and nurturing them. He answered questions from Mind Matters editor Gareth Cook .

You argue in this book that times we live in demand an “elastic” style of thinking. Can you please explain what you mean by this, and what led you to this conclusion?

It is often remarked that, since the 1960s, the speed and processing power of computers has grown exponentially. But exponential growth has long been a fact of life for many types of technological, cultural and social change, and it has reached a point where even the calmest among us might start to feel dizzy. In politics, we now have to cope with more scandals in a single year than we used to encounter in a lifetime. Our elections are being interfered with. Our news sources have come into question. As one usually Zen-like friend—Deepak Chopra—lamented to me, “the world has become an insane asylum.” Meanwhile, in my field, science, researchers are overwhelmed by something more constructive, the more than three million new journal articles each year. In personal technology, we must all learn to navigate a landscape in which the number of websites has been doubling every two to three years, and the way we use and access them is subject to frequent “disruptive change.” More importantly, social attitudes are changing just as fast—compare the pace of the civil rights movement to the speed at which the campaign for gay rights swept the developed world. Or look at the overnight rise of the “me too” movement.

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The failure of businesses to adapt has led to the quick demise of countless companies, and major power shifts in industries from taxis to hospitality. But we must adapt to thrive in our personal lives, too. We have to be willing to rise above conventional mindsets, to reframe the questions we ask, to be open to new paradigms. We have to rely as much on our imagination as on logic, and have the ability to generate and integrate a wide variety of ideas, to welcome experiment, and be tolerant of failure. I call that manner of thought elastic thinking, in contrast to rational or logical thought.

Rational/logical thought is an analysis that can be described by an algorithm of the kind that computers follow. Elastic thought cannot. We evolved the capacity for the former in order to help us face the everyday challenges of life. We evolved the latter to help us succeed when circumstances change—which is why it is increasingly important to hone those skills today. Elastic thought is where your new ideas come from. Imaginative, original, and non-linear, it is “bottom-up” thinking, in which insights percolate into the mind, seemingly from nowhere. Logical thought can determine how to drive from your home to the grocery store most efficiently, but it’s elastic thought that gave us the automobile.

Leonard Mlodinow. Credit : Ralph Adolphs

What makes it hard to think “elastically”?

Elastic thinking comes naturally to all humans, but one way it may be inhibited is through another power exercised by our brain, the ability to ignore inappropriate urges and tune out “crazy” ideas. The human brain doesn’t act like a single information processor grinding through an algorithm on its way to solving a problem. Instead, it acts as a set of interacting and competing systems. That’s why scientists often speak of distinctions such as conscious/unconscious, reason/emotion, or right-brain/left-brain. When it comes to elastic thinking, those structures that generate new ideas must compete with other structures that censor them. We need the latter because our minds are so amazingly prolific that without some filter, we’d be unable to focus, and drown in our own thoughts.

Our mental censors don’t randomly kill ideas. They use our knowledge and expectations of the world to assess which ideas are most promising, and only then do they eliminate the rest. Each day, some neural responses are strengthened, and others suppressed. The result is a brain well adapted to its environment, but wired to interpret the world through the lens of what has worked in the past. That approach is well suited to a stable environment. But it can be suboptimal when circumstances change and what is needed is a new way of thinking, or when the usual approach doesn't work and we need a new way of looking at a problem.

For example, a recent JAMA study found that the 30-day mortality among high-risk acute care patients was a third lower when the top doctors were out of town , as when they were away at conferences, leaving more junior doctors in charge. The authors explained that most errors doctors make are connected to a tendency to form opinions quickly, based on prior experience, but in cases that are not routine that can be misleading—the expert doctors may miss important aspects of the problem that are not consistent with their initial analysis. So a dose of inexperience can be beneficial. The same is true for eccentricity, or “childishness.” That’s why when my mother, now 95, still scolds me for “acting like a child,” I’ve learned to take it as a compliment.

Yet you think we are not generally as averse to change as has been portrayed, is that right?

Right. When I started writing Elastic , it confused me—I kept running into articles in the Harvard Business Review and other business journals about how people have a natural aversion to change. The psychology literature, meanwhile, spoke of the human attraction to novelty and change. Psychologists have a word for it, “neophilia.” It is what encouraged our prehistoric ancestors to explore and experiment even when their lives were just fine. Evolution favored that behavior because it led to the discovery of alternate food and water sources, and the invention of new hunting methods and tools, all of which became vital when times changed for the worse. Scientists have identified a gene associated with that novelty-seeking tendency, DRD4, affecting the way our brains respond to the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is important in the brain’s motivational circuitry.

So why do business articles commonly say things like “Employees tend to instinctively oppose change,” and ask, “Why is change so hard?” That’s simple—while management endows change initiatives with names like restructuring, turnaround, or strategic shift, employees often see them as something else: more work for the same pay, layoffs, or just plain chaos. To oppose that isn't change aversion, it’s negative consequence aversion, or unemployment aversion.

We all experience that. There are times in our lives when change is a real pain in the butt. Changing from PC to MAC. Changing doctors. Changing residences, with all the work that entails. We don't like change if it harms us, creates undue risk, or causes us to expend extra effort. On the other hand, no one likes a repetitive job, or watching the same episode of the same television show every night. We were built to prefer variety, at least if there is little or no cost. 

Ask someone to do more work for the same pay, and they will bristle; but if you ask them to do less work for the same pay, they’ll throw a party. If employees expected that the terms restructuring, turnaround, or strategic shift referred to beneficial alterations in the workplace, those Harvard Business Review articles would be saying “Employees tend to instinctively love change,” and asking “Why is change so easy ?” And that, the psychologists tell us, is our more natural tendency.

How can we learn to be more elastic in our own thinking?

One of the abilities most important to elastic thinking is the power to relax your mind, to let your guard down. Being focused is important in rational/logical thinking, but it means your filters are turned up high, so your ideas may have a narrow range, and tend to be conventional. Your focus may also impede any tendency to question the assumptions behind whatever issue you are considering. On the other hand, when your mind is relaxed, you can play with the idea of a new paradigm. You’re not worried about why your ideas might be wrong. You’re not worried about failure. You can experiment. Your mind can wander to new territory, and stumble upon novel ideas, and new ways of looking at things.

That’s why it is often fruitful to think intensely about an issue, and then take a break in which you engage in a mild physical activity, but are not mentally focused—as when jogging or in the shower. Or to work out intensely, and then let your mind wander as you cool down and have some water, or even better, a beer. Similarly, researchers have found that quietly pondering an issue when you are intellectually exhausted, at the end of the day, or still in a mental haze, at the beginning, can allow original ideas, which might not otherwise surface, to get through.

One can also cultivate insight by adjusting one’s external conditions. For example, studies show that sitting in a darkened room, or closing your eyes, can widen your perspective; so can expansive surroundings, even high ceilings. Low ceilings, narrow corridors, and windowless offices have the opposite effect. And a well-lit room can make it difficult to ignore objects in your surroundings that stimulate mundane thoughts, shoving aside imaginative musings generated by your right hemisphere. Being able to think without any kind of time pressure is also important when striving for insight, because if you have to start on something else soon, your awareness of that can pull your mind back to the external world. Just as important, interruptions are deadly. A short phone call, email or even a text message can redirect your attention and thoughts. Even the thought that some message may be awaiting you can have the same effect.

As a more general exercise to nurture my mental flexibility, I focus on one of my strongly held beliefs. I imagine that someone tells me that the belief is false, and try harder to be open to the possibility that I’m mistaken. I ask questions: Why do I hold that belief? Why might others have come to a different conclusion? I try to take that point of view seriously, and to recall times in the past that I was wrong about something, even though I’d been confident of being right. In fact, more generally, introducing a little discord to your intellectual interactions is also helpful. Yes, much as we may wish to shun those with opposing opinions, studies show—surprisingly—that even if we assign no validity to their opinion, it broadens our perspective to speak to people who disagree with us. And finally, there is positive emotion. Happiness, contentment, and gratitude are not just important life goals; they also prompt us to widen our range of thoughts and actions, explore our environment, and open ourselves to new information, all of which are important to success. So next time you have to choose between work and pleasure, choose pleasure, if only because it’ll make you more productive at work.

Gareth Cook is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist who edits Scientific American 's Mind Matters online news column.

IQ tests can’t measure it, but ‘cognitive flexibility’ is key to learning and creativity

Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Cambridge

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Cambridge

Assistant Professor of Psychology, Nanyang Technological University

Disclosure statement

Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian receives funding from the Wellcome Trust, the Leverhulme Foundation and the Lundbeck Foundation. Her research is conducted within the NIHR MedTech and In vitro diagnostic Co-operative (MIC) and the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Mental Health and Neurodegeneration Themes. She consults for Cambridge Cognition. The University of Cambridge and Nanyang Technological University Centre for Lifelong Learning and Individualised Cognition (CLIC) research project is funded by the National Research Foundation, Prime Minister's Office, Singapore under its Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) programme.

Christelle Langley is funded by the Wellcome Trust.

Victoria Leong receives funding from the Ministry of Education, Singapore and the Centre for Lifelong Learning and Individualised Cognition (CLIC). CLIC is supported by the National Research Foundation, Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore under its Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) programme.

University of Cambridge provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

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IQ is often hailed as a crucial driver of success, particularly in fields such as science, innovation and technology. In fact, many people have an endless fascination with the IQ scores of famous people. But the truth is that some of the greatest achievements by our species have primarily relied on qualities such as creativity, imagination, curiosity and empathy.

You can listen to more articles from The Conversation, narrated by Noa, here .

Many of these traits are embedded in what scientists call “cognitive flexibility” – a skill that enables us to switch between different concepts, or to adapt behaviour to achieve goals in a novel or changing environment. It is essentially about learning to learn and being able to be flexible about the way you learn. This includes changing strategies for optimal decision-making. In our ongoing research, we are trying to work out how people can best boost their cognitive flexibility.

Cognitive flexibility provides us with the ability to see that what we are doing is not leading to success and to make the appropriate changes to achieve it. If you normally take the same route to work, but there are now roadworks on your usual route, what do you do? Some people remain rigid and stick to the original plan, despite the delay. More flexible people adapt to the unexpected event and problem-solve to find a solution.

Cognitive flexibility may have affected how people coped with the pandemic lockdowns, which produced new challenges around work and schooling. Some of us found it easier than others to adapt our routines to do many activities from home. Such flexible people may also have changed these routines from time to time, trying to find better and more varied ways of going about their day. Others, however, struggled and ultimately became more rigid in their thinking. They stuck to the same routine activities, with little flexibility or change.

Huge advantages

Flexible thinking is key to creativity – in other words, the ability to think of new ideas, make novel connections between ideas, and make new inventions. It also supports academic and work skills such as problem solving. That said, unlike working memory – how much you can remember at a certain time – it is largely independent of IQ, or “ crystallised intelligence ”. For example, many visual artists may be of average intelligence, but highly creative and have produced masterpieces.

Contrary to many people’s beliefs, creativity is also important in science and innovation. For example, we have discovered that entrepreneurs who have created multiple companies are more cognitively flexible than managers of a similar age and IQ.

So does cognitive flexibility make people smarter in a way that isn’t always captured on IQ tests? We know that it leads to better “ cold cognition ”, which is non-emotional or “rational” thinking, throughout the lifespan. For example, for children it leads to better reading abilities and better school performance .

It can also help protect against a number of biases, such as confirmation bias. That’s because people who are cognitively flexible are better at recognising potential faults in themselves and using strategies to overcome these faults.

Cognitive flexibility is also associated with higher resilience to negative life events , as well as better quality of life in older individuals. It can even be beneficial in emotional and social cognition: studies have shown that cognitive flexibility has a strong link to the ability to understand the emotions , thoughts and intentions of others.

The opposite of cognitive flexibility is cognitive rigidity, which is found in a number of mental health disorders including obsessive-compulsive disorder , major depressive disorder and autism spectrum disorder .

Neuroimaging studies have shown that cognitive flexibility is dependent on a network of frontal and “striatal” brain regions. The frontal regions are associated with higher cognitive processes such as decision-making and problem solving. The striatal regions are instead linked with reward and motivation.

There are a number of ways to objectively assess people’s cognitive flexibility, including the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and the CANTAB Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift Task .

Boosting flexibility

The good news is that it seems you can train cognitive flexibility. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), for example, is an evidence-based psychological therapy which helps people change their patterns of thoughts and behaviour. For example, a person with depression who has not been contacted by a friend in a week may attribute this to the friend no longer liking them. In CBT, the goal is to reconstruct their thinking to consider more flexible options, such as the friend being busy or unable to contact them.

Structure learning – the ability to extract information about the structure of a complex environment and decipher initially incomprehensible streams of sensory information – is another potential way forward. We know that this type of learning involves similar frontal and striatal brain regions as cognitive flexibility.

In a collaboration between the University of Cambridge and Nanyang Technological University, we are currently working on a “real world” experiment to determine whether structural learning can actually lead to improved cognitive flexibility.

Studies have shown the benefits of training cognitive flexibility, for example in children with autism. After training cognitive flexibility, the children showed not only improved performance on cognitive tasks, but also improved social interaction and communication. In addition, cognitive flexibility training has been shown to be beneficial for children without autism and in older adults .

As we come out of the pandemic, we will need to ensure that in teaching and training new skills, people also learn to be cognitively flexible in their thinking. This will provide them with greater resilience and wellbeing in the future .

Cognitive flexibility is essential for society to flourish . It can help maximise the potential of individuals to create innovative ideas and creative inventions. Ultimately, it is such qualities we need to solve the big challenges of today, including global warming, preservation of the natural world, clean and sustainable energy and food security.

Professors Trevor Robbins , Annabel Chen and Zoe Kourtzi also contributed to this article.

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Flexible Thinking

What is flexible thinking.

Flexible Thinking is the ability to adapt one’s thinking and approach in response to changing situations, new information, or unexpected challenges.

• Adaptability: Central to flexible thinking is the capacity to adjust thoughts and actions when faced with new circumstances or information.
• Problem-Solving: Enables individuals to approach problems from various angles, considering multiple solutions rather than sticking to a singular method.
• Overcoming Obstacles: Helps in navigating unexpected challenges by quickly devising alternative strategies or paths.
• Open-Mindedness: Encourages receptivity to new ideas, allowing for a broader perspective and innovative solutions.
• Emotional Regulation: Flexible thinkers can manage their emotions effectively, especially when faced with setbacks or changes, ensuring a balanced response.
• Growth Mindset: Often linked with a belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work.
• Enhanced Learning: Allows individuals to integrate new information seamlessly, even if it contradicts previous beliefs or knowledge.
• Collaboration: Facilitates effective teamwork, as flexible thinkers can understand and adapt to diverse viewpoints.
• Resilience: Builds resilience as individuals become more accustomed to change and uncertainty, viewing them as opportunities rather than threats.

How Can Individuals Cultivate and Enhance Their Flexible Thinking Abilities?

• Embrace Change: Actively seek out new experiences or challenges, which can help in becoming more adaptable to unfamiliar situations.
• Continuous Learning : Engage in lifelong learning, exploring new topics or skills outside of one’s comfort zone.
• Practice Mindfulness: Techniques like meditation can help in becoming more aware of rigid thought patterns and encourage a more open-minded approach.
• Seek Diverse Perspectives: Engage in discussions with people from different backgrounds or viewpoints to broaden one’s understanding and perspective.
• Challenge Assumptions: Regularly question and test one’s beliefs or assumptions, fostering a more adaptable mindset.
• Brainstorming Sessions: Engage in brainstorming activities, allowing for the free flow of ideas without immediate judgment.
• Stay Curious: Cultivate a curious mindset, always asking questions and seeking to understand the “why” behind things.
• Feedback Acceptance: Actively seek feedback and be open to constructive criticism, using it as a tool for growth and adaptability.
• Problem-Solving Games: Engage in games or puzzles that challenge the mind, promoting flexible and creative thinking.
• Reflect on Experiences: Regularly reflect on past experiences, especially challenges, to identify learning opportunities and areas for growth in adaptability.

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21 Practical Tips for Mastering Flexible Problem Solving

Introduction.

In today’s rapidly changing world, the ability to solve problems flexibly has become increasingly important. Whether it’s in the workplace, academics, or personal life, being able to adapt to new situations and find innovative solutions is a valuable skill. Flexible problem solving involves being open-minded, creative, and agile in our thinking, allowing us to navigate challenges and find effective solutions.

Adaptability is the key to flexible problem solving. It allows us to approach problems from different angles, consider alternative solutions, and adjust our strategies as needed. By being adaptable, we can embrace change, think outside the box, and overcome obstacles that might otherwise hinder our progress.

Tip 1: Embrace a Growth Mindset

To become a master of flexible problem solving, it is essential to embrace a growth mindset. A growth mindset is the belief that our abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, perseverance, and learning. When we have a growth mindset, we see challenges as opportunities for growth and improvement, rather than as threats or setbacks.

To cultivate a growth mindset, we can start by reframing our thoughts and beliefs about our abilities. Instead of saying “I can’t do it,” we can say “I can’t do it yet, but I will keep trying.” We can also seek out challenges and view them as chances to learn and grow, rather than as obstacles to avoid. By adopting a growth mindset, we can develop resilience, embrace failure as a stepping stone to success, and approach problems with a positive and open mindset.

Tip 2: Foster Curiosity

Curiosity is another essential trait for flexible problem solving. When we are curious, we are more likely to explore different perspectives, ask questions, and seek out new information. This curiosity fuels our ability to think creatively and approach problems from multiple angles.

To foster curiosity, we can cultivate a sense of wonder and actively seek out new experiences and knowledge. We can ask open-ended questions, challenge assumptions, and seek out diverse perspectives. By embracing our natural curiosity, we can expand our thinking and uncover innovative solutions to complex problems.

Tip 3: Practice Active Listening

Active listening is a critical skill for flexible problem solving. When we actively listen, we are fully present, engaged, and receptive to the ideas and perspectives of others. This allows us to gain a deeper understanding of the problem at hand and consider different viewpoints, leading to more effective problem-solving outcomes.

To practice active listening, we can focus on the speaker, maintain eye contact, and avoid interrupting. We can also practice empathy and try to put ourselves in the shoes of the other person to better understand their perspective. By actively listening, we can gather valuable information, build stronger relationships, and make more informed decisions.

Tip 4: Break Down Problems

Complex problems can often feel overwhelming, making it difficult to find the best approach for solving them. One effective technique for flexible problem solving is breaking down problems into smaller, more manageable parts.

By breaking down a problem, we can identify the underlying causes, understand the different components, and tackle each part individually. This approach allows us to focus on one aspect of the problem at a time, making it easier to develop creative solutions. Breaking down problems also helps us to see the connections between different elements and find innovative ways to address them.

Tip 5: Encourage Collaborative Problem Solving

Collaboration is a powerful tool for flexible problem solving. When we collaborate with others, we can draw upon their unique perspectives, skills, and expertise. This diversity of input can lead to more comprehensive problem-solving approaches and spark creative thinking.

To encourage collaborative problem solving, we can create an environment that fosters open communication, teamwork, and respect. We can actively seek out different viewpoints and encourage others to share their ideas. By involving multiple stakeholders, we can tap into a wealth of knowledge and experience, leading to innovative and effective solutions.

Tip 6: Develop Multiple Perspectives

Flexible problem solving requires us to consider multiple perspectives. By broadening our viewpoint, we can uncover new insights, challenge existing assumptions, and find alternative solutions.

To develop multiple perspectives, we can actively seek out diverse viewpoints and engage in discussions with individuals from different backgrounds and experiences. We can also try to put ourselves in the shoes of others and see the problem from their perspective. By embracing diverse perspectives, we expand our thinking and increase our ability to find innovative solutions.

Tip 7: Embrace Mistakes as Learning Opportunities

Mistakes are an inevitable part of the problem-solving process. Instead of fearing or avoiding mistakes, we can embrace them as valuable learning opportunities. By reframing our perception of mistakes, we can turn them into catalysts for growth and improvement.

To embrace mistakes as learning opportunities, it is essential to adopt a growth mindset (as discussed in Tip 1). We can reflect on our mistakes, identify areas for improvement, and make adjustments accordingly. Instead of dwelling on the past, we can focus on the lessons learned and use them to inform our problem-solving strategies moving forward.

Tip 8: Practice Divergent Thinking

Divergent thinking is a crucial skill for flexible problem solving. It involves generating a wide range of ideas, possibilities, and solutions, without judgment or evaluation. By practicing divergent thinking, we can explore multiple avenues and uncover innovative solutions.

To practice divergent thinking, we can engage in brainstorming sessions, where all ideas are encouraged, and no idea is immediately dismissed. We can also challenge ourselves to think outside the box and consider unconventional solutions. By nurturing our ability to think divergently, we can expand our problem-solving repertoire and find creative solutions.

Tip 9: Cultivate Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence plays a significant role in flexible problem solving. When we have a high level of emotional intelligence, we can understand and manage our emotions effectively, as well as empathize with others. This allows us to communicate effectively, build relationships, and navigate challenging situations.

To cultivate emotional intelligence, we can practice self-awareness by identifying and understanding our own emotions. We can also work on self-regulation, by managing our emotions and reactions in productive ways. Additionally, we can develop empathy by actively listening to others and seeking to understand their perspectives. By cultivating emotional intelligence, we enhance our problem-solving abilities and build stronger connections with others.

Tip 10: Seek Feedback and Input

Obtaining feedback and input from others is crucial for flexible problem solving. By seeking different perspectives and insights, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the problem and uncover fresh ideas.

To effectively gather feedback, we can create a safe and supportive environment where individuals feel comfortable sharing their thoughts. We can also be open to constructive criticism and use it as an opportunity for growth and improvement. By actively seeking feedback and input, we enhance our problem-solving approach and uncover new possibilities.

Stay tuned for the continuation of the tips for mastering flexible problem solving!

In order to become a master at flexible problem solving, it is essential to embrace a growth mindset. A growth mindset involves believing that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. This mindset allows individuals to view challenges as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles to be avoided. By adopting a growth mindset, you set yourself up for success in problem-solving endeavors.

Benefits of a Growth Mindset

A growth mindset enables individuals to approach problems with a positive and open attitude. Instead of being discouraged by difficulties, those with a growth mindset see them as stepping stones toward improvement. This mindset fuels perseverance and resilience in the face of challenges and setbacks. By believing in the potential for growth and development, individuals with a growth mindset are more likely to explore new strategies and approaches to problem-solving.

Strategies for Developing a Growth Mindset

Developing a growth mindset is a continuous process that requires self-reflection and effort. Here are some strategies to help you cultivate a growth mindset:

• Challenge negative self-talk: Pay attention to your inner dialogue and challenge any negative beliefs about your abilities. Replace them with positive and constructive thoughts.
• Embrace failures as learning opportunities: Instead of dwelling on mistakes, focus on the lessons they provide. Analyze what went wrong and what you can do differently next time.
• Set learning goals: Instead of focusing solely on achieving specific outcomes, set goals that prioritize learning and growth. Aim to improve your problem-solving skills rather than seeking immediate solutions.
• Seek feedback and constructive criticism: Embrace the input of others and use it to identify areas for improvement. View feedback as a valuable tool for personal development.
• Develop a passion for learning: Cultivate a curiosity for knowledge and always strive to expand your understanding. Engage in continuous learning through reading, seeking new experiences, or taking courses related to problem-solving.

By consciously adopting these strategies, you can gradually shift your mindset towards a growth-oriented perspective. With a growth mindset, you will be better equipped to tackle complex problems and find innovative solutions.

Curiosity is an essential quality for developing flexible problem-solving skills. It is the driving force behind seeking new knowledge, exploring different perspectives, and finding creative solutions to complex problems. Cultivating curiosity can significantly enhance your ability to adapt and thrive in various problem-solving situations. Here are some tips on how to foster curiosity in yourself:

1. Ask Questions

Asking questions is the first step in nurturing curiosity. Be curious about everything around you and seek answers to the questions that arise in your mind. When faced with a problem, start by asking yourself what you don’t know and what information you need to gather. By continuously questioning and seeking answers, you can expand your knowledge and develop a deeper understanding of the problem at hand.

2. Embrace Uncertainty

Learn to embrace uncertainty and be comfortable with not having all the answers. Curiosity thrives in situations where there is room for exploration and the possibility of discovering something new. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by uncertainty, view it as an opportunity for exploration and discovery. Embracing uncertainty allows you to approach problems with an open mind and encourages a sense of curiosity to find solutions.

“The important thing is not to stop questioning.” - Albert Einstein

3. Explore Different Perspectives

Curiosity involves looking at a problem from various angles and considering different perspectives. Embrace diverse viewpoints and actively seek out opinions that differ from your own. Engage in conversations with people from different backgrounds, disciplines, or cultures to broaden your understanding of the problem and explore alternative solutions. By challenging your own assumptions and exploring different perspectives, you can foster curiosity and develop a more adaptable problem-solving approach.

4. Be Open to Learning

Cultivate a mindset of continuous learning and growth. Approach every problem-solving situation as an opportunity to learn something new. Be open to new ideas, explore different resources, and seek out knowledge beyond your comfort zone. Recognize that there is always more to learn and discover, and let that curiosity push you to expand your horizons and acquire new skills and knowledge.

5. Encourage Playfulness and Experimentation

Curiosity thrives in an environment that encourages playfulness and experimentation. Allow yourself to be playful and explore different possibilities. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different approaches, even if they seem unconventional at first. Embrace trial and error as a natural part of the problem-solving process and learn from each experiment, whether it succeeds or not. By fostering a sense of playfulness and experimentation, you can unlock your curiosity and discover unique solutions to problems.

6. Stay Curious

Lastly, make a conscious effort to stay curious in your daily life. Practice being observant and paying attention to the world around you. Engage in activities that spark your curiosity, such as reading books, watching documentaries, or attending workshops. Seek out new experiences and challenge yourself to explore unfamiliar territories. Cultivate a sense of wonder and curiosity in everything you do, and you will find that it becomes a natural part of your problem-solving approach.

“The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.” - Dorothy Parker

By fostering curiosity, you can unlock new possibilities, challenge traditional thinking, and approach problem-solving with a fresh and adaptable mindset. Embrace your curiosity, ask questions, explore different perspectives, and stay open to learning and experimentation. With curiosity as your guide, you can develop flexible problem-solving skills that will empower you to tackle any challenge that comes your way.

Active listening is a crucial skill in flexible problem solving. It involves fully engaging with the speaker and paying attention to both verbal and non-verbal cues. By actively listening, you can gather relevant information, gain insights into different perspectives, and effectively communicate and collaborate with others.

Why is active listening important in flexible problem solving?

Active listening plays a vital role in flexible problem solving for several reasons:

Understanding the Problem: Active listening enables you to fully comprehend the problem at hand. By listening attentively to others’ descriptions and explanations, you can grasp the nuances of the problem and identify the underlying issues.

Building Empathy: Active listening allows you to empathize with others involved in the problem. By understanding their thoughts, concerns, and emotions, you can better collaborate and work toward mutually beneficial solutions.

Gathering Information: Active listening helps you gather relevant and accurate information to assess the problem comprehensively. By listening to different perspectives and ideas, you can gain a broader understanding of the problem, identify potential solutions, and make more informed decisions.

Developing Trust and Rapport: Active listening fosters trust and rapport among team members. When people feel heard and understood, they are more likely to openly share their ideas and concerns, leading to more effective problem-solving outcomes.

Techniques for improving active listening abilities:

To enhance your active listening skills, consider incorporating the following techniques into your problem-solving practices:

Maintain Eye Contact: Maintain consistent eye contact with the speaker to show your undivided attention and demonstrate respect.

Avoid Distractions: Minimize distractions and fully focus on the speaker. Put away any electronic devices and eliminate external interruptions.

Use Non-Verbal Cues: Use non-verbal cues such as nodding, smiling, and using facial expressions to show your engagement and encourage the speaker to continue sharing.

Practice Reflective Listening: Reflective listening involves paraphrasing and summarizing the speaker’s points to ensure your understanding. This technique helps clarify information and confirms your comprehension.

Ask Open-Ended Questions: Ask open-ended questions to encourage the speaker to provide more detailed explanations. This technique helps extract valuable information and encourages deeper conversation.

Avoid Interrupting: Wait for the speaker to finish before asking questions or providing input. Interrupting can disrupt the speaker’s train of thought and hinder effective communication.

Show Empathy: Demonstrate empathy by understanding and acknowledging the speaker’s emotions and perspectives. This practice helps create a supportive and collaborative problem-solving environment.

Practice Active Observation: Pay attention to non-verbal cues, such as body language and tone of voice, to gain a deeper understanding of the speaker’s emotions and attitudes.

By embracing active listening and applying these techniques, you can improve your problem-solving skills, strengthen relationships, and promote effective collaboration in your personal and professional life. Remember, active listening is not just about hearing; it’s about truly understanding and empathizing with others to find the best possible solutions.

Breaking down complex problems into smaller, more manageable parts is an essential skill for flexible problem-solving. By breaking down problems, you make them less overwhelming and easier to approach. This allows you to analyze each component individually, identify patterns or connections between them, and develop effective solutions. Here are some strategies to help you break down problems effectively:

1. Define the problem:

Before diving into breaking down the problem, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of what the problem is. Take some time to define the problem statement concisely and precisely. This step will help you focus your efforts in the right direction and avoid getting lost in unnecessary details.

2. Identify the key elements:

Identify the key elements or factors that contribute to the problem. These elements can be variables, constraints, resources, or any other significant factors that impact the problem. Understanding these key elements will help you gain insights into the problem’s complexity and identify possible relationships among them.

3. Analyze the relationships:

Once you have identified the key elements, analyze the relationships among them. Look for dependencies, causal relationships, or any other connections that exist between the elements. This analysis can be done through various methods such as mind mapping, cause-and-effect diagrams, or even simple lists. Understanding the relationships will help you prioritize which elements to tackle first and guide your problem-solving approach.

4. Break down into sub-problems:

Break down the problem into smaller sub-problems that are more manageable to solve. Divide the problem into logical parts or stages that can be addressed individually. This approach allows you to focus on specific aspects of the problem at a time and build upon them as you progress. It also helps to uncover hidden complexities or dependencies that may not be apparent at first glance.

5. Set milestones and goals:

Once you have broken down the problem into smaller sub-problems, set clear milestones and goals for each stage. By setting specific targets to achieve, you can measure your progress and stay motivated throughout the problem-solving process. These milestones also help track your success and identify any potential bottlenecks that may require adjustments in your approach.

6. Iterate and refine:

Problem-solving is an iterative process, so be prepared to iterate and refine your approach as you gather more information or encounter new challenges. Continuously evaluate and adjust your strategies based on the insights gained from each stage. This flexibility allows you to adapt to changing circumstances and improve your problem-solving effectiveness.

Remember, breaking down problems is not just about making them more manageable but also about gaining a deeper understanding of the problem’s complexities and interdependencies. By breaking down problems effectively, you enhance your ability to analyze, strategize, and develop innovative solutions. So, embrace the power of breaking down problems and watch your flexible problem-solving skills soar!

Collaborative problem solving is an essential skill in today’s interconnected and complex world. By working together with others, we can leverage different strengths, perspectives, and experiences to come up with innovative and effective solutions. Here are some tips for fostering collaboration in problem-solving scenarios:

Create a supportive environment: Foster a culture of trust and psychological safety, where team members feel comfortable expressing their ideas and opinions without fear of judgment or retribution. Encourage open and honest communication to facilitate collaboration.

Establish clear goals and roles: Clearly define the goals of the problem-solving process and assign roles and responsibilities to each team member. This clarity will help ensure everyone is aligned and working towards a common objective.

Encourage active participation: Actively involve all team members in the problem-solving process. Ensure that everyone has a voice and an opportunity to contribute their unique insights and ideas. This inclusivity will lead to more comprehensive and diverse solutions.

Promote effective communication: Encourage active listening, clear articulation of ideas, and constructive feedback among team members. Effective communication is crucial for understanding different perspectives, resolving conflicts, and building consensus.

Encourage brainstorming: Foster an environment where brainstorming is encouraged. Brainstorming allows team members to generate a wide range of ideas, without judgment or evaluation. Through brainstorming, innovative and creative solutions can emerge.

Utilize technology: Take advantage of collaboration tools and technology platforms that facilitate communication and information sharing. Virtual whiteboards, project management software, and video conferencing tools can enhance collaboration, especially in remote or distributed teams.

Foster diversity and inclusion: Embrace diversity in your team by actively seeking individuals with different backgrounds, experiences, and expertise. Diversity brings a variety of perspectives to problem-solving, leading to more robust and effective solutions. Ensure that all team members feel included and valued for their unique contributions.

Promote teamwork and cooperation: Encourage team members to work together and leverage each other’s strengths and expertise. Emphasize the importance of cooperation and mutual support in achieving common goals.

Provide opportunities for skill development: Offer training and workshops on collaborative problem-solving techniques. Provide team members with the skills and tools they need to effectively collaborate with others, such as active listening, conflict resolution, and consensus-building.

Recognize and reward collaboration: Acknowledge and appreciate collaborative efforts within the team. Celebrate successful collaborations and highlight the positive outcomes that result from working together. This recognition incentivizes and reinforces a collaborative mindset among team members.

Incorporating these tips into your problem-solving approach will enable you to harness the power of collaboration and maximize the potential for finding innovative and sustainable solutions. Remember, by working together, we can achieve more than we ever could on our own.

Developing multiple perspectives is a critical skill in flexible problem solving. By considering different viewpoints and diverse ideas, we can expand our thinking and discover new insights that may lead to innovative solutions. Below are some strategies for developing multiple perspectives:

1. Seek input from others:

Invite colleagues, team members, or experts from different fields to share their perspectives on the problem at hand. Their unique background and knowledge can offer fresh insights and alternative approaches.

2. Practice active empathy:

Put yourself in the shoes of others involved in the problem. Try to understand their motivations, needs, and concerns. This empathetic perspective can help you identify potential barriers and find solutions that accommodate different stakeholders.

3. Use the “Six Thinking Hats” technique:

The Six Thinking Hats technique, developed by Edward de Bono, is a powerful tool for exploring multiple perspectives. Each “hat” represents a different perspective: white (facts and information), red (emotions and intuition), black (judgment and caution), yellow (optimism and benefits), green (creativity and new ideas), and blue (overview and process). By intentionally wearing different “hats” and considering each perspective, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of the problem and generate diverse solutions.

4. Engage in brainstorming sessions:

Brainstorming sessions, whether individually or in a group, can stimulate the generation of multiple perspectives. Encourage participants to think outside the box and share their ideas freely without judgment. The diversity of perspectives can lead to a broader range of potential solutions.

5. Challenge your assumptions:

Identify and question the assumptions you hold about the problem. Often, our ingrained beliefs and biases limit our perspective and prevent us from considering alternative solutions. By consciously challenging these assumptions and seeking evidence to support or refute them, you can broaden your perspective and uncover new possibilities.

6. Consider different cultural contexts:

Cultural influences shape how we perceive and approach problems. When facing a complex problem, consider how individuals from different cultures might view it. Their unique cultural values, beliefs, and experiences can offer alternative perspectives and fresh approaches to problem solving.

7. Encourage diverse participation:

In collaborative problem-solving settings, actively encourage participation from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and expertise. This diversity can bring in a multitude of perspectives and enrich the problem-solving process.

8. Reverse thinking:

Reverse thinking involves considering the opposite perspective or taking a reverse approach to the problem. Instead of looking for solutions, ask yourself: “What can I do to make the problem worse?” This counterintuitive approach can help you identify new perspectives and uncover hidden assumptions.

9. Conduct research and gather data:

Explore different sources of information, conduct research, and gather data from various perspectives. This empirical approach can provide valuable insights and deepen your understanding of the problem from multiple angles.

10. Prioritize and evaluate perspectives:

After considering multiple perspectives, it’s essential to prioritize and evaluate them. Determine the strengths and weaknesses of each perspective and assess their potential impact on the problem-solving process and desired outcomes. This evaluation allows you to make informed decisions and select the most suitable approach.

Remember, developing multiple perspectives is an ongoing process that requires curiosity, open-mindedness, and the willingness to challenge your own assumptions. By embracing diverse perspectives, you can enhance your problem-solving abilities and discover innovative solutions that would otherwise remain hidden.

Mistakes are often seen as failures, but in the context of problem-solving, they should be embraced as valuable learning opportunities. When we approach mistakes with a growth mindset, we can extract important lessons and insights that can enhance our problem-solving skills. Here are some strategies for embracing mistakes and turning them into learning experiences:

1. Adopt a Growth Mindset

• Cultivate a belief that mistakes are not indicative of our abilities, but rather as opportunities for growth and improvement. Understand that even the most successful problem solvers make mistakes along the way.

2. Reflect on the Mistake

• Take the time to reflect on the mistake and analyze what went wrong. What factors contributed to the mistake? What could have been done differently? By understanding the root causes of the mistake, we can avoid making the same errors in the future.

3. Seek feedback

• Actively seek feedback from peers, mentors, or experts in the field. Their perspectives can offer fresh insights and provide suggestions for improvement. Be open to constructive criticism and use it as a learning tool.

4. Experiment with Different Approaches

• Use the mistake as an opportunity to experiment with alternative approaches and solutions. By trying different methods, we can discover new strategies that may lead to more successful outcomes.

5. Share the Learning Experience

• Share your mistakes and the lessons you have learned with others. This not only helps to destigmatize mistakes but also creates a supportive learning environment where everyone can benefit from each other’s experiences.

6. Embrace Perseverance

• Mistakes can be discouraging, but it’s important to remember that they are a natural part of the problem-solving process. Embrace a mindset of perseverance and keep pushing forward, even in the face of setbacks. Treat each mistake as a stepping stone towards improvement.

7. Maintain a Growth Mindset in Others

• Encourage others to embrace mistakes as learning opportunities. Foster a growth mindset in collaborative problem-solving environments by creating a safe space where mistakes are viewed as opportunities for growth and where everyone feels supported in sharing their experiences.

Remember, the lessons learned from mistakes can often lead to breakthroughs and innovative solutions. By embracing mistakes and approaching them with a growth mindset, we can continually improve our problem-solving skills and become more adaptable in navigating complex challenges.

Divergent thinking is a cognitive process that involves generating multiple ideas or solutions to a problem. It is a crucial skill in flexible problem solving as it allows us to think beyond the conventional and explore new possibilities. Here are some ways you can practice and enhance your divergent thinking skills:

1. Brainstorming Sessions

One of the most effective techniques for practicing divergent thinking is through brainstorming sessions. Gather a group of individuals and encourage them to generate as many ideas as possible, regardless of their feasibility or practicality. Remind everyone to suspend judgment and to build upon each other’s ideas. This open and non-linear approach will stretch your thinking and help you see things from new perspectives.

2. Free Writing

Set aside dedicated time for free writing, where you write continuously without worrying about grammar, punctuation, or organization. Let your thoughts flow freely and jot down as many ideas as you can in a given timeframe. Even if some ideas seem unconventional, capture them on paper. The goal is to generate a large quantity of ideas without self-editing or filtering.

3. Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is a visual technique that can stimulate divergent thinking. Start with a central idea or problem statement in the middle of a blank page, and then branch out into different related concepts or potential solutions. Use colors, images, and symbols to make connections between ideas. Mind mapping encourages non-linear thinking and allows you to explore different associations and possibilities.

4. Challenging Assumptions

Divergent thinking involves challenging assumptions and questioning the status quo. Identify the underlying assumptions or beliefs about a problem or situation, and deliberately challenge them by asking “what if” and “why not” questions. This exercise helps you break away from conventional thinking and opens up new avenues for exploration.

5. Role-Playing and Perspective-Taking

Engaging in role-playing activities or assuming different perspectives can stimulate divergent thinking. Imagine yourself as a different persona, such as a scientist, artist, or even a fictional character. This change in perspective allows you to see the problem from a fresh angle and generate ideas that you might not have considered otherwise.

6. Forced Connections

Try making random connections between seemingly unrelated ideas or objects. For example, think about how a pencil and a cloud are connected, or what similarities might exist between a bicycle and a skyscraper. This exercise trains your brain to think beyond obvious connections and encourages you to find creative and unusual associations.

7. Reverse Thinking

Instead of focusing on finding the right solution, try reversing the problem and seeking alternative solutions. For example, if the problem is how to increase sales, think about how to decrease sales or how to make the product so expensive that people will still buy it. Reverse thinking challenges your assumptions and prompts you to consider unconventional alternatives.

8. Visualization Exercises

Engage in visualization exercises that encourage you to imagine and visualize alternative scenarios. Close your eyes and vividly picture different possibilities for solving the problem. Visualize yourself implementing these solutions and imagine the outcomes. This visual stimulation can spark new ideas and open your mind to fresh perspectives.

9. Random Word Associations

Select a random word and try to associate it with the problem at hand. Think about how the word relates to the problem and use it as a springboard for generating new ideas. This exercise forces you to think outside the box and establish unexpected connections, enhancing your ability to think divergently.

Practicing divergent thinking can be challenging at first, especially if you are accustomed to more structured problem-solving approaches. However, with regular practice and an open mindset, you can develop this skill and expand your problem-solving repertoire. Embrace the unconventional, dig deeper, and explore beyond the obvious solutions to discover innovative approaches to problem-solving.

Emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in problem-solving as it enables individuals to understand and manage their own emotions, as well as effectively navigate relationships and social dynamics. By developing emotional intelligence, individuals can enhance their ability to approach problems with empathy, adaptability, and resilience. Here are some tips for cultivating emotional intelligence in the context of problem-solving:

Understand and Identify Emotions

To cultivate emotional intelligence, it is essential to start by understanding and identifying emotions. Take the time to reflect on your emotional state and identify the specific emotions you are experiencing. This self-awareness will help you recognize how your emotions might be influencing your problem-solving approach.

Develop Empathy

Empathy is a key component of emotional intelligence that allows individuals to understand and share the feelings of others. When problem-solving, it is important to consider not only your own perspective but also the perspectives and emotions of others involved. By cultivating empathy, you can approach problem-solving scenarios with a greater understanding of the emotions and needs of all parties involved.

Practice Emotional Regulation

Emotional regulation involves managing and expressing emotions in a healthy and constructive manner. When faced with a problem-solving challenge, it is common for emotions such as frustration, stress, or anxiety to arise. By practicing emotional regulation techniques, such as deep breathing exercises or mindfulness practices, you can effectively manage these emotions and approach problem-solving with a calm and balanced mindset.

Develop Self-Reflection Skills

Self-reflection is a powerful tool for developing emotional intelligence. Take time to reflect on your problem-solving experiences and consider how your emotions and reactions may have influenced the outcomes. Ask yourself questions such as:

• How did my emotions impact my problem-solving approach?
• Did I effectively manage my emotions during the process?
• How did the emotions of others involved impact the problem-solving dynamics?

By engaging in regular self-reflection, you can gain valuable insights into your emotional intelligence and identify areas for growth.

Seek Feedback and Learn from Others

Seeking feedback from others can provide valuable insights into your emotional intelligence and problem-solving skills. Ask trusted individuals for their perspective on how you handle emotions during problem-solving scenarios. Be open to constructive feedback and learn from the experiences and insights of others. This feedback can help you identify areas for improvement and develop your emotional intelligence further.

Practice Active Listening and Empathic Communication

Active listening and empathic communication are foundational skills for cultivating emotional intelligence. When engaging in problem-solving discussions, make a conscious effort to listen actively to others and seek to understand their perspectives and emotions. Use empathic communication techniques, such as reflecting back what you heard or paraphrasing, to show others that you are genuinely listening and trying to understand their emotions and viewpoints.

Build Relationships and Collaborate

Building strong relationships and fostering collaboration can contribute to the development of emotional intelligence. Engage in activities that require teamwork and collaboration to enhance your ability to understand and navigate the emotions and dynamics of group problem-solving. By working closely with others, you can build empathy, strengthen your emotional intelligence, and learn from the experiences and perspectives of different individuals.

In conclusion, cultivating emotional intelligence is essential for mastering flexible problem-solving. By understanding and managing your own emotions, developing empathy for others, practicing emotional regulation, engaging in self-reflection, seeking feedback, and fostering collaboration, you can enhance your emotional intelligence and approach problem-solving challenges with greater empathy, adaptability, and resilience.

Seeking feedback and input from others is an invaluable tool in the process of flexible problem solving. It allows us to gain fresh perspectives, identify blind spots, and consider alternative solutions. Here are a few strategies to effectively gather feedback:

1. Create a Safe Environment

When seeking feedback, it’s important to create a safe and non-judgmental environment. This encourages open and honest communication, making others more willing to share their thoughts and opinions. Foster a culture that values diverse perspectives and encourages everyone to contribute.

2. Be Specific with Your Request

When seeking feedback, provide clear and specific questions or prompts to guide the conversation. This helps others focus their responses and provide more targeted input. For example, instead of asking “What do you think about my idea?” you could ask “What potential challenges do you see with this approach?”

3. Actively Listen and Take Notes

When someone is sharing their feedback, actively listen to their perspective and take notes. Show genuine interest in what they have to say and avoid interrupting or defending your own viewpoint. This demonstrates respect and appreciation for their input, fostering a collaborative environment.

4. Seek a Variety of Perspectives

To gain a comprehensive understanding of a problem or solution, seek feedback from a diverse range of individuals. This could include colleagues, mentors, subject matter experts, or even end-users if applicable. Different perspectives can provide unique insights and ideas that you may not have considered before.

5. Ask for Examples or Suggestions

While gathering feedback, it can be helpful to ask for specific examples or suggestions. This enables others to provide more concrete and actionable recommendations. For example, instead of simply asking “What do you think?”, you could ask “Can you give me an example of how we could improve this aspect of our solution?”

6. Consider and Evaluate the Feedback

Once you have gathered feedback, take the time to thoroughly consider and evaluate each point. Avoid dismissing or disregarding feedback without careful consideration. Reflect on whether the feedback aligns with your goals, values, and the specific problem you’re trying to solve.

7. Implement Constructive Feedback

When you identify feedback that resonates with you and aligns with your problem-solving approach, take action and implement it. Making necessary adjustments based on feedback demonstrates your willingness to learn and adapt, which is essential for flexible problem solving.

8. Express Gratitude

Lastly, express gratitude and appreciation for the time and effort that others have invested in providing feedback. Let them know that their input has been valuable and has helped shape your thinking. This encourages ongoing collaboration and builds stronger relationships.

Remember, seeking feedback and input is an ongoing process. It should be integrated into your problem-solving routine. By actively seeking feedback from others, you can expand your perspective, challenge assumptions, and continually enhance your problem-solving capabilities.

Tip 11: Utilize Creative Thinking Techniques

Creative thinking is an essential skill in flexible problem solving, as it allows us to generate unique and innovative solutions. By utilizing creative thinking techniques, we can break free from conventional approaches and explore new possibilities. Here are some examples of creative thinking techniques that can enhance flexible problem solving:

Brainstorming:

Brainstorming is a classic technique that involves generating a large number of ideas in a short amount of time. It encourages free-flowing and non-judgmental thinking, allowing participants to explore diverse solutions. To make the most of brainstorming:

• Encourage all ideas, no matter how unconventional they may seem.
• Build on the ideas of others to stimulate more creative thinking.
• Create a relaxed and open environment without criticism or judgment.
• Use techniques like mind mapping or word association to stimulate idea generation.

Lateral Thinking:

Lateral thinking, coined by Edward de Bono, is a technique that involves approaching a problem from a different angle or perspective. It encourages us to break free from traditional patterns of thinking and explore alternative pathways. Here are some approaches to incorporate lateral thinking:

• Question assumptions: Challenge the assumptions underlying the problem and consider if there are any alternative viewpoints.
• Use random stimuli: Introduce random words, images, or objects to spark new connections and ideas.
• Reverse thinking: Explore the opposite of the problem or reverse the traditional order to uncover new insights and solutions.

SCAMPER Technique:

The SCAMPER technique is a helpful framework for generating creative ideas by asking specific questions about a problem or solution. Each letter in the word SCAMPER stands for a different type of question, as follows:

• Substitution: Can something be replaced or substituted with something else?
• Combination: Can different elements be combined to create a new solution?
• Adaptation: Can an existing solution be adapted or modified?
• Modification: Can any part of the solution be changed to improve it?
• Put to Other Uses: Can the solution be repurposed or used in a different context?
• Elimination: Can any component or step be eliminated from the solution?
• Rearrange: Can any parts be rearranged or reordered for a new outcome?

Mind Mapping:

Mind mapping is a visual representation technique that helps organize and connect ideas. It starts with a central idea and branches out into related concepts and subtopics. Mind mapping encourages free-flowing thinking and allows for the exploration of different pathways. Here’s how to create a mind map:

• Start with a central idea or problem in the center of the page.
• Draw branches that radiate out from the central idea and represent different subtopics or related ideas.
• Connect the branches with keywords, images, or brief descriptions that capture the essence of each idea.
• Use colors, symbols, and images to stimulate creativity and make the mind map visually engaging.

Six Thinking Hats:

The Six Thinking Hats, developed by Edward de Bono, is a technique that enhances problem-solving by encouraging different perspectives. Each hat represents a different thinking style:

• White Hat: Focus on facts, data, and information.
• Red Hat: Reflect on emotions, intuition, and feelings.
• Black Hat: Analyze weaknesses, risks, and potential problems.
• Yellow Hat: Consider benefits, optimistic viewpoints, and positive outcomes.
• Green Hat: Encourage creativity, new ideas, and possibilities.
• Blue Hat: Facilitate the thinking process, manage discussions, and set objectives.

By utilizing each hat, participants can adopt different perspectives and approach the problem from different angles, leading to more creative and insightful solutions.

Incorporating these creative thinking techniques into your problem-solving process can enhance your ability to find innovative solutions. Remember, creativity is a skill that can be developed with practice, so don’t be afraid to experiment and think outside the box.

Tip 12: Practice Mindfulness

In today’s fast-paced and hectic world, practicing mindfulness can greatly enhance our problem-solving abilities. Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and aware in the current moment, without judgment or attachment to our thoughts and emotions. By cultivating mindfulness, we can develop sharper focus, clarity of thought, and emotional resilience – all of which are crucial for flexible problem solving.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is a centuries-old practice rooted in ancient Buddhist traditions. In simple terms, mindfulness involves paying attention, on purpose, to the present moment, with an attitude of curiosity and acceptance. It involves observing our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the environment around us, without getting carried away or reacting to them.

The Benefits of Mindfulness in Problem-Solving

Improved Focus and Concentration: Through regular mindfulness practice, we train our minds to stay focused on the task at hand. This heightened concentration helps us cut through distractions and delve deeper into problem-solving.

Clarity of Thought: Mindfulness enables us to observe our thoughts without judgment. This allows us to gain clarity by becoming aware of any biases, assumptions, or limitations that may be influencing our problem-solving process. With a clear mind, we can approach problems with fresh perspectives and make more informed decisions.

Enhanced Creativity: When we cultivate mindfulness, we become more attuned to our own inner creativity. By quieting the noise in our minds and being fully present, we can tap into our creative potential and generate innovative solutions to problems.

Emotional Resilience: Problem-solving often involves encountering difficulties, setbacks, and failure. Mindfulness helps us develop emotional resilience, enabling us to handle these challenges with equanimity and bounce back from setbacks more quickly.

Techniques for Incorporating Mindfulness into Problem-Solving Practices

Mindful Breathing: Pay attention to your breath as you inhale and exhale. Notice the sensation of the breath entering and leaving your body. Whenever your mind starts to wander, gently bring your focus back to your breath. This simple practice helps anchor your attention to the present moment.

Body Scan: Take a few minutes to scan your body from head to toe, noticing any sensations or areas of tension. This practice helps you tune into your body and ground yourself in the present moment, enhancing your awareness and focus during problem-solving.

Mindful Observation: Choose an object or a scene around you and observe it intentionally. Pay attention to the colors, shapes, textures, and any other details. Practice being fully present with the object or scene, without getting caught up in judgments or interpretations.

Mindful Walking: Engage in walking mindfully by consciously feeling the ground beneath your feet, the rhythm of your steps, and the movement of your body. Stay present and fully engaged in the act of walking, allowing your mind to let go of any distractions or racing thoughts.

Mindful Pause: Take regular short breaks during problem-solving sessions to pause and tune into your breath. Use these moments to check in with yourself, observe your thoughts and emotions, and reset your focus and intention.

By incorporating these mindfulness techniques into your problem-solving practices, you can cultivate a calm and focused mind that is better equipped to handle challenges and come up with flexible solutions. Remember that mindfulness is a skill that requires practice and patience, so be kind to yourself as you embark on this journey of self-discovery and growth.

“Mindfulness isn’t difficult. We just need to remember to do it.” - Sharon Salzberg

Tip 13: Develop a Systematic Approach

Developing a systematic approach to problem-solving can greatly enhance your ability to tackle complex issues and find effective solutions. By following a clear and structured process, you can ensure that you cover all necessary steps and considerations, increase your efficiency, and reduce the likelihood of overlooking important factors.

Here are some steps and guidelines for developing a systematic approach to problem-solving:

Define the problem: Start by clearly articulating the problem you are trying to solve. This involves identifying the key issues, understanding any constraints or limitations, and clarifying the desired outcome.

Gather information: Collect relevant data and information related to the problem. This may involve conducting research, analyzing existing data, or consulting subject matter experts. The goal is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the problem and its underlying causes.

Identify potential solutions: Brainstorm a range of possible solutions and alternatives. Encourage creative thinking and consider different perspectives. Remember to remain open-minded and explore unconventional ideas.

Evaluate options: Assess each potential solution based on its feasibility, practicality, and potential impact. Consider the resources required, the potential risks and benefits, and the likelihood of success. This evaluation process will help you prioritize and narrow down your options.

Develop an action plan: Once you have selected the most promising solution, create a detailed action plan to guide your implementation. Break the solution down into smaller, manageable tasks, and assign responsibilities and deadlines. This step ensures that you have a clear roadmap to follow and increases the likelihood of successful execution.

Implement the solution: Put your action plan into action. Execute the identified tasks and monitor progress closely. Make any necessary adjustments or adaptations along the way to ensure that you stay on track towards achieving your desired outcome.

Evaluate the results: Once the solution has been implemented, assess its effectiveness and impact. Compare the actual outcomes with the desired outcomes, and identify any gaps or areas for improvement. This evaluation process provides valuable feedback and insights for future problem-solving endeavors.

By following these steps and integrating them into your problem-solving process, you can develop a systematic approach that consistently leads to more effective and efficient solutions. Remember that flexibility and adaptability are also crucial, as no approach will work for every problem. Be willing to adjust and refine your process as needed to address the unique challenges of each situation.

Tip 14: Embrace Change

Change is an inevitable part of life, and it is crucial to embrace it when it comes to problem-solving. By being open to change, we can enhance our ability to adapt and find flexible solutions to various challenges. Here are some tips for embracing change in problem-solving scenarios:

1. Embrace a growth mindset:

Adopting a growth mindset is essential in embracing change. Instead of fearing it, see change as an opportunity for growth and learning. Believe that you have the capacity to adapt and find innovative solutions.

2. Stay curious and open-minded:

Approach change with curiosity and an open mind. Be willing to explore new possibilities and consider different perspectives. This mindset can help you uncover unique solutions and think outside the box.

3. Emphasize learning over perfection:

When faced with change, focus on learning and improvement rather than seeking perfection. Understand that mistakes are a natural part of the learning process and that they can provide valuable insights and lessons.

4. Cultivate resilience:

Build resilience by developing the ability to bounce back from setbacks and adapt quickly to new circumstances. See change as an opportunity to develop your problem-solving skills and strengthen your ability to handle future challenges.

5. Break free from routine:

Change often requires breaking free from routine and stepping out of your comfort zone. Be willing to challenge traditional methods and explore alternative approaches. Embrace change as an invitation to innovate and find more effective solutions.

6. Foster a culture of adaptability:

In collaborative problem-solving scenarios, encourage and empower others to embrace change. Create an environment where individuals feel comfortable exploring new ideas, taking risks, and adapting their approaches when necessary.

7. Continually seek feedback:

During times of change, seek feedback from others to gain fresh perspectives and insights. This feedback can help you identify blind spots, discover new possibilities, and make necessary adjustments to your problem-solving approach.

8. Practice flexibility and agility:

Be willing to adjust your plans and strategies as new information emerges. Flexibility and agility are key attributes in embracing change and finding creative solutions. Continually evaluate your approach and make necessary adaptations as needed.

9. Engage in continuous learning:

Take advantage of change as an opportunity for personal and professional growth. Engage in continuous learning by staying updated with the latest industry trends, attending courses or workshops, and seeking out new knowledge and skills.

10. Celebrate successes along the way:

Recognize and celebrate small successes achieved through adapting to change. This positive reinforcement can motivate you to embrace change more readily and stimulate further innovation and problem-solving.

Remember, change can be challenging and uncomfortable, but by embracing it and maintaining an open mind, you can unlock new possibilities and become a more flexible problem solver.

Tip 15: Enhance Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking is a crucial skill in flexible problem-solving. It involves objectively analyzing and evaluating information to form reasoned judgments and make informed decisions. By enhancing your critical thinking skills, you can approach problems from different angles, consider multiple perspectives, and come up with effective solutions. Here are some exercises and strategies to improve your critical thinking abilities:

1. Question Assumptions:

One way to enhance critical thinking is by questioning the assumptions underlying a problem or situation. Ask yourself why you believe certain things to be true and challenge any biases or preconceived notions. By questioning assumptions, you can uncover hidden biases, uncover new possibilities, and generate innovative solutions.

2. Analyze and Evaluate Arguments:

When presented with an argument or a proposed solution, take the time to carefully analyze and evaluate its components. Identify the evidence and reasoning used to support the argument and consider its validity and reliability. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the argument to determine its overall credibility.

3. Seek Evidence:

Critical thinking requires a careful examination of evidence. When faced with a problem, gather relevant information and seek out credible sources of evidence. Consider the reliability and validity of the evidence and its implications for the problem at hand. By seeking evidence, you can make more informed decisions and avoid relying solely on assumptions or personal biases.

4. Engage in Socratic Questioning:

Socratic questioning is a method of critical thinking that involves asking probing questions to stimulate critical thinking and to expose underlying assumptions, biases, inconsistencies, and weaknesses in arguments. By engaging in Socratic questioning, you can deepen your understanding of a problem and challenge your own thinking.

5. Analyze Different Perspectives:

To enhance your critical thinking skills, make an effort to consider multiple perspectives on a problem or issue. Take the time to understand different viewpoints and consider their merits and limitations. This can help you gain a more comprehensive understanding of the problem and come up with more creative and effective solutions.

6. Practice Reflective Thinking:

Reflection is an essential component of critical thinking. Take the time to reflect on your own thinking process and the decisions you make. Consider the strategies you used, the assumptions you made, and the evidence you relied upon. Reflective thinking helps you identify any cognitive biases or logical fallacies that may have influenced your thinking, allowing you to refine your critical thinking skills over time.

7. Solve Real-World Problems:

To truly enhance your critical thinking skills, seek out opportunities to solve real-world problems. Engage in activities that require you to analyze complex situations, consider multiple variables, and make informed decisions. By applying critical thinking to real-world problems, you can develop and refine your skills in a practical and meaningful way.

Remember, critical thinking is a skill that can be developed and improved with practice. By incorporating these exercises and strategies into your problem-solving routine, you can enhance your critical thinking skills and become a more effective flexible problem solver.

Tip 16: Take Breaks and Rest

Taking breaks and incorporating rest into your problem-solving routine is essential for maintaining productivity and ensuring optimal performance. While it may seem counterintuitive to step away from a problem when you’re trying to solve it, research has shown that breaks can actually enhance creative thinking, focus, and problem-solving abilities. Here are some reasons why taking breaks and rest is crucial in flexible problem solving:

1. Prevent Mental Fatigue

Extended periods of intense problem-solving can lead to mental fatigue, which can hinder your ability to think clearly and effectively. By taking breaks, you give your mind a chance to recharge and rejuvenate, allowing you to approach the problem with fresh perspective and renewed energy.

“It is not enough to be busy… The question is: What are we busy about?” - Henry David Thoreau

2. Spark New Ideas

Breaking away from a problem for some time can help shift your focus and divert your attention to other things. This mental shift opens up space for new ideas and creative solutions to emerge. Sometimes, the best insights come when you least expect them, such as during a walk, a shower, or while engaging in a different activity.

3. Gain a New Perspective

Taking a break from a problem can provide you with an opportunity to gain a new perspective. Stepping back allows you to see the bigger picture, evaluate your progress, and identify any blind spots or overlooked solutions. It helps prevent tunnel vision and encourages a more holistic approach to problem-solving.

4. Relieve Stress and Enhance Well-being

Continuous problem-solving without breaks can lead to increased stress and burnout. Taking breaks and incorporating rest into your routine helps to alleviate stress, reduce tension, and improve overall well-being. It allows you to recharge physically, mentally, and emotionally, which in turn enhances your problem-solving abilities.

“Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.” - Ralph Marston

5. Improve Focus and Concentration

Breaks and rest periods allow you to reset your focus and improve concentration. When you return to the problem after a break, you’ll find it easier to stay engaged and maintain attention for longer periods. By giving your brain intervals of rest, you enhance its ability to sustain mental effort and maintain productivity.

Here are some strategies for effectively incorporating breaks and rest into your problem-solving routine:

Schedule Regular Breaks : Set specific intervals to take breaks during your problem-solving sessions. For example, try the Pomodoro Technique, where you work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break, and repeat the cycle.

Engage in Relaxation Techniques : Use your break time to engage in relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, stretching, or taking a short walk. These activities can help clear your mind and promote relaxation.

Disconnect from Technology : When taking breaks, disconnect from digital distractions like emails, social media, and notifications. Instead, engage in activities that provide mental stimulation or relaxation, such as reading, listening to music, or pursuing a hobby.

Move and Exercise : Physical activity has been shown to enhance cognitive function and improve problem-solving abilities. Incorporate short bursts of exercise or movement during your breaks to get your blood flowing and boost your energy levels.

Remember, the goal of taking breaks and incorporating rest is to optimize your problem-solving performance. Experiment with different strategies and find what works best for you. Embrace the idea that breaks and rest are not wasted time but essential components of a successful problem-solving process.

Tip 17: Cultivate a Growth Mindset in Others

Cultivating a growth mindset in others is not only beneficial for their personal and professional development but also for fostering a collaborative and innovative problem-solving environment. By encouraging a growth mindset in others, you can help them develop resilience, embrace challenges, and continuously improve their problem-solving skills. Here are some techniques for promoting a growth mindset in collaborative problem-solving scenarios:

1. Encourage a “Yet” Mentality

Emphasize the power of the word “yet” when someone encounters a challenge or feels stuck. By adding “yet” to their statements, such as “I don’t understand this problem…yet,” you shift the focus from a fixed mindset (“I can’t do this”) to a growth mindset (“I haven’t figured it out…yet”). This simple language shift reminds people that their skills and abilities can be developed with effort and perseverance.

2. Provide Constructive Feedback

When providing feedback to others, focus on their effort, strategies, and progress rather than their innate abilities or intelligence. Acknowledge their hard work and encourage them to keep trying, even if they have not achieved their desired outcome. Help them understand that mistakes and failures are part of the learning process and offer guidance on how they can improve.

3. Share Inspiring Stories

Share stories of individuals who have overcome challenges and achieved success through their perseverance and growth mindset. These stories can serve as powerful examples and inspire others to adopt a similar mindset. Highlight how these individuals embraced setbacks, viewed them as learning opportunities, and used them to fuel their growth.

4. Foster a Collaborative Environment

Create an environment that encourages collaboration and knowledge-sharing. When individuals work together, they can learn from each other’s strengths, perspectives, and problem-solving approaches. Encourage open communication, provide opportunities for brainstorming, and promote teamwork to foster a growth mindset in problem-solving scenarios.

5. Set Realistic Expectations

Set realistic expectations for growth and improvement. Help others understand that developing a growth mindset takes time and effort. Clarify that progress may not always be linear and setbacks are natural. By setting realistic expectations, you create a supportive environment where individuals feel motivated to keep growing and learning.

6. Celebrate Effort and Progress

Recognize and celebrate the effort and progress made by individuals in their problem-solving journey. Acknowledge the small steps they take towards improvement and provide specific feedback on their growth. By acknowledging their hard work and progress, you reinforce the importance of effort and growth mindset in problem-solving.

7. Provide Opportunities for Reflection

Encourage individuals to reflect on their problem-solving experiences and identify lessons learned. Provide a platform for them to share their insights, challenges faced, and strategies used. This reflection process promotes a growth mindset by allowing individuals to identify areas for growth, learn from their experiences, and apply their learning to future problem-solving situations.

8. Model a Growth Mindset

As a leader or facilitator, it is essential to model a growth mindset in your own problem-solving practices. Let others see that you are open to new ideas, willing to learn from mistakes, and constantly seeking opportunities for growth. By leading by example, you inspire others to cultivate a growth mindset in their own problem-solving endeavors.

By incorporating these techniques into your problem-solving dynamics, you can create an environment where individuals feel empowered to embrace challenges, persist in their efforts, and continuously develop their problem-solving skills. Cultivating a growth mindset in others not only benefits their individual growth but also contributes to the overall success of problem-solving initiatives.

Tip 18: Utilize Visualization Techniques

Visualization techniques can be a powerful tool in flexible problem solving, as they enable individuals to mentally explore different possibilities and outcomes. By creating vivid mental images, individuals can gain new insights, generate innovative ideas, and develop effective strategies. In this section, we will explore various visualization techniques that can enhance your problem-solving abilities.

1. Mental Imagery

Mental imagery involves creating detailed images in your mind’s eye to visualize a problem and potential solutions. This technique allows you to see the problem from different angles and perspectives, helping you uncover new ideas and approaches. To utilize mental imagery, follow these steps:

• Find a quiet and comfortable space where you can relax and focus.
• Close your eyes and visualize the problem as clearly as possible.
• Imagine different scenarios and potential solutions, paying attention to details and visualizing the desired outcomes.
• Engage your senses and emotions to make the visualization more vivid and realistic.

2. Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is a visual thinking technique that allows you to organize and visualize your thoughts around a central problem or concept. It helps you make connections between different ideas, identify patterns, and explore various solutions. To create a mind map, follow these steps:

• Start by writing the central problem or concept in the middle of a blank page or a digital mind mapping tool.
• Branch out from the central problem, creating subtopics or related ideas.
• Connect each subtopic with lines, showing the relationships and connections between different ideas.
• Explore each subtopic further by adding more details, possible solutions, or related information.

3. Storyboarding

Storyboarding is a visualization technique commonly used in design and storytelling. It involves creating a visual sequence of images or sketches to illustrate a problem and its potential solutions. Storyboarding helps you visualize the problem-solving process step by step and encourages creative thinking. To create a storyboard, follow these steps:

• Divide a blank page or digital canvas into sequential boxes or sections.
• Start by sketching or writing the problem in the first box.
• Move to the next box and visualize the first step or action in solving the problem.
• Continue filling each box with visuals or annotations that represent the subsequent steps, solutions, or iterations.
• Review the storyboard to get a holistic view of the problem-solving process and identify any gaps or opportunities for improvement.

4. Guided Visualizations

Guided visualizations involve following predetermined scripts or recordings to guide your imagination and visualization process. They can be useful for problem-solving, as they provide structure and direction while allowing your mind to explore different possibilities. To practice guided visualizations:

• Find a guided visualization script or recording that aligns with your problem-solving needs.
• Close your eyes and follow the guided visualization, allowing your mind to create the suggested mental images and explore different scenarios.
• Take note of any insights or ideas that arise during the visualization session.

5. Visual Analogies

Visual analogies involve using visual representations or metaphors to understand and solve problems. By associating a problem with a familiar visual concept, you can gain new perspectives and insights. To utilize visual analogies:

• Identify a visual concept or object that is analogous to your problem.
• Consider the attributes, characteristics, or qualities of the visual concept and how they relate to the problem.
• Use the visual analogy to spark new ideas, explore alternative approaches, or gain a fresh understanding of the problem.

Visualization techniques can be customized and adapted to suit your problem-solving style and preferences. Experiment with different techniques to find what works best for you. Remember, visualization is a creative process, so allow your imagination to run free and discover solutions that may have otherwise been hidden.

Tip 19: Maintain a Positive Attitude

Maintaining a positive attitude is crucial when it comes to flexible problem-solving. It not only helps to keep you motivated and focused but also allows you to approach challenges with a clear and optimistic mindset. Here are some strategies for maintaining a positive attitude during problem-solving challenges:

1. Reframe Negative Thoughts

When faced with a problem, it’s common to have negative thoughts or self-doubt. However, instead of dwelling on these negative thoughts, try to reframe them into more positive and constructive ones. For example, if you catch yourself thinking, “I can’t do this,” reframe it to “I can find a solution by approaching the problem from a different angle.”

2. Practice Self-Encouragement

Take a moment to acknowledge your efforts and progress throughout the problem-solving process. Give yourself positive affirmations and remind yourself that you are capable of finding solutions. By practicing self-encouragement, you build confidence in your abilities and maintain a positive attitude.

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” - Theodore Roosevelt

3. Surround Yourself with Positivity

Surrounding yourself with positive influences can greatly impact your attitude. Seek out individuals who have a positive outlook and can provide support during challenging times. Engaging in conversations or activities that inspire and uplift you can help maintain a positive attitude when faced with difficult problems.

4. Focus on Solutions, Not Problems

Instead of dwelling on the problem itself, shift your focus towards finding solutions. Understand that every problem has a solution, and your positive attitude will help you discover it. By directing your energy towards finding solutions, you maintain a positive mindset that is essential for flexible problem-solving.

5. Practice Gratitude

Expressing gratitude for the things you have, the progress you’ve made, and even the challenges you encounter can help maintain a positive attitude. Take a moment each day to reflect on the things you are grateful for. This practice serves as a powerful reminder of the positive aspects of your life, even in the face of difficult problems.

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” - Melody Beattie

6. Take Care of Yourself

Maintaining a positive attitude is closely linked to your overall well-being. Make sure to prioritize self-care by getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, and engaging in activities that bring you joy and relaxation. When your physical and emotional well-being are in balance, it becomes easier to maintain a positive attitude during problem-solving.

7. Learn from Setbacks

Setbacks are part of any problem-solving journey, but it’s important not to let them discourage you. Instead, view setbacks as learning opportunities and stepping stones towards finding the right solution. Embrace the lessons learned from each setback, and use them to inspire your future problem-solving endeavors.

8. Stay Resilient

Maintaining a positive attitude requires resilience. Understand that setbacks and obstacles are temporary and part of the problem-solving process. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and keep pushing forward. Remember that a positive attitude combined with persistence can lead to breakthrough solutions.

In conclusion, maintaining a positive attitude is crucial for flexible problem-solving. By reframing negative thoughts, practicing self-encouragement, surrounding yourself with positivity, focusing on solutions, practicing gratitude, taking care of yourself, learning from setbacks, and staying resilient, you can cultivate and maintain a positive mindset that enhances your problem-solving abilities. With a positive attitude, you can tackle challenges with confidence, creativity, and resilience, ultimately leading to more effective and innovative solutions.

Tip 20: Learn from Diverse Experiences

In today’s interconnected and globalized world, it is essential to recognize the value of learning from diverse experiences in problem-solving. When we expose ourselves to a wide range of perspectives, cultures, and contexts, we expand our understanding of the world and develop a broader toolkit for solving problems.

1. Embrace Diversity in Team Collaboration

When working on a problem-solving task as a team, it is crucial to seek diverse perspectives. Encourage team members from different backgrounds, cultures, and areas of expertise to contribute their unique insights. This diversity of experiences can lead to more creative and innovative solutions.

2. Attend Workshops and Conferences

Attending workshops and conferences related to your field of interest can provide valuable exposure to diverse experiences. These events often bring together individuals from various backgrounds who can share their unique perspectives and approaches to problem-solving. Engaging with different ideas and methodologies can inspire new ways of thinking and enrich your problem-solving skills.

3. Seek Out Different Industries and Professions

Don’t limit yourself to learning solely from your own industry or profession. Explore different industries and professions to gain insights into diverse problem-solving strategies. For example, if you work in technology, consider learning from professionals in healthcare or finance. By understanding how others tackle challenges in different fields, you can gain fresh perspectives and apply them to your own work.

4. Engage in Cross-Cultural Experiences

Immersing yourself in cross-cultural experiences can be incredibly eye-opening. Traveling to different countries, living in diverse communities, or participating in exchange programs can expose you to new ways of thinking and problem-solving. By understanding different cultural norms and values, you can adapt your problem-solving approaches to better suit a variety of situations.

5. Read Widely

Reading books and articles from a variety of genres, including fiction, non-fiction, and academic literature, can expand your understanding of different perspectives and experiences. Seek out authors from various backgrounds who offer unique insights into problem-solving methods and techniques. By exposing yourself to diverse literature, you can broaden your knowledge base and develop a more flexible problem-solving mindset.

6. Actively Listen and Engage in Dialogue

When engaging in conversations with individuals from different backgrounds or experiences, practice active listening and actively engage in meaningful dialogue. Ask open-ended questions, be curious, and approach conversations with a genuine desire to learn from others. By actively listening, you can gain valuable insights and perspectives that can contribute to your problem-solving abilities.

7. Volunteer or Participate in Community Initiatives

Getting involved in community initiatives or volunteer work exposes you to a wide range of experiences and challenges. Whether it’s working with marginalized communities, supporting environmental causes, or participating in educational programs, these experiences provide opportunities to see the world through different lenses. By actively participating in these initiatives, you can learn from diverse experiences and develop a deeper understanding of complex problems and potential solutions.

8. Reflect and Integrate Learnings

After engaging with diverse experiences, take the time to reflect on what you have learned and how it can be integrated into your problem-solving approach. Consider what resonated with you, what challenged your preconceived notions, and how you can leverage these insights in future problem-solving scenarios. By reflecting and integrating your learnings, you can continuously adapt and grow as a flexible problem solver.

Remember, learning from diverse experiences is an ongoing process. Embrace every opportunity to expand your horizons, challenge your assumptions, and incorporate new perspectives into your problem-solving repertoire. By valuing diversity and actively seeking out diverse experiences, you can become a more adaptable and effective problem solver in an ever-changing world.

Tip 21: Reflect and Learn from Each Problem-Solving Experience

Reflecting on your problem-solving experiences is a crucial step in mastering flexible problem solving. It allows you to gain insights, learn from your mistakes, and improve your approach for future challenges. Here are some strategies and questions to help you effectively reflect and learn from each problem-solving experience:

1. Create a reflection routine

Develop a habit of reflecting on your problem-solving experiences. Set aside dedicated time after each problem-solving session to reflect on what went well, what didn’t, and what you can do differently next time. Consider incorporating reflection into your problem-solving routine to make it a regular practice.

2. Ask yourself meaningful questions

To engage in effective reflection, it’s important to ask yourself meaningful questions. Some questions you can ask yourself include:

• What problem did I encounter?
• What strategies did I use to approach the problem?
• What were the outcomes of my problem-solving efforts?
• What worked well during the process?
• What challenges or difficulties did I face?
• Did I encounter any obstacles? How did I overcome them?
• What could I have done differently to achieve better results?
• What new insights or learnings did I gain from this experience?
• How can I apply these learnings to future problem-solving scenarios?

These questions will help you delve deeper into your problem-solving experience and extract valuable lessons.

3. Consider different perspectives

When reflecting on a problem-solving experience, consider different perspectives. This includes thinking about the perspectives of others involved in the process, as well as examining the situation from different angles. By broadening your perspective, you can uncover alternative approaches and potential areas for improvement.

4. Identify strengths and areas for growth

Take time to identify your strengths and areas for growth. Recognizing your strengths will boost your confidence and reinforce effective problem-solving strategies. On the other hand, identifying areas for growth enables you to pinpoint specific skills or techniques that you can work on further.

5. Experiment with new strategies

Based on your reflection, identify strategies or approaches that you haven’t tried before. Experiment with these new techniques to expand your problem-solving toolkit. Embrace the opportunity to try different methods and see how they influence your problem-solving outcomes.

6. Keep a problem-solving journal

Consider keeping a problem-solving journal where you document your experiences, insights, and learnings from each problem-solving endeavor. This journal can serve as a valuable resource that you can refer back to in the future. It allows you to track your growth and progress over time and provides inspiration for future challenges.

7. Seek feedback and input

Don’t hesitate to seek feedback and input from others who were involved in the problem-solving process or have expertise in the domain. Their perspectives can provide you with a fresh outlook and valuable insights. Actively listen to their feedback and consider how you can incorporate it into your future problem-solving approaches.

8. Celebrate successes and milestones

Lastly, celebrate your successes and milestones along your problem-solving journey. Recognize and appreciate the progress you’ve made, regardless of the outcome. Celebrating small victories boosts motivation and reinforces the belief in your problem-solving abilities.

Remember, reflection and learning are ongoing processes. The more you reflect and learn from each problem-solving experience, the more you’ll refine your skills and become a master of flexible problem solving. So, embrace the opportunity to grow and improve with every challenge you encounter.

In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world, the ability to solve problems flexibly is an invaluable skill. Whether it’s at work, in personal relationships, or in everyday life, being adaptable and resourceful in problem-solving can lead to better outcomes and increased success.

Throughout this guide, we have explored 21 practical tips for mastering flexible problem solving. Let’s recap some of the key takeaways:

• Embrace a Growth Mindset: Believe in your ability to grow and develop your problem-solving skills.
• Foster Curiosity: Stay curious and ask questions to explore different possibilities.
• Practice Active Listening: Pay attention and be fully present in problem-solving conversations.
• Break Down Problems: Break down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts for easier problem-solving.
• Encourage Collaborative Problem Solving: Benefit from diverse perspectives and work together to find innovative solutions.
• Develop Multiple Perspectives: Consider different viewpoints and think outside the box in problem-solving.
• Embrace Mistakes as Learning Opportunities: View mistakes as stepping stones to improvement and learn from them.
• Practice Divergent Thinking: Generate multiple ideas and think creatively to find unique solutions.
• Cultivate Emotional Intelligence: Understand and manage your emotions to navigate problem-solving challenges effectively.
• Seek Feedback and Input: Gather different perspectives and insights to enhance problem-solving approaches.
• Utilize Creative Thinking Techniques: Explore various techniques to stimulate creativity and generate new ideas.
• Practice Mindfulness: Stay present and focused to improve problem-solving abilities.
• Develop a Systematic Approach: Follow a systematic process to approach and solve problems efficiently.
• Embrace Change: Embrace change as an opportunity for growth and adaptability in problem-solving.
• Enhance Critical Thinking Skills: Sharpen your analytical and logical thinking abilities to solve problems effectively.
• Take Breaks and Rest: Give yourself time to recharge and refresh your mind for better problem-solving.
• Cultivate a Growth Mindset in Others: Encourage others to develop a growth mindset for collaborative problem-solving.
• Utilize Visualization Techniques: Use visualization to enhance problem-solving strategies and outcomes.
• Maintain a Positive Attitude: Stay optimistic and resilient when faced with problem-solving challenges.
• Learn from Diverse Experiences: Draw insights and learning from various experiences to inform problem-solving approaches.
• Reflect and Learn from Each Problem-Solving Experience: Evaluate and reflect on past experiences to continuously improve problem-solving skills.

By incorporating these tips into your problem-solving practices, you can become more adaptable, creative, and effective in tackling challenges. Remember, flexible problem solving is a skill that can be honed with practice and effort. The more you engage in diverse problem-solving experiences and incorporate these strategies, the better equipped you’ll be to overcome obstacles and seize opportunities.

So, embrace the mindset of flexibility, continuously seek growth, and approach problems with curiosity and an open mind. With these foundations in place, you’ll be well on your way to mastering flexible problem solving and succeeding in various areas of your life.

Emotional Intelligence and Quality Improvement: Why They Go Hand in Hand

Unexpected twists in the journey towards executive control, trending topics in flexible problem solving: what you need to know, eliminate your toughest problems with flexible solutions, real success stories of flexible problem solving in action, exclusive insights into the science of flexible problem solving.

What Is Flexible Thinking?

Flexible thinking is the ability to think about something in a new or different way.  Inflexible thinking or rigidity is being stuck or being only able to do something only one way.  Students who struggle with executive functioning often also struggle with fundamental skill.  They may be stuck in a routine or mindset that isn’t working for them.  They may be aware that what they are doing isn’t working but not be able to make a change or be willing to even entertain a change. 

Becoming a Flexible Thinker

A few years ago, I worked with a fifth grader whose parent and teacher shared that the student struggled with organizational skills and executive functioning.  Upon meeting the student for the first time, I asked to see his binders (there were 7) and asked if he was open to a change in how he was managing them.  He refused to even show me his backpack and held his binders to his chest as if I was going to steal them.  In this scenario, I had to be the flexible thinker (modeling) and move to another lesson until he trusted me enough to come back to demonstrating the Organization skill.  Ultimately, the student earned the most improved 5th grader award and rightfully so! He did a lot of growing that year.  

To the observer, the lack of flexible thinking may sound like, “I don’t need help” or “My way works” or “I’ve already tried that”.  The behaviors have been observed in students and adults alike.

We can’t effectively discuss flexible thinking without broaching the subject of margin and anxiety.  Margin is the bank of reserves we have available of time, money or maybe patience.  It’s what we may have set aside in case of emergencies, the unexpected or surprises.  

When students are in a state of ease (lots of margin), mental flexibility is much easier.  They may be open to considering or even trying new things, open to learning and even solving problems.  The opposite is also true, when students are in a state of stress, they are generally out of margin, are less flexible and more rigid.   

Students are more open to flexible thinking when they have a process they can control to manage their affairs.  Learning that process begins with managing time/tasks effectively so they can build margin into their day and week for self care, self management and planning.  

Time Management →  Margin →  Flexible Thinking

Once students have a process to see and plan their time and tasks, they can build the muscle of flexible thinking by being rewarded for variations and adjustments to their processes, like a science experiment and soliciting their feedback on those adjustments (metacognitive exercise).

For students with executive functioning difficulties, flexibility thinking and structure are important opposites to balance.  A problem can have more than one solution!  Students are more open to flexible thinking when they feel safe, have a process they can follow and are rewarded for trying new solutions.     

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10 Keys to Cognitive Flexibility

How do we become more efficient at harnessing our experience, knowledge, and imagination to respond most effectively to the situation at hand?

O riginally coined by psychologists in the 1960s, cognitive flexibility has emerged from the literature and been rebranded as a popular concept in edpsych circles. It is traditionally defined in terms of how well an individual can adopt another perspective, change one’s thinking, or mentally adapt to one’s environment. Common strategies for enhancing cognitive flexibility resemble strategies for boosting divergent thinking, creativity, and openness.

While this definition, and these strategies, tend to frame “flexible” thought as a departure from one’s normal way of thinking, a more comprehensive definition might account for the efficiency of that normal way of thinking as well: how flexibly can we engage various parts of our brain to respond to a task, whether or not the task requires us to think “differently”?

For example, most activities require us to call upon our reserves of personal experience, factual knowledge, and imagination to address the task at hand. How well we do this depends on how flexibly we can navigate these three domains. As we try to manage the constant deluge of information brought on by technology and digital media in the 21st century, a more useful definition of   cognitive flexibility   might be how well we think inside, not just outside, the box.

Challenges to Cognitive Flexibility

If you’re solving a problem, you might choose the obvious path or you might recall a similar challenge from your past or a story a friend told you about solving a similar challenge or something you saw in a film. The act of using a memory from a past to solve a current problem—not because you’ve encountered this problem before but because you are able to make a connection between this one and a different one (detect a pattern)—this ability is at the heart of cognitive flexibility.

It’s the same process going on when you hear someone’s story and you respond with your own, recognizing a similar theme. This is harder than it sounds. You might have a better, more relevant story—but you can’t remember it at the moment. Improving your ability to remember it would be enhancing cognitive flexibility. As would improving your ability to recall relevant facts/things you’ve read when someone brings up a specific topic in conversation.

To think flexibly, you must be able to draw from multiple reserves of knowledge and memory to engage with a task or problem. You need an ability to reach deeply into the past and not just draw your immediate reserves, which requires a very good declarative memory.

Being able to see all possible relevant experiences or bites of knowledge at once and choose best response based on all of those, but most of us can’t recall enough in the moment…how do we improve at that function?

“We remember things because they either stand out, they relate to and can easily be integrated in our existing knowledge base, or it’s something we retrieve, recount or use repeatedly over time,” explains Sean Kang, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Education at Dartmouth College.

Confirmation Bias

As we get older, we sometimes get fixed in our way of thinking and struggle to latch onto truly new ideas. We tend to shape them to match info we already know and therefore miss out on the really valuable part of learning.

There’s an entire part of the brain, the Salience Network, devoted to noticing things which stand out in our environment. It requires cognitive flexibility to determine which of these things are worth paying attention to.

“Our brain is constantly bombarded by sensory information, and we have to score all that information in terms of how personally relevant it is for guiding our behavior,” says William Seeley, a neurologist at the University of California, San Francisco.

You know that point in a conversation when you start thinking, “This is boring, small talk, things we’ve sort of talked about before”? Cognitive flexibility is being able to flex a brain muscle and push the curtains aside and look out the window toward a more interesting conversation topic. Many of us just stay in the mill pond or go farther down the rabbit hole rather than stepping back and trying to sway things in a more interesting direction. Most of us just go with the flow, which is fine. But true cognitive flexibility would be directing this flow in a way that’s valuable to you and your fellow convo participants. To be able to judge what you know that could be most useful to the people you’re talking to in that moment—that’s cognitive flexibility.

Low latent inhibition

Latent inhibition is the name for the fact that it takes us longer to prescribe meaning to a familiar stimulus than to a new stimulus. For example, we may pass by the same houses on our street every day and prescribe little meaning to them unless our attention is drawn to them for a particular reason. This is normal, and allows our brain to ignore old information so it can focus on new information. Some people, however, have what’s called low latent inhibition, which means they have a harder time placing those houses in the category of “old information” and moving on. Individuals with autism become easily overwhelmed by stimuli that other people consider familiar. Poets, writers, and other artists also tend to get caught up in the details of things, which allows for greater creativity but also may sometimes prevent the brain from seeing the bigger picture or moving on.

Information bottleneck

Sometimes our cognitive flexibility suffers because we’ve got so much on our mind or so much information or experience stored in our knowledge reserve that a bottleneck occurs. Like cubes of ice blocking the flow of water out of a bottle, the possible pieces of information we could bring to a situation is so great that nothing comes to mind at all. We’ll offer a few ways to overcome this phenomenon in the next section.

Rigid thinking

Rigid thinking is the opposite of cognitive flexibility. It’s what defines mental conditions like depression and anxiety: We get stuck in a   loop of rumination   and can’t seem to think about things a different way. Becoming aware of the pattern of our own thoughts is a huge step forward in seeing things from a new angle and feeling more positive about the world.

Reinforcement

Thinking is like walking: you leave a print wherever you go, and the path becomes increasingly well-trodden the more you go down it. Neural pathways are the same way. Our brain remembers what we reinforce in our neural pathways, so if we’re using the same facts or telling the same stories all the time, we’re branding our neural pathways with them, which means we may end up repeating the same story to the same person and responding with less cognitive flexibility to situations and tasks.

How to Improve Cognitive Flexibility?

1. pay attention to your thoughts.

Where does your mind go (or not go) when you’re called upon to share knowledge or experience?

2. Be intentional

Ask yourself some questions: What do you want to know? What do you want to talk about?

3. Create categories

Create mental categories for information and situations ahead of time so that you can more easily organize your experience. While reading the news, place article headlines into mental categories such as Environment, Politics, Arts, etc. so that you can easily pull up the information later on.

4. Align encoding and retrieval cues

Think about the functional meaning of the info, which context you’ll apply it to, and that will help you remember it when you need it. “Number one reason why start-ups fail isn’t cash flow but fact that people don’t want the product.”

5. Record your experience

Do a brain dump. Research says that if we   unload our worries   it frees up more space in our brain to think of other things throughout the day, therefore promoting greater flexibility.

6. “If you understand it, you’ll remember it.”

A friend told me this one recently and I think there’s a lot of truth to it. Oftentimes we have trouble recalling concepts because we don’t understand them as well as we thought we did.

7. Physical exercise

After only twenty minutes of intensive exercise, your brain releases dopamine, serotonin, opioids, endorphins, neurotrophics, and endocannabinoids—feel-good chemicals that allow the body and brain to learn and grow. For evolutionary reasons, the body is primed to learn while exercising. Exercise also enhances focus and lowers anxiety. Over time, it stabilizes mood, increases the size of the hippocampus, and promotes neurogenesis. All of these things enhance cognitive flexibility.

8. Learn new skills

Learning new skills promotes mental flexibility. Try picking up a musical instrument, a new foreign language, or learning a new game.

9. Shake up your routine

To keep the mind sharp and flexible, introduce new things into your routine. New stimuli promote mental flexibility because they force your brain to adapt quickly. Travel is great for this, but you can also simply take a new route home from work or go for a walk in a neighborhood you haven’t explored before. Occasionally surrounding yourself with people who are unlike you is also a good way to push your brain into making new connections.

10. Cultivate humor

Quick-wittedness is a sign of cognitive flexibility. When we make a joke, it means we’re able to step back and see the bigger picture rather than getting caught up in the literal meaning of the situation. Finding the humor in a variety of situations is an exercise in flexible thinking.

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The Art of Flexible Thinking: Unlock the Power of Flexibility!

Are you stuck in a rut? Unlock the power of flexible thinking, learn how to think outside the box, and open up a world of possibilities!

Have you ever felt stuck while creating a work of art?

It's frustrating, isn't it?

You can feel your creativity waning and the idea for your masterpiece dissipating before your eyes.

But what if I told you there was a secret weapon you could use to unlock the power of flexibility and strengthen your creative process?

By learning to adjust our mindsets for more flexible thinking, we as artists can find new ways around artistic roadblocks and push ourselves further creatively than ever before.

If you're a creator looking to unleash the full potential of your creative mind, flexible thinking is a powerful tool that can help you tap into your creative genius and take your craft to entirely new realms of possibility.

Whether you’re just starting out or already have decades of experience, learning how to be flexible with your approach will open up amazing opportunities for exploration and discovery .

In this article, we'll dive into how to nurture and use flexible thinking for creativity, so you never run out of fresh and exciting ideas.

Through this blog post, we'll be discussing ways that anyone can benefit from developing flexible thinking skills—from improving communication with others in the studio to guiding our imagination down novel paths—to discover newfound depths within their artwork!

Read on if you want to break down the walls that are inhibiting your creativity - let's dive in together!

Key Takeaways:

• Understand the essence of flexible thinking and its impact on creativity and problem-solving.
• Learn practical strategies to enhance your cognitive flexibility and overcome rigid thinking patterns.
• Discover how to encourage flexible thinking in both personal and professional environments.

What is Flexible Thinking?

Flexible thinking, or cognitive flexibility, is the mental ability to switch between thinking about two different concepts, and to think about multiple concepts simultaneously.

It's a cornerstone of creativity and problem-solving, allowing individuals to adapt their approach to different situations and consider various perspectives.

Flexible thinking allows creators of all skill levels to expand their creative capacity and unlock newfound potential in their work.

By cultivating an open mindset, letting go of rigid expectations and giving yourself permission to explore, artists can discover new techniques, push boundaries and create incredible works of art.

Creative flexibility isn't just about coming up with unique ideas; it's also about being able to let go of old ones.

It's the difference between being stuck thinking in a loop and being able to move forward with innovative solutions.

By tapping into flexible thinking, creators can overcome creative blocks and open themselves up to endless possibilities .

The Importance of Creative Flexibility

In a rapidly evolving world, those with weak flexible thinking skills may find themselves at a disadvantage.

Creative flexibility enables creators to not only generate fresh ideas but also to pivot when necessary.

It's the skill that allows us to look at a problem and see not just one solution, but a multitude of different solutions.

Rigid thinking, on the other hand, can leave individuals feeling stuck when faced with new challenges .

It's the mindset that there's only one way to do things, which can hinder both personal growth and professional progress.

By fostering creative flexibility, artists can embrace change and adapt to new situations with ease.

This allows for continuous growth, experimentation, and innovation in their work.

We can teach flexible thinking to children, but it's also a skill that can be developed and strengthened throughout our lives.

By making a conscious effort to incorporate flexible thinking into our artistic processes, we can continually expand our creative potential and stay ahead of the curve in an ever-changing world.

Link Between Flexible Thinking and Creativity

As an artist, whether aspiring or professional, creativity is at the core of your craft.

It's the driving force that propels your vision and passion.

But what happens when your mind gets stuck, and the inspiration seems to dry up?

That's where flexible thinking comes in.

Flexible thinking is a mental process that allows us to think of multiple solutions to a problem or situation.

It's the key to unlocking new ideas and unleashing your full creative potential.

In a world that's constantly changing, the ability to adapt and think flexibly has never been more crucial.

Whether you're a professional aiming to innovate, a student tackling complex subjects, or simply someone navigating the intricacies of daily life, flexible thinking can be your superpower.

Creativity and flexible thinking are intrinsically connected.

Creative individuals often exhibit high levels of cognitive flexibility, as they're able to draw connections between seemingly unrelated concepts and to approach problems from unique angles.

To enhance one's creativity, it's essential to practice flexible thinking regularly.

This can be done through creative hobbies, engaging with diverse forms of art, and simply allowing oneself the time and space to think freely.

By continuously strengthening our flexible thinking skills, we can tap into our creative genius and reach new heights in our artistic pursuits.

The Role of Flexible Thinkers in Society

Flexible thinkers are the innovators and the change-makers.

They're the ones who can take other people's ideas and build upon them, creating something entirely new.

Their ability to think outside the box is what drives society forward, leading to breakthroughs in technology, art, and science.

Without flexible thinkers, we would be trapped in a cycle of repetition, unable to move past established norms and conventions.

Their creative thinking is a catalyst for growth and development in every field.

By embracing flexible thinking, individuals can play a crucial role in shaping a brighter and more dynamic future for all.

Overcoming Rigid Thinking

Rigid thinkers often struggle with change and can benefit from learning how to practice flexible thinking.

It's about training the brain to consider alternatives and to be open to different solutions.

This shift in mindset can lead to a more fulfilling and less stressful life, as it allows individuals to adapt more easily to the unexpected.

Encouraging cognitive flexibility isn't just about breaking out of a mental rut; it's about building a more resilient and versatile mind.

By overcoming rigid thinking, we open ourselves up to a world of possibilities.

Embracing diversity of thought is a cornerstone of thinking flexibly.

When we open ourselves to other people's ideas, we not only broaden our own perspectives but also foster an environment where innovation thrives.

By actively seeking out and considering viewpoints that differ from our own, we challenge our preconceived notions and biases, leading to more comprehensive and adaptable problem-solving strategies.

This approach doesn't just benefit individuals; it enriches entire communities and organizations by harnessing a wide range of experiences and expertise.

Moreover, embracing diverse thoughts encourages a culture of respect and collaboration .

When team members feel their ideas are valued, they are more likely to contribute actively and think outside the box.

This collective effort can lead to breakthroughs that might not have been possible in a more homogeneous or rigid thinking environment.

By valuing the input of others, we not only enhance our cognitive flexibility but also build stronger, more innovative teams that are capable of navigating complex challenges with ease.

One of the most exciting aspects of thinking flexibly is the potential to learn from different industries.

Often, the most groundbreaking solutions come from applying principles or strategies from one field to another.

For instance, a technology used in the gaming industry might inspire a revolutionary educational tool, or a marketing tactic from the fashion world could transform a healthcare campaign.

By keeping an open mind and looking beyond our immediate environment, we can uncover a wealth of knowledge and inspiration that can be adapted to our own challenges.

Furthermore, engaging with professionals from various sectors can significantly enhance our ability to think flexibly.

Networking, attending interdisciplinary conferences, or participating in cross-industry collaborations are excellent ways to expose ourselves to other people's ideas and approaches.

This cross-pollination of knowledge not only sparks creativity but also equips us with a more versatile toolkit for problem-solving.

It's a reminder that the solutions we seek may already exist, just not in the places we're used to looking.

When you open yourself up to other people's ideas, you're not just being polite; you're tapping into a wellspring of potential that can lead to breakthroughs you might never have reached on your own.

By incorporating other people's ideas into your thinking process, you create a rich tapestry of perspectives that can enhance your own cognitive flexibility.

This doesn't mean you have to agree with every idea presented, but by considering them, you challenge your own preconceptions and expand your mental horizons. It's like adding new colors to your palette; you might discover combinations and shades you never knew existed, and that's where true innovation begins.

It's a thrilling journey that starts with a simple step: listen with the intent to understand, not to respond.

Developing Flexible Thinking Skills

If you want to enhance your flexible thinking abilities, there are various ways you can train your brain to think more flexibly.

Signs of weak flexible thinking skills include difficulty adapting to new situations, feeling overwhelmed by change, and struggling to consider different perspectives or solutions.

If you often find yourself stuck thinking there's only one way to do things, it may be time to work on your cognitive flexibility.

While some people may naturally have a more flexible mindset, flexible thinking can certainly be taught and developed over time.

Through practice and exposure to new experiences, anyone can improve their cognitive flexibility.

There are many flexible thinking activities that can help.

These include brainstorming, puzzles, learning a new skill, games that require quick shifts in strategy, or even simple tasks like taking a different route to work.

Engaging in activities that challenge your usual way of thinking can promote cognitive flexibility.

To practice flexible thinking, one must engage in flexible thinking activities that challenge the mind to think in new ways.

It's also important to expose oneself to new experiences and viewpoints, as this can help break down the barriers of inflexible thinking.

Another strategy is to consciously remind oneself that there's rarely only one solution to a problem.

By acknowledging this, we can begin to solve problems in more creative and effective ways.

So, how can we cultivate flexible thinking skills? Here are a few helpful strategies:

• Practice Mindfulness : Being present in the moment can help us break out of rigid thought patterns and increase our awareness of alternative perspectives.
• Engage in Creative Activities: Creative hobbies such as painting, writing, or music can stimulate cognitive flexibility and encourage exploration.
• Examine Different Viewpoints: Seek out opinions that differ from your own and genuinely try to understand them. This process can help you develop empathy and expand your thinking.
• Learn from Diverse Sources: Expose yourself to diverse cultures, sources of information, and fields of study. This can help you develop a more comprehensive understanding of the world and think outside the box.
• Collaborate with Others: Working with people from different backgrounds can challenge your thinking and open up new ideas. Collaboration encourages flexibility as it requires compromise and adaptation.
• Embrace Change: The ability to adapt and pivot when things don't go as planned is crucial for flexible thinking. Embrace change as an opportunity for growth and learning.

By incorporating these strategies into your daily life, you can begin to build stronger cognitive flexibility skills and unlock your full creative potential.

Strategies for Enhancing Flexible Thinking

Now that we understand the importance of flexible thinking let's dive into some practical ways to cultivate this mindset:

• Embrace a Curious Mindset:

To fuel your creative process and encourage flexible thinking, you need to be open-minded to new and exciting ideas.

That means being curious about everything, even if it doesn't seem directly related to your art.

The more diverse your knowledge and interests, the more you will have to draw from when it comes to generating new and unique ideas.

So, be curious, ask questions, and explore new things.

• Embrace Uncertainty:

Often, fear holds us back from experimenting with new ideas or techniques.

Embracing uncertainty is the first step to overcoming this fear.

Instead of focusing on the outcome, allow yourself to be curious and explore without preconceived ideas of what's "right" or "wrong."

This approach can lead to unexpected discoveries and breakthroughs.

• Practice Brainstorming:

Brainstorming is an excellent way to generate a multitude of solutions and ideas quickly.

Grab a pen and paper, take a deep breath, and start brainstorming.

Brainstorming is perfect for fostering flexible thinking, as it encourages you to generate as many ideas as possible without judgment.

Whether you're brainstorming for your next big project or just for fun, it's important to let your mind wander and think outside the box.

Don't be afraid to write down even the silliest of ideas; sometimes, those end up being the most innovative.

• Challenge Yourself:

To improve your flexible thinking, you need to challenge yourself.

That means stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things.

It can be as simple as trying a new art form or experimenting with a new technique.

The point is to break away from your routine and allow yourself to explore new possibilities.

• Try Different Perspectives:

To nurture flexible thinking, you need to be able to see things from different angles.

Challenge yourself to think from different viewpoints, whether it's imagining how your artwork would look from a bird's eye view, or considering how someone else might interpret it.

Experimenting with different perspectives helps you step out of your own perceptions and allows room for new ideas to form.

• Take Breaks :

Creative burnout is real and can hinder your flexible thinking process.

It's essential to take breaks to recharge and refresh your mind.

Whether it's meditating, reading a book, taking a walk, or spending time with loved ones, taking breaks helps clear your mind and come back to your work with renewed enthusiasm and creativity.

It's all about finding balance and allowing yourself to relax and recharge.

Flexible Thinking: The Key to a Brighter Future

In a world that's constantly evolving, it's essential to cultivate flexible thinking skills.

It allows us to adapt, grow, and thrive in an ever-changing landscape.

Flexible thinking is a powerful tool that can unlock the full potential of our minds, and as creators, it's essential to nurture this skill, as it allows us to push boundaries and continuously evolve our creative abilities.

Thinking flexibly is more than just a cognitive skill; it's a way of life that can lead to greater creativity, innovation, and adaptability.

By understanding its importance, overcoming rigid thinking patterns, and practicing cognitive flexibility, we can unlock our full potential and thrive in an ever-changing world.

Remember, the ability to think flexibly is within all of us; it just takes practice and a willingness to embrace change.

So, go ahead, challenge your thoughts, embrace different perspectives, and see where your flexible thinking takes you.

Now it's time to put these concepts into practice and see the amazing results they can bring; the possibilities are endless when you have an open mind.

Let's keep exploring and pushing the boundaries of what we can create together; it's time to embark on this exciting adventure of flexible thinking!

Interested in learning more about flexible thinking? Check out BBC Ideas' video!

Want even more content about creativity and art?

Be sure to check out all of our creative chronicles !

Eager to explore your creativity?

Check out some of our other articles:

- Think creative

- Critical thinking and creativity

- Divergent vs convergent thinking

- Neurodiversity

- Perseverance

- Persistence

- Creative insecurities

Living a Life Full of Creative Years: Embracing a Life Bursting with Creativity!

Curious People Change the World: Harnessing the Power of Creativity and Curiosity

The Art of Patience and Prudence: How to Take Your Creativity to the Next Level

Creative Joy: The Power of a Grateful Heart and Embracing Life's Many Blessings

Rejuvenate Your Creativity: Revitalizing Your Life for Greater Inspiration!

Trust the Process: Embracing the Journey in Creativity and Life

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• Published: 03 February 2021

Cognitive and behavioural flexibility: neural mechanisms and clinical considerations

• Lucina Q. Uddin   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-2278-8962 1 , 2   na1  

Nature Reviews Neuroscience volume  22 ,  pages 167–179 ( 2021 ) Cite this article

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• Cognitive control
• Human behaviour

Cognitive and behavioural flexibility permit the appropriate adjustment of thoughts and behaviours in response to changing environmental demands. Brain mechanisms enabling flexibility have been examined using non-invasive neuroimaging and behavioural approaches in humans alongside pharmacological and lesion studies in animals. This work has identified large-scale functional brain networks encompassing lateral and orbital frontoparietal, midcingulo-insular and frontostriatal regions that support flexibility across the lifespan. Flexibility can be compromised in early-life neurodevelopmental disorders, clinical conditions that emerge during adolescence and late-life dementias. We critically evaluate evidence for the enhancement of flexibility through cognitive training, physical activity and bilingual experience.

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Introduction.

The year 2020 will be remembered as a time marked by an unprecedented need for flexibility. In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, governments, institutions, businesses and individuals made necessary and creative adaptations to cope with an uncertain, rapidly evolving situation 1 . This public health and economic crisis necessitated a great degree of cognitive and behavioural flexibility on the part of individuals adapting to the novel situation with which they were confronted. Responses to the pandemic, ranging from denial and maintenance of the status quo to swift and decisive action to curtail the spread of the causative virus, provided a real-world example of why an optimal level of flexibility is adaptive.

Developmental and lifespan research suggests that flexibility promotes academic achievement, employment success 2 , successful transitioning to adulthood 3 and other optimal life outcomes. Likewise, flexibility in later life can mitigate the effects of ageing on cognitive decline 4 . Flexibility is typically thought to comprise both cognitive and behavioural components. ‘Cognitive flexibility’ is broadly defined as the mental ability to switch between thinking about two different concepts according to the context of a situation 5 . ‘Behavioural flexibility’ refers to the adaptive change of behaviour in response to changing environmental contingencies 6 . The constructs of cognitive flexibility and behavioural flexibility are thus closely intertwined. Since most laboratory tasks used to assess cognitive flexibility require behavioural outputs, they in effect measure aspects of both cognitive and behavioural flexibility. Likewise, it is hard to imagine a flexible behavioural response that is not associated with flexible cognition. The terms ‘cognitive flexibility’ and ‘behavioural flexibility’ are often used interchangeably in the neuroscience literature, and the differentiation in terminology is most likely attributable to the different disciplines (cognitive psychology and behavioural neuroscience, respectively) from which they arose.

Components of flexibility

Cognitive and behavioural flexibility fall under the broader category of executive functions, or processes necessary for the control of goal-directed behaviour 7 . Projects such as the Cognitive Atlas 8 that aim to systematically characterize psychological processes classify flexibility under executive and cognitive control. The question of whether different processes falling under the executive function umbrella can be considered unitary reflections of the same underlying mechanism 9 has been approached using latent variable analysis to examine the extent of unity or diversity of executive functions. In one influential account, executive functions are postulated to comprise three latent variables, described as mental set-shifting (‘shifting’), information updating and monitoring in working memory (‘updating’) and inhibition of prepotent responses (‘inhibition’), that are moderately correlated with one another, yet clearly separable 7 . This framework has helped address the task impurity problem — the issue that because executive functions necessarily manifest themselves by operating on other cognitive processes, any executive task strongly implicates other processes not directly relevant to the target executive function. When we use the term ‘flexibility’, we mean to invoke the aspect of executive function that is typically associated with shifting.

Relatedly, a large and growing literature on flexibility comes from the study of working memory gating, or the process by which relevant contextual information is updated in working memory while distracting information is kept out 10 . Studies investigating neural mechanisms underlying flexibility in working memory are reviewed elsewhere 11 , 12 .

Box  1 describes two classic paradigms in cognitive and behavioural neuroscience that have historically been used to assess flexibility in human and animals. The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) is a neuropsychological task developed for humans that measures the ability to infer rules to guide behaviour, create an attentional set based on abstract categories, and switch attention and adjust behaviour with changing task demands 13 . Performance on the WCST is strongly related to shifting (also referred to as ‘attention switching‘ or ‘task switching’), which involves the disengagement of an irrelevant task set and subsequent active engagement of a relevant task set 7 . Reversal learning tasks are often used to study behavioural flexibility in humans as well as rodents and non-human primates 14 . These paradigms assess the ability to respond adaptively in the face of changing stimulus–outcome or response–outcome contingencies 15 . What are referred to as ‘switch trials’ in cognitive flexibility studies are paralleled by ‘reversals’ in behavioural flexibility experiments. Both switches and reversals are points at which shifting from one task or mode of response to another is required. The first aim of this Review is to draw information from these and related neuroscience studies (Box  2 ) to summarize what is known regarding the brain systems and processes underlying cognitive and behavioural flexibility.

In the clinical realm, although diagnosis based on the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) is still the norm in psychiatry, there has been a push from the US National Institute of Mental Health to shift towards consideration of behaviour dimensionally — that is, along a continuum — rather than categorically. This research domain criteria (RDoC) approach recognizes that dimensions of behaviour can cut across traditional diagnostic categories and urges the integration of multiple levels of information from genomics to neural circuits to behaviour and self-report (for example, using questionnaires that are filled out by the participants themselves) to understand basic dimensions of functioning spanning the full range of human behaviour 16 . This framework may lead to a revised diagnostic nosology that is more firmly grounded in biology 17 . The ‘cognitive systems’ domain of the RDoC matrix includes constructs labelled ‘cognitive control’ and ‘working memory’, which contain subconstructs (goal selection/performance monitoring and flexible updating) that are closely tied to the constructs of cognitive and behavioural flexibility. Consensus regarding which cognitive tasks best probe flexibility can potentially be built by adopting the RDoC framework, which itself is continuously undergoing refinement 18 .

Cognitive and behavioural flexibility are compromised in clinical conditions affecting early life such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); those that emerge in adolescence, including schizophrenia and mood disorders; and dementias with later-life onset. While many of these conditions share flexibility deficits, the heterogeneous nature, severity and patterns of co-morbid symptoms complicate efforts to develop treatment strategies for enhancing flexibility. The scope of this Review will span these clinical considerations with the goal of identifying common cognitive, pharmacological and neurobiological factors contributing to inflexibility transdiagonostically. Finally, we critically evaluate potential avenues for flexibility training and discuss future directions for translational neuroscience.

Box 1 Experimental paradigms used to assess cognitive and behavioural flexibility in humans and animals

The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (see the figure, part a ) was first developed in 1948 to assess perseveration, abstract reasoning and set-shifting 142 . The test takes 20–30 minutes to administer as follows: four cards incorporating three stimulus parameters (colour, shape and number of objects) are presented to the participants, who are then asked to sort individual response cards according to different principles. Four different ways of classifying each card are possible, and participants must learn using feedback provided by the experimenter whether a given classification is correct or not. After the participant has correctly sorted several cards according to one learned rule, the experimenter changes the rule without letting the participant know that the rule has been changed. Individuals with frontal lobe damage and children younger than 4 years tend to persist in sorting cards according to previously learned rules and have difficulty flexibly switching to new sorting rules 143 . In reversal learning paradigms (see the figure, part b ) animals form associations between two choices and their reward outcomes initially over a series of trials. After a successful learning period, the choice–outcome mapping is reversed. The ability of the animal to adapt and change behaviour after the first reversal is a measure of behavioural flexibility 144 . Part a is reproduced by special permission of the Publisher, Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc., 16204 North Florida Avenue, Lutz, Florida 33549, from the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Copyright 1981, 1993 by PAR, Inc. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission of PAR, Inc. Part b is adapted from Brady, A. M. & Floresco, S. B. Operant procedures for assessing behavioural flexibility in rats. J. Vis. Exp. 96 , e52387, https://doi.org/10.3791/52387 (2015).

Box 2 How is creativity related to flexibility?

Flexible thinking is a critical component of creativity, or the ability to think of new ideas or make new things. Flexibility and creativity have not historically been studied in tandem, despite the obvious parallels between the constructs. While cognitive flexibility is conceptualized as an aspect of executive function and is associated with a rich human neuroimaging literature, creativity has only recently become the topic of cognitive neuroscientific investigations. A query of researchers from academic societies focused on creativity (the Society for the Neuroscience of Creativity and the Society for the Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts) yielded several cognitive constructs deemed relevant to creativity, including ‘flexibility’, ‘cognitive control’ and ‘ divergent thinking ’ 145 . A meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies of divergent thinking indicates that brain networks underlying creative idea generation are composed of lateral prefrontal, posterior parietal and anterior cingulate cortices, as well as the caudate 146 . A study examining neuroimaging predictors of creativity assessed with visual and verbal tests of divergent thinking, everyday creative behaviour and creative achievement revealed that greater creativity was broadly predicted by grey matter of the inferior frontal gyrus and inferior parietal lobule as well as white matter integrity of the basal ganglia 147 . These findings align with functional activation studies showing inferior frontal gyrus involvement in verbal creative problem-solving 148 . The overlap in lateral frontoparietal and striatal involvement for both flexibility and creativity points to potential shared neural substrates for these related constructs. Future work in creativity could thus benefit from closer integration with the literature on cognitive flexibility.

Neural substrates of flexibility

Cognitive flexibility follows a protracted, inverted U-shaped developmental trajectory from early childhood through adolescence and adulthood, peaking between the second and third decades of life, and declining in late life 19 . Here we will summarize the role of lateral and orbital frontoparietal, midcingulo-insular and frontostriatal functional brain networks in supporting flexibility across the lifespan. The cognitive processes and neural properties contributing to the development of flexibility, its maturation in young adulthood and its decline with ageing will be delineated.

Cognitive flexibility in humans

In studies of the neural basis of cognitive flexibility, participants perform task-switching or set-shifting paradigms while their brain activity is monitored using functional MRI (fMRI) 20 . It is important to keep in mind that laboratory-based measures and neuropsychological tests have high construct validity but may not always converge with real-world flexible behaviours as indexed using self-report or informant-report questionnaires, which typically have greater ecological validity 21 . The Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) is an assessment available in versions for both children and adults that includes a measure of an individual’s ability to shift, or make transitions, tolerate change, flexibly problem-solve, switch attention and change focus from one topic to another 22 , 23 . Adult participants complete the BRIEF as a self-report, and parents and teachers can complete this assessment to evaluate school-aged children. Test batteries that include assessments of flexibility in children and adults include the WCST, the Dimensional Change Card Sort 24 , the Delis–Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) 25 , NEPSY-II 26 and the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery Intra–Extra Dimensional Set Shift task 27 .

Cognitive flexibility is difficult to isolate, as it requires the confluence of several aspects of executive function 20 , 28 . Neurosynth is a tool for synthesizing the results of human neuroimaging studies to produce mappings between neural activation patterns and cognitive states using text mining and automated meta-analyses 29 . Entering the terms describing the latent variables comprising executive function into Neurosynth reveals that the brain maps associated with these interrelated cognitive constructs are highly overlapping 7 (Fig.  1a ).

a | Three latent variables that constitute executive function are referred to as ‘shifting (flexibility)’, ‘updating (working memory)’ and ‘inhibition’ 7 . Automated meta-analyses of published functional neuroimaging studies can be conducted with Neurosynth , a Web-based platform that uses text mining to extract activation coordinates from studies reporting on a specific psychological term of interest and machine learning to estimate the likelihood that activation maps are associated with specific psychological terms, thus creating mapping between neural and cognitive states (see ref. 29 for detailed methods). Neurosynth reveals that brain imaging studies including the terms ‘shifting’, ‘updating’ and ‘inhibition’ report highly overlapping patterns of activation in lateral frontoparietal and midcingulo-insular brain regions, underscoring the difficulty of isolating the construct of flexibility from associated executive functions. a | Maps created by first, entering the terms ‘shifting’, ‘updating’ and ‘inhibition’ individually into Neurosynth; second, displaying the ‘uniformity test’ results to view z scores corresponding to the degree to which each voxel in the brain is consistently activated in studies that use each of the selected terms; third, downloading the resulting brain images (with thresholding at a false discovery rate of 0.01) in the form of NIfTi files; and fourth, displaying the brain images using the image viewer MRIcron with the following settings: 2.3 <  z  < 8 (scale); x  = 45 (Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) coordinate for sagittal slice), y  = 19 (MNI coordinate for coronal slice) and z  = 45 (MNI coordinate for axial slice). The uniformity test map depicts z scores from a one-way ANOVA testing whether the proportion of studies that report activation at a given voxel differs from the rate that would be expected if activations were uniformly distributed throughout grey matter. b | Brain regions supporting executive function and flexibility operate within the context of the broader networks shown in part a . During performance of a flexible item selection task, participants directly engage the inferior frontal junction (IFJ), which influences activity in other lateral frontoparietal and midcingulo-insular regions. ACC, anterior cingulate cortex; AG, angular gurus; AI, anterior insula; dlPFC, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; IPL, inferior parietal lobule. Part b adapted with permission from ref. 33 , Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

A large body of literature on human functional neuroimaging studies using task-switching and set-shifting paradigms points to a central role for the lateral frontoparietal network (L-FPN) and the midcingulo-insular network (M-CIN) in supporting executive function and cognitive flexibility 20 , 30 . The L-FPN is also referred to as the executive control network and includes lateral prefrontal cortices (PFCs; dorsolateral PFC (dlPFC), ventrolateral PFC and inferior frontal junction (IFJ)), the inferior parietal lobule (IPL), posterior inferior temporal lobes and portions of the midcingulate gyrus. The M-CIN is sometimes referred to as the salience network or the cingulo-opercular network, and includes bilateral anterior insulae (AI), the anterior midcingulate cortex and subcortical nodes, including the amygdala and thalamus 31 .

While whole-brain activation patterns reveal how effortful control and executive functions broadly engage these systems, approaches for estimating task-modulated network connectivity are beginning to reveal how specific experimental manipulations are associated with dynamic relationships among brain regions. For example, one study found that the IFJ is engaged during the updating of task representations, a core aspect of flexibility 32 . During a task requiring flexible selection of items based on different stimulus dimensions, participants initially directly engaged the IFJ, leading to recruitment of other L-FPN and M-CIN regions, including the dlPFC, IPL, anterior midcingulate cortex and AI via functional connections 33 . Considerable individual variability in functional network topography supporting cognitive flexibility was observed, and the strength of functional connectivity between selected brain regions was related to individual differences in task performance (Fig.  1b ). This finding is in line with earlier work demonstrating domain-general task-switching activation in the IFJ 34 , a brain region that exhibits meta-analytic co-activation and resting state functional connectivity with the AI, dlPFC and IPL 35 .

Behavioural flexibility in animals

Assessment of behavioural flexibility in marmoset monkeys reveals that animals with lateral PFC lesions are not impaired in reversal learning or in shifting behavioural responses to a previously rewarded alternative. These monkeys are, however, impaired with regard to extradimensional shifts . Monkeys with orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) lesions show the opposite behaviour: impairment in reversal learning but no deficits in extradimensional shifts. These findings have led to the proposal that the lateral PFC is necessary for shifting of responding between abstract perceptual dimensions, whereas the OFC and associated corticostriatal loops are necessary for shifting of responding between different stimuli with specific associations with reinforcement 36 . Similar findings have been observed in rodents engaging in reversal learning paradigms. OFC inactivation in rats impairs reversal learning owing to perseverance of previously learned choices 15 . Neurons in the mouse OFC respond saliently and transiently to rule switches during reversal learning 37 . Dorsomedial striatal inactivation impairs both reversal learning and strategy switching, resulting in an inability to maintain new choice patterns once they are selected. The dorsomedial striatum is thought to dynamically interact with multiple prefrontal subregions that generate new strategies to facilitate behavioural flexibility 38 .

For humans, reversal learning is much easier to perform than extradimensional shifts, but similar neuroanatomy to that seen in animals has been observed using fMRI 39 . Neuroimaging additionally reveals the role of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and the inferior frontal gyrus in suppression of prior learned responses and response inhibition during reversal learning 40 .

Brain dynamics supporting flexibility

Brain dynamics underlie complex forms of cognition and behaviour, including flexibility. Recent work has examined time-varying or dynamic changes in functional coupling between brain regions 41 , 42 , 43 . Sliding window functional connectivity analyses can be used to quantify brain dynamic metrics, including ‘dwell time’ (the time spent in a particular brain state), ‘frequency of occurrence’ (the number of times a given brain state occurs) and ‘transitions’ (the number of times transitions between brain states are observed) (Fig.  2a , b ). With use of this approach, it has been shown that certain patterns of whole-brain dynamics are associated with elevated levels of cognitive flexibility. Individuals who score higher on the WCST exhibit more episodes of more frequently occurring brain states, and fewer episodes of less frequently occurring brain states that have previously been associated with low vigilance and arousal 44 (Fig.  2c ). Dynamic patterns among specific networks have also been linked with flexible behaviours. Time-varying functional connectivity of the M-CIN predicts individual differences in cognitive flexibility 45 . Dynamics between the default mode or medial frontoparietal network (M-FPN) and the L-FPN have also been linked to cognitive flexibility 46 . A study using hidden Markov models demonstrates that the proportion of time an individual spends in a brain state characterized by functional connectivity of M-FPN and L-FPN regions relates to individual differences in cognitive flexibility 47 . Multimodal investigations considering both anatomical connectivity and activation dynamics find that greater alignment between white matter networks and functional signals is associated with greater cognitive flexibility 48 .

a | In sliding window dynamic functional connectivity analyses, time-varying patterns of connectivity between brain regions are quantified as follows. Whole-brain functional connectivity matrices computed for each window (for example, 45 seconds of functional MRI time-series data) are subjected to clustering, and each window is assigned to a ‘brain state’, here labelled 1, 2 and 3. b | Dynamic metrics, including frequency, dwell time and transitions between states, can then be computed on the basis of trajectories of brain state evolution over time 141 . c | Brain states are ordered from most frequently occurring on the left (state 1, characterized by weak correlations among brain regions) to least frequently occurring on the right (state 5, characterized by strong correlations among brain regions). Higher executive function performance measured outside the scanner is associated with greater episodes of more frequently occurring states and fewer episodes of less frequently occurring states. In the colour bar, hot colours (red) represent high correlation values and cool colours (blue) represent low correlation values. WCST, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Parts a , b and c adapted with permission from 44 , Elsevier.

The emerging links between brain dynamics and flexible behaviours in neurotypical adults 49 have set the stage for understanding how these processes are affected in development and ageing. Neural flexibility, or the frequency with which brain regions change allegiance between functional modules, has recently been shown to increase with age during the first 2 years of life 50 . At the other end of the lifespan, older adults performing well on a cognitive test battery were found to exhibit brain states characterized by global coherence, whereas those performing poorly exhibited greater frequency of switching between dynamic brain states 51 . Ease of transitions between brain states distinguishes younger from older individuals, and is further linked with executive function indexed by the D-KEFS. In younger adults, executive function ability is correlated with efficiency in brain dynamics of the M-CIN, whereas for older adults this ability is associated with efficiency in the M-FPN 52 . Brain regions in higher-order association cortices exhibit high levels of functional flexibility, with dissociable age-related changes observed in frontal and parietal regions across the lifespan 53 . Several recent studies have further shown how individual differences in task performance are related to patterns of dynamic brain organization 54 , 55 . Taken together, this emerging literature is in line with the notion that the ability of the brain to flexibly reconfigure itself in response to changing demands may underlie individual differences in flexible behaviours.

Brain variability and flexibility

Variability in neural signals, while initially conceptualized as noise 56 , has more recently been linked with cognitive capacity. Between childhood and mid-adulthood, brain signal variability increases with age, shows negative correlations with reaction time variability and positive correlations with accuracy 57 . Brain variability appears to increase during task performance compared with rest in younger and faster-performing adults, whereas older and slower-performing adults exhibit less differentiation in brain variability across experimental conditions 58 . These findings build on work demonstrating that blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) variability is a better predictor of age than BOLD mean 59 . Across the age range from 6 to 85 years, BOLD signal variability decreases linearly across most of the brain, with the exception of the AI, a critical M-CIN node involved in flexibility, which shows the opposite pattern 60 (Fig.  3 ). In line with findings from functional activation studies, it has been shown that increased IFJ variability is linked to better performance on a cognitive flexibility task 61 . Older adults aged 59–73 years who exhibit upregulated brain signal variability show higher levels of task performance 62 . The suggestion is that higher variability might reflect a broader repertoire of metastable brain states and transitions between them to enable optimal responses 57 .

a | Mean squared successive difference is one approach for computing brain signal variability. Applied to neural time-series data, mean squared successive difference is calculated according to the equation shown. b | Regionally specific increases and decreases in brain signal variability across the lifespan may be associated with changes in behavioural performance. Brain signal variability decreases linearly across the lifespan in most brain regions, with the exception of the anterior insula, which exhibits linear age-related increases in variability. In early and late life, the speculation is that larger differences in variability between brain regions may lead to suboptimal behavioural performance. Optimal behavioural performance may be associated with a balance between high and low variability in different brain regions (black arrows) during midlife. Part b is adapted from ref. 60 , CC BY 4.0 ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ).

Flexibility in clinical conditions

Executive function impairments broadly, and flexibility impairments specifically, are observed across many forms of psychopathology and may serve as transdiagnostic intermediate phenotypes 63 . All of the DSM-V categories (with the possible exception of sleep–wake disorders) include clinical conditions in which domains of executive function are compromised; this raises the question of the extent to which the construct of flexibility has discriminative value. In several of the disorders in which flexibility deficits have been documented, these impairments can be observed even while performance on basic perceptual and motor tasks remains unaltered.

Flexibility deficits are observed in neurodevelopmental conditions with early life onset, such as ASD and ADHD, as well as psychiatric conditions that emerge in adolescence, including mood disorders, obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia. Late life onset dementias, including Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease, are also marked by rigidity and cognitive inflexibility. The extent to which common and distinct neural mechanisms underlie the variety of flexibility deficits observed across the lifespan in these conditions will be explored in this section (Table  1 ).

Flexibility in developmental disorders

ASD and ADHD are two prevalent, heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorders typically diagnosed in the first 5 years of life. In children with ASD or ADHD, executive function and flexibility deficits are often observed in laboratory settings and in day-to-day activities 64 , 65 . Although children with ASD, ADHD or co-morbid ASD and ADHD may all exhibit flexibility deficits, the nature and severity of these issues can differ across and even within these disorders.

Early work in developmental psychopathology 66 and recent meta-analyses confirm broad executive dysfunction in ASD across domains 67 as well as more specific impairments in flexibility, typically assessed with the WCST 64 , 68 . Restricted and repetitive behaviours (RRBs), considered core deficits in ASD, can include stereotyped movements, insistence on sameness, and circumscribed or perseverative interests 69 . The severity of RRBs is associated with measures of cognitive inflexibility in ASD 70 . Studies of the neural circuitry underlying RRBs transdiagostically point to a critical role for frontostriatal systems in mediating these behaviours 71 . A recent review of neural mechanisms underlying cognitive and behavioural flexibility in autism additionally points to atypical patterns of L-FPN and M-CIN activation in response to task switching and set-shifting 72 .

While ASD is characterized by difficulty in flexibly adapting to changes in routines, children with ADHD have difficulty with attentional focus and exhibit high levels of variability in moment-to-moment behaviours 73 . Diagnostic criteria for ADHD include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity 69 , which can be thought of as manifestations of distractibility or too much flexibility. Still, the story is not as simple as ‘impaired flexibility in ASD’ versus ‘heightened flexibility in ADHD’, as there is a very high degree of co-morbidity between these two disorders 74 such that the combination of impaired flexibility and inattention can manifest itself in the same individual. Some reports claim that executive dysfunction is more pervasive and more severe in ADHD than in ASD 75 , yet studies targeting flexibility document that children with ASD perform poorer on the WCST than do children with ADHD 76 . Age-related improvements in executive function are more clearly observed in ASD than in ADHD 77 . Even though not all children with a primary diagnosis of ASD exhibit executive dysfunction 78 , the vast majority of children with co-morbid ASD and ADHD do exhibit executive function impairments 65 .

Only a handful of neuroimaging studies have examined ASD and ADHD together. One found evidence for shared and distinct patterns of intrinsic functional connectivity centrality in children with these disorders 79 . Another reported no evidence for group differences in functional network connectivity across diagnostic groups 80 . Although it is hypothesized that the common behavioural manifestations of cognitive inflexibility across ASD and ADHD should be reflected in shared neural substrates, few assessments of brain circuitry supporting flexibility across these disorders have been conducted. Data-driven techniques are now being used to identify key dimensions of functioning that overlap across diagnostic categories and also present heterogeneously within diagnostic categories 81 . For example, transdiagnostic executive function subtypes have been identified with use of community detection algorithms, and children within the subtype characterized by inflexibility showed a failure to modulate parietal lobe activation in response to increasing executive task demands 82 . Other work examining ASD, ADHD and co-morbid ASD and ADHD using latent profile analysis also provides evidence for transdiagnostic executive function classes 65 . A study using magnetoencephalography found that during an intradimensional/extradimensional set-shift task, children with ASD exhibited greater parietal activity than children with ADHD, and both groups showed sustained parietal activation with an absence of sequential progression of brain activation from parietal to frontal regions 83 . Further work is needed to understand the brain activation patterns and dynamics underlying reduced or heightened flexibility in these neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as the paradoxical combinations (for example, inflexibility alongside distractibility) that can sometimes be observed. This work might focus on how dynamics within specific brain networks might support different domains of executive function. For example, intrinsic dynamics of the M-CIN (but not the L-FPN) have been shown to relate to individual differences in distractibility in neurotypical adults 84 .

Measurement issues complicate the assessment of flexibility deficits and their neural bases in ASD and ADHD, as different combinations of laboratory-based measures, neuropsychological tests and informant-report questionnaires have been used across studies 72 . It is important to note that well-documented inflexible everyday behaviours in ASD are not necessarily directly related to cognitive flexibility deficits assessed experimentally 85 . Standardized informant-report assessments specifically targeting flexible behaviours in autism have been developed, such as the Flexibility Scale, which reveals factors related to routines/rituals, transitions/change, special interests, social flexibility and generativity 86 . Still, these types of nuanced measure of flexibility are not yet routinely used in transdiagnostic assessment settings, leaving several open questions as to the specific profile of executive function and flexibility deficits that characterize neurodevelopmental disorders.

Flexibility in adolescence and midlife

Adolescence is a critical developmental period marked by dramatic physical, social and emotional changes that require cognitive flexibility for successful navigation. Adolescence also coincides with a period of vulnerability and risk of the onset of psychopathologies, including anxiety, depression, OCD and schizophrenia. Brain circuitry supporting cognitive control is still undergoing development during adolescence 87 , in part owing to differential development of limbic and executive control systems 88 . These asymmetries are evident in studies demonstrating that adolescents learn faster from negative reward prediction errors than adults, and recruit the right AI to a greater degree during probabilistic reversal learning 89 .

Signs of mood disorders, including anxiety and depression, can develop during the adolescent years. Pathological anxiety involves excessive worry or the tendency to dwell on difficulties and perceive future problems as more likely than they are in reality, whereas depression involves rumination or passively focusing on distressing thoughts in response to sad mood and experiences 69 . Worry and rumination may reflect the same underlying construct of repetitive negative thinking, which is likely a product of inflexible thinking and difficulty engaging the L-FPN executive control systems in the service of emotion regulation 90 .

Another adolescent-onset disorder characterized by severe flexibility impairments is OCD. Flexibility deficits in OCD manifest themselves as maladaptive patterns of recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges and impulses that are intrusive, as well as compulsions, including repetitive behaviours that an individual feels driven to perform 69 . Neuroimaging investigations across OCD and ASD provide evidence that increased functional connectivity within frontostriatal circuitry relates to more severe symptoms of repetitive behaviour 91 . In OCD, reduced activation of the OFC and frontostriatal regions during cognitive flexibility task performance is regularly reported 92 , 93 .

Schizophrenia is another condition emerging during late adolescence that is associated with reduced cognitive flexibility, often accompanied by frontal lobe hypometabolism 94 . Individuals with schizophrenia perform worse than individuals with OCD on the WCST, suggesting the involvement of different subsystems within basal–corticofrontal circuits in these two disorders 95 . Just as in the general population, frontostriatal circuitry appears to be linked with variability of cognitive flexibility performance in schizophrenia 96 .

Flexibility in neurological disorders

While executive function and flexibility deficits are observed in normal ageing, these issues can be further exacerbated in neurological disorders that affect later life. Older adults exhibit reduced efficiency of lateral prefrontal control regions, and compensate for age-related declines in task-switching performance by relying on enhanced frontotemporal connectivity compared with younger adults 97 . The default–executive coupling hypothesis of ageing proposes that declining performance on executive control tasks and reduced flexibility in older adulthood are underpinned by inflexible coupling of the M-FPN and lateral prefrontal regions 98 . A recent meta-analysis of fMRI studies of executive function in ageing reveals that the IFJ is recruited to a different degree in younger versus older adults. Furthermore, decreased functional connectivity between the IFJ and other executive function-related brain regions is observed with increasing age 99 . Whole-brain computational models permit quantification of metastability and recalibration processes underlying changes in cognitive performance over the lifespan. Such models can help clarify how dedifferentiation observed at the network level, such as that proposed by the default–executive coupling hypothesis of ageing, can be seen as compensation for the decline of structural integrity in the ageing brain 100 .

One of the signs of dementia is heightened executive function impairment compared with that from normal ageing, including a deterioration of mental flexibility and the onset of cognitive rigidity. A burgeoning functional neuroimaging literature including task-switching and set-shifting tasks adapted from neuropsychological assessments (most notably the WCST) investigates cognitive flexibility deficits in ageing and dementia, confirming the critical role of PFC recruitment in maintaining these functions 101 . Flexibility deficits observed in Parkinson disease may result from dysfunction of frontostriatal loops resulting from dopamine depletion 102 . Across neurological disorders, different aspects of cognitive flexibility may be impaired. For example, frontoparietal changes affecting set-shifting ability characterize patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, whereas frontostriatal changes affecting rule inference are seen in primary dystonia and Parkinson disease 103 .

Dysexecuitve syndrome, which involves impairment of working memory, cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control, is seen in progressive dementia syndrome due to Alzheimer disease. This syndrome is accompanied by frontoparietal hypometabolism as demonstrated by positron emission tomography 104 . Taken together, the literature on flexibility in ageing and dementia points to frontoparietal and frontostriatal dysfunction, as might be predicted from the human and animal research.

While we focus on maladaptive outcomes associated with flexibility deficits here, flexibility reductions can also be associated with adaptive or healthy traits, and the level of flexibility required can fluctuate depending on the context. Therefore, alterations in flexibility might in some cases represent normative adaptations to the perceived characteristics of the environment. In Parkinson disease, cognitive impairments such as slowed thinking and cognitive inflexibility parallel motor impairments 102 , suggesting that reduced flexibility might be an appropriate reaction to a world that is experienced as more stationary. Cognitive stability — the opposite of cognitive flexibility — can likewise be beneficial during tasks requiring focused attention and distractor inhibition 105 . Thus, reduced flexibility may paradoxically be optimal under specific conditions.

Drugs and training of flexibility

Animal studies have revealed how specific neurotransmitter systems underlie flexible cognition and behaviour. In humans, cognitive training paradigms and physical activity have been touted as means to bolster flexibility, and there is some initial evidence from studies of development and ageing that bilingualism may confer greater flexibility. This section will summarize what is known regarding the pharmacology of cognitive and behavioural flexibility, then critically review the research on cognitive flexibility enhancement and training.

Pharmacology supporting flexibility

Serotonin and striatal dopamine neurotransmitter systems have a modulatory role in reversal learning, as evidenced by human and animal lesion, stimulation and neuroimaging studies 106 . In humans, transient cerebral serotonin depletion affects processing of negative feedback during reversal learning 107 . l -DOPA withdrawal studies demonstrate that patients with Parkinson disease not receiving medication show inflexibility in the form of increased switch costs when switching between tasks 108 . Methylphenidate, a psychostimulant influencing dopamine and noradrenaline activity, has long been used to treat ADHD and other developmental disorders 109 . There is some evidence from studies of rhesus monkeys given therapeutic doses of methylphenidate that the drug can impair task-switching performance. This indicates that the improved ability to focus attention may come at the expense of hindering flexibility 110 . Taken together, these findings suggest that serotonergic and dopaminergic signalling are critically involved in flexible cognition and behaviour.

The striatal cholinergic systems also appear to play a role in behavioural flexibility. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies in humans during reversal learning show that lower levels of choline in the dorsal striatum are associated with a lower number of perseverative trials 111 . Studies of the contributions of the cholinergic system to flexibility are complicated, however, by the fact that many cholinergic neurons co-release glutamate or GABA along with acetylcholine 112 .

Interventions to improve flexibility

Computerized cognitive training, physical activity and specialized curricula have been described as potential interventions to improve flexibility in children, yet the evidence supporting the efficacy of these interventions is mixed. Successful programmes involve repeated practice and progressive increases in challenge to executive functions, and children who are more impaired initially benefit the most from cognitive training and physical activity interventions 2 . Generally, training in a specific aspect of executive function can produce short-term narrow transfer, but does not generalize to other aspects of executive function. For example, working memory training can improve working memory performance, but not inhibitory processing or other skills 113 . Implementing a game-based flexibility training designed to increase motivation in children, one study found long-term transfer effects in untrained executive control tasks. The study authors also reported greater performance improvements in the game-based flexibility training group on reading comprehension, an effect that appeared only at the 6-week follow up. These findings suggest that the addition of game elements to executive control training tasks may result in enhanced complexity that facilitates transfer to academic abilities 114 .

Flexibility training in neurodevelopmental disorders has also produced mixed results. One computerized working memory and cognitive flexibility training designed for children with ASD did not result in differential improvement in a randomized controlled trial 115 . An executive function intervention known as Unstuck and On Target aims to address insistence on sameness, flexibility, goal setting and planning using a cognitive behavioural programme. This intervention has been shown to be effective for improving classroom behaviour, flexibility and problem-solving in children with ASD 116 .

Cognitive training has been used to combat age-related cognitive decline, and training-induced structural and functional brain changes in healthy older adults (60 years of age and older) have been demonstrated 117 . A task-switching study reported training-related improvements in task performance, but limited transfer to untrained similar flexibility tasks and no improvements for untrained domains of executive function after 1 year 118 .

Studies examining the effects of aerobic exercise or resistance training interventions without a cognitive component seem to suggest little or no executive function benefit, although exercise that is cognitively challenging, such as martial arts, can produce measurable benefits 119 . In adults of around 60 years of age and older, aerobic exercise interventions may contribute to salutary effects on cognition through prevention of volumetric decreases of hippocampal volume over time 120 . The small effects reported in studies of physical activity interventions on executive function stand in contrast to the fact that children with greater cardiovascular fitness perform better on executive function components, including information processing and control, visuospatial working memory and attention efficiency 121 . Likewise, individuals who are generally more physically active have better executive function than those who are more sedentary 122 .

Effects of bilingualism on flexibility

More than 50% of the global population is bilingual, or able to use two languages with equal fluency. The concept of a ‘bilingual advantage’ suggests that individuals fluent in two languages may develop cognitive advantages, particularly within the executive function domain. Evidence supporting the bilingual advantage identifies inhibition and monitoring as potential mechanisms conferring enhanced executive control in individuals with diverse language experiences 123 . This model suggests that both languages in a bilingual individual’s repertoire are always active to a degree, and there is a constant competition for selection. Lifelong experience of managing and resolving competition between languages imposes demands that require brain regions not typically used for language processing 124 . This bilingual experience reorganizes brain networks to create more effective mechanisms for executive control and results in cognitive benefits when non-linguistic processing draws on the same executive control networks 125 . As language switching involves the same frontal systems involved in executive control and inhibitory processes, it is thought that the bilingual experience results in general enhancement of these brain systems 123 , 126 .

Current research in bilingualism has produced mixed results, and there is no consensus regarding the relationship between bilingualism and cognitive advantages in the executive function domain. Some researchers report cognitive benefits in bilingual individuals 127 , while others fail to replicate these findings in typically developing children 128 and adults 129 . However, the bilingual advantage has been observed in children of lower socio-economic status 124 , 127 . Likewise, in individuals experiencing age-related cognitive decline, a ‘cognitive reserve’ has been observed whereby the bilingual brain is more resistant to neurodegeneration and dementia 123 . The observation that bilingual experience helps offset age-related losses in executive processes has led to the proposal that bilingualism may act as a neuroprotective factor against dementia by buffering against the decline in cognitive control abilities typically observed in later life 130 , 131 . Thus, the bilingual advantage may manifest itself under specific circumstances, but further research is needed on this topic.

Summary and future directions

The global COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical need for optimal levels of flexibility at the level of institutions and individuals. Neuroscience research has probed flexibility using paradigms that are capable of spanning both human and animal investigations. This research has demonstrated that cognitive and behavioural flexibility involve executive control processes that rely on the coordinated functioning among several large-scale frontoparietal and frontostriatal brain networks enacting salience detection, attention, inhibition, working memory and switching processes 20 . Understanding the typical development of these networks, their stabilization in adulthood and their potential for breakdown with ageing is the first step towards pinpointing effective strategies for addressing flexibility deficits in psychiatric and neurological disorders and enhancing flexibility across the lifespan. For example, the identification of unique brain profiles supporting various degrees of flexibility across clinical and neurotypical populations could aid in identifying interventions with the highest probability of success for a particular individual. Capturing mechanistic insights with the aid of neuroimaging will help to improve our current diagnostic nosology and move us towards achieving the goals of precision medicine.

Future directions include addressing issues of measurement to maximize ecological and construct validity in research on flexibility. It is important to acknowledge that highly reliable self-report or informant-report measures may better predict individual differences in real-life outcomes, whereas laboratory performance-based measures that are sensitive to within-person experimental manipulations can reveal processes underlying task performance 21 . Standardized, transdiagnostic assessments that are normed for targeted age ranges must be developed and universally adopted to permit characterization of common and unique aspects of flexibility that are affected across clinical conditions. Several self-report scales have been developed for use in adults, including the Cognitive Control and Flexibility Questionnaire 132 , the Cognitive Flexibility Scale 133 and the Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire 134 . Consistent use of questionnaires in future studies will provide a clearer picture of the clinical profile of flexibility deficits. Generally however, self-report/informant-report and behavioural measures are only weakly correlated, as behavioural measures index responses during structured situations, whereas self-report/informant-report queries how individuals behave in real-life situations 21 . Going forward, the challenge of how to bridge laboratory-based, objective behavioural measures of flexibility with real-world indices of flexible behaviour must be tackled. Recent approaches focus on measurement of ‘hot’ or emotionally salient flexibility 135 , 136 , and have also turned towards implicit rather than explicit flexibility performance measures 33 as possible bridges between real-world and laboratory performance.

Translational neuroscience research adopting the RDoC framework will likely continue to build on findings that interactions among the M-CIN, L-FPN and M-FPN are implicated as common neurobiological substrates for mental illness 28 , 137 . The emerging field of computational psychiatry that strives to use data-driven approaches and machine-learning to improve disease classification and predict treatment outcomes 138 will benefit by focusing on transdiagnostic constructs such as flexibility, with clear links to real-life outcomes. The success of these clinically oriented endeavours, however, hinges on progress in neuroinformatics efforts to construct biologically informed taxonomies of psychological processes 139 .

At present, there have been no interventional studies demonstrating the role of changing brain network dynamics in supporting successful training of flexibility. Following similar work providing evidence for dynamic reconfiguration of brain networks with working memory training 140 , future research should focus efforts towards delineating how effective cognitive and behavioural flexibility training alters brain dynamics. Studies of cognitive training generally provide limited support for far transfer of skills. Similarly, while the cumulative effects of exercise are clearly beneficial for the brain and cognition, more research is needed to determine the type and dosage of physical activity intervention that is most suited to enhance executive function and flexibility. If bilingualism can confer a flexibility advantage in some instances, then encouraging bilingualism might be a ‘natural intervention’ strategy to improve flexibility. The bolstering of flexibility that may be conferred by bilingualism provides an added incentive to promote the learning of multiple languages from a young age. The next frontier of flexibility research will likely involve collaborations among clinical psychologists, medical professionals, neuroscientists, engineers, computer scientists and educators.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the US National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH107549), the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research and a Gabelli Senior Scholar award from the University of Miami to L.Q.U.

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A statistical approach for identifying clusters based on a series of continuous variables or indicators. This type of analysis assumes that there are unobserved latent profiles that generate responses on indicator items.

Also referred to as ‘shifting’, this refers to the ability to switch back and forth between multiple tasks.

Automatic behavioural responses with which immediate reinforcement is associated. Executive functions are necessary for overriding prepotent responses.

A system for classification of diseases.

The research domain criteria (RDoC) matrix is a tool to help implement the principles of RDoC in research studies.

In psychology, the idea that a test is valid if it measures what it claims to measure or is designed to measure.

In the study of creativity, the type of thinking used in an open-ended task, such as coming up with multiple uses for a given object.

In psychology, the idea that something measured with a laboratory test translates to performance in real-life settings.

In psychology, cognitive constructs are terms used to described mental processes. Examples of cognitive constructs include ‘attention‘, ‘memory’ and ‘perception’.

In set-shifting tasks, an extradimensional shift is one in which the important aspect of a stimulus switches from one category to another (for example, in a discrimination task, when colour is no longer an informative aspect of the stimulus, and shape becomes the discriminating characteristic).

Statistical models in which the system being modelled is assumed to be a Markov process (where the probability of each event depends on the state in the previous event) with unobservable or hidden states.

A state of a dynamical system other than the state of least energy. In a non-linear system such as the brain, ‘metastability’ refers to a state in which signals fall outside their natural equilibrium state, but persist for an extended period of time.

Phenomena in which training or learning in one context applies to another.

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Strategies for Cultivating Flexible Thinking in Young Learners

Learn why flexible thinking is a critical executive functioning skill for child development and what activities you can use to develop it in young learners.

• brightwheel
• Child development

Children feel safe and confident when their activities are predictable. But sometimes circumstances come up, causing changes to their routines or expectations. A child’s ability to accept these changes and “go with the flow” is known as flexible thinking, and while some children can adjust to these changes quickly, others may struggle.

Children who struggle to think flexibly, referred to as rigid thinkers, may have trouble switching between tasks and adjusting to new ideas. If events change unexpectedly, they may get very upset and experience explosive outbursts. Inflexible thinking negatively affects children academically, socially, and creatively. Fortunately, early childhood educators can help them learn to think flexibly.

In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of flexible thinking, how to develop it in young learners, and some flexible thinking activity ideas to use in the classroom.

What is flexible thinking?

Flexible thinking, also known as mental or cognitive flexibility, is the ability to shift one’s thinking in response to change or unexpected circumstances. It’s a critical executive functioning skill for a child’s growth and development. The Child Mind Institute defines flexible thinking as “the ability to think about things in a new or different way.” Children who think flexibly are less likely to throw a tantrum when plans change unexpectedly. They can think about things in new ways, which helps them handle disappointment and manage uncertainty.  

For example, suppose you plan an outdoor scavenger hunt with the class, and it rains on the day you scheduled it, so you have to do it indoors instead. A child who struggles with flexible thinking may get frustrated and consumed by the disappointment of not going outside. They may also need help adjusting to an indoor scavenger hunt. On the other hand, a flexible-thinking child may be disappointed but is open to the indoor activity. 

Why is flexible thinking important?

Mental flexibility helps children develop a growth mindset . When they’re adaptable to unexpected changes, they’re open to new experiences and learning new ideas. Thinking flexibly enhances their problem-solving skills by prompting them to ask questions about the problem and think about solutions.  Socially, mental flexibility helps children learn to accommodate other people’s ideas and opinions, making them more empathetic and collaborative.

Flexible thinking is vital in helping children learn how to read and write . When children use flexible thinking, they are able to understand how words are used in more than one way, such as “ You can go outside and play ” and “ I’ll help you open the can , ” and how the same letter can make different sounds, like giraffe and game . They are also able to determine which information they read in a book is essential. Rigid thinkers may take everything they read literally and have trouble pronouncing words correctly. When writing, flexible thinking helps children choose the right words, organize their thoughts, and use correct grammar and spelling. 

Mental flexibility also helps children with language learning and math. Children who think flexibly easily accept and use rules and exceptions of language. For example, they understand that while most words end with -ed in the past tense, like talked , called , and filled , there are exceptions like sold , made , and went . They can also learn foreign languages, which have different letter sounds and sentence structures from English. Flexible thinking is crucial for learning math, as it helps children understand that math problems can be solved in various ways. It also helps them understand phrases in word problems and how to solve them. 

How to develop flexible thinking

Try the following strategies to develop flexible thinking in your young learners.

Model flexible thinking

One of the best ways to develop flexible thinking is by modeling it. Children learn by observing authority figures around them like parents and teachers. You can demonstrate flexible thinking by speaking aloud while solving a problem. For example, if you’re starting a painting activity with the class and realize you don’t have any paintbrushes, let your children hear you process the disappointment flexibly: “ Oh no. That’s disappointing. I was excited about painting today. What will we do? I know! Let’s use bottle caps and sponges instead. ” When the children see you solving the problem instead of getting consumed by the disappointment, they learn to do the same.

Bend the rules

Rules are important guidelines that teach children to know the difference between right and wrong and to make the right choices. However, bending some rules develops flexible thinking. For example, you could change the rules to a game they usually play. Bending the rules helps children understand that some rules aren’t set in stone. Rigid thinkers are sticklers for rules, which can affect their social relationships.

Validate their emotions

Rigid thinkers often throw tantrums in the face of uncertainty because they find it challenging to manage sudden change and disappointment, such as breaking their pencil lead. It’s important to empathize with them and make them feel heard so they can adjust to solving the problem (for example, sharpening the pencil or borrowing another one). For example, you could say, “ I know you’re upset that your pencil lead broke, and I understand how you feel. ”

Tweak routines

Routines are critical for child development, as they give children emotional stability and security . However, an over-dependence on routines causes difficulty in coping with unexpected changes. Instead of sticking to the same order of events daily, tweak a few things occasionally.

Other strategies include creating opportunities for flexible thinking, rewarding flexible thinking with a compliment, suggesting alternatives to doing things, and engaging in fun activities that practice flexible thinking.

Flexible thinking activities 

Here are some activities to consider for optimizing flexible thinking: 

Building and construction play

Building and construction play is a cognitive activity that enhances children’s executive functioning skills. When children engage in this activity often, they develop the ability to quickly shift focus from one thing to another, which builds their cognitive flexibility. They can build towers with plastic cups, make forts with empty boxes, or use building blocks like LEGOS. This activity also helps children improve their attention and concentration .

Creative expression through activities like coloring and painting requires children to use their imagination and teaches them that there’s more than one way to make art. Hand the children coloring books or painting equipment and let them get creative. They can color the grass blue if they’d like. 

Switch up a story

Tell a familiar story like Goldilocks and the Three Bears , but give it a different ending. Make it even more fun and engaging by drawing pictures or having the children act out the story. Putting a spin on something familiar boosts their creativity.

Play “ Yes, and… ”

This game teaches children to accept and build on others’ ideas. In a circle, start the conversation with a statement like “ It’s a beautiful day outside. ” Have each child add on a “ Yes, and… ” statement, like “ Yes, and the sky is blue ” until the story ends.

Think up different uses for regular objects

Challenge the children to think of different uses for various regular items. For example, a whiteboard marker could be a microphone or a magic wand. A toilet paper roll could be a microscope, and a funnel could be a trumpet. 

If you’re looking for a tool to help you plan flexible thinking activities and customize learning standards for your program, brightwheel's lesson plan feature makes it easy. Creating custom lesson plans takes a few minutes, and you can quickly make edits, add milestones, and share progress with families.

Prepare young learners for change

While flexible thinking is valuable for developmental and academic success, it’s also helpful for the modern workplace and our ever-changing world. Helping children develop flexible thinking at a young age will prepare them to handle unpredictability calmly and efficiently in the future. Remember, it will take patience to get a child from sadness and frustration to acceptance and cooperation, but when it happens, they’re well on their way to a positive and fulfilling life.

Brightwheel is the complete solution for early education providers, enabling you to streamline your center’s operations and build a stand-out reputation. Brightwheel connects the most critical aspects of running your center—including sign in and out, parent communications, tuition billing, and licensing and compliance—in one easy-to-use tool, along with providing best-in-class customer support and coaching. Brightwheel is trusted by thousands of early education centers and millions of parents. Learn more at mybrightwheel.com.

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10 Flexible Thinking Activities For Children Of All Ages

"School rewards students who consistently do what they are told— and life rewards people who shake things up.” Eric Barker

This article is part of the Flexible Learning Guide . Learn all about Flexible Learning Environments , Flexibility in the Classroom , and Flexible Online Classes .

Take the lemons life gives you and make lemonade. 

This is an excellent start to what flexible thinking refers to. 

Life is all about flexibility and being able to manage any circumstance life gives you. Flexible thinking allows children of all ages and abilities to come up with solutions and ideas when a solution does not work out. More to say, it is what prepares them for life. 

More than a great help to education, flexible thinking helps you accept all the others that do not think just like you. This social skill enables you to get along with others and be open to change. 

Flexibility is how “we change our behaviour to different context or stimuli of the environment.”( Cognitive Flexibility ) 

Flexible thinking activities for High School students 

At this age, students already have a certain degree of flexibility in their thinking. What teachers should do is develop and enrich it.

Some of the activities they can opt for is:

Mindfulness 

When someone feels frustrated that something did not work out as expected, teach them to deal with their frustration by talking it out to themselves . This means students should have a conversation in their heads with themselves, see the situation as an outsider, and see what went wrong and the solutions – other than what they initially thought they should be. At this age, they should be open to taking this moment and sort out their frustration with themselves and not take it out on somebody else. 

Play word games and tell jokes with students

Playing is how we learn from birth; thus, we will always embrace playing as a great way to learn. Playing word games shows students how many different meanings a word can have. It is a great way to relate to how flexible thinking works and why it helps you. 

Logic games  

Games such as Sudoku, Chess, Minesweeper are great to help students shift their thinking. 

Flexible thinking activities for Middle School students 

Middle school students always like being given new challenges and learning new things. 

Start a book group 

In a group book, students read the same books, share opinions, and discuss ways in which the outcome could have been different, in which the character could have acted differently. Sharing insights on a book allows students to see how many perspectives of a single thing can be and helps them see the benefits of flexible thinking. 

School debates

Have debates on different subjects, argue about a side and then challenge the same student to change sides and present arguments about the other side. 

Flexible thinking activities for Elementary students 

There are moments when children just refuse to experience something out of their comfort zone, something new. This ranges from simple things like sitting on a different chair and with other classmates at a separate table. These are when parents and teachers should develop their cognitive flexibility mindset. 

Breaking the rules

Most elementary students rely on rules. And so do people generally as a way of living. However, you must follow the rules until you reach the degree to which you can understand how and whether it is advisable to break the rule. 

Elementary school students don’t feel comfortable when these rules are disrupted. 

Breaking the rules is a great thinking activity for elementary school students. This means playing a simple game and, instead of following all the game rules, just change them. It helps them adjust their expectations and make room for change. 

Embrace changes

Simple things like replacing your go-to red pencil for your whiteboard in the classroom with a black pencil will also show children that you are flexible. 

Offer alternatives

In any play or class, make sure to have various alternatives. This will quickly show children that flexibility does not mean just another choice than the one they know; it means a wide variety of options from which they can choose. All of which will help them learn and experience new things.

Flexible thinking activities for preschoolers 

Preschoolers have a way of sticking to what they know and find familiar. This allows them to be more relaxed and have a certain degree of safety. However, making them get out of their comfort zone from time to time can help them embrace change easier.

Mixed up schedule

Having a schedule is something that lets children know what to expect. However, no matter how hard you try, some things may push you to change the program. This is why preparing preschoolers to see that any schedule can be changed is necessary.

If you have a specific door you enter in the classroom, change it with another door. If you have a different set-up for children at tables at snack time, change it with smaller tables, with other children staying at a table. If you have a spot where you usually teach the lessons, change it and move into another spot – children will have to follow you from where you are. 

Take them outdoors

Spending time outdoors is the favourite activity preschoolers have. More than just playing and having fun, their senses are stimulated, and their focus and attention are at their peak. 

Getting creative

Toddlers are more creative than any adult can be. Their minds just find new ways to deal with things all the time. When there is a problem, ask them to brainstorm solutions to fix it, how many ways are there and which are those ways. 

Stuck Thinking vs Flexible Thinking 

More than this, they believe regulations should be followed thoroughly. Rigid or stuck thinking is inflexible thinking. Inflexible thinking is seeing only one way to solve a problem. It is hardly recommended as one way to solve a problem may not be the best. 

Flexible thinking can help show you different solutions to a problem, and you can pick the best one. Stuck thinking only allows you to see a single solution. Flexible thinkers adjust their plans according to the situation, see different perspectives and embrace change.

Rock Thinking vs Flexible Thinking 

Rock thinking is a type of thinking that gets upset when there are any changes happening, acts like a boss with people to get their ways, gets stuck with one way to solve a problem, and is not fun to be around with. 

Flexible Thinking Tips 

Flexibility has many positive outcomes in children and later in life in adults. 

Some of the essential benefits of flexible thinking are:

• Improved reading abilities and understanding of the readings
• Better respond to any life events
• Increased ability to respond to stress later in life as an adult but also as a child
• Improved creativity
• To be able to embrace flexibility  
• Be open to change
• Meet with various types of people that have different opinions and see that solutions to the same problem vary according to the person 
• Be an active social person
• Enrol in a group

Conclusion 

Life does not always go as planned. Having flexibility in thinking helps students grow into flexible and more accepting persons.  If it is not an essential social skill, flexible thinking is undoubtedly a necessary social skill. 

Some children suffer from different disorders that find it harder to have flexible thinking and cannot cope so well in various flexible thinking activities. Teachers should know who those students are and help them appropriately using medical practitioners. 

Flexible Thinking Activities FAQ 

What is flexible thinking .

Flexible thinking is that type of thinking that allows people to see a bigger picture of anything.

What are examples of flexible thinking? 

• Open-minded to others’ opinions
• Open to change 
• Seeing more than just one view of a situation
• Receive feedback positively

What are two ways to practice flexible thinking? 

Playing games is a great way to practice flexible thinking. More than any changes are happening; it makes you come up with solutions.

Changing routines is a process that most people do not like because routine is in human nature. Being open to change will help you cope with your routine changes easier. 

How do students develop flexibility skills? 

Students can develop flexibility skills through social interaction. Being socially active will help them face a different situations, see different perspectives and choose the best solutions.

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Flexibility in Problem Solving: Analysis and Improvement

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Adaptivity ; Adjustability ; Changeability ; Variability ; Versatility

The noun flexibility derives from the Latin verb “flectere,” to bend. Literally, flexibility refers to the capability of bending without breaking. At a more metaphorical level, flexibility refers to someone’s predisposition to readily adapt his or her behavior to the (changing) requirements of any given situation. In the sciences of learning, flexibility in problem solving is generally understood as the ability to choose the most appropriate strategy and/or representation for the problem at hand, for a given student, and in a given context.

Theoretical Background

The (in)flexibility of human thinking with regards to problem solving has been a research topic in psychology for decades. Back in 1945, Duncker, a renowned Gestalt psychologist, already showed that human thinking is, by nature, inflexible, in the sense that subjects find it challenging to use objects in novel ways in order to solve...

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Duncker, K. (1945). On problem solving. Psychological Monographs, 58 (270), 5.

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Heinze, A., Star, J. R., & Verschaffel, L. (2009). Flexible/adaptive use of strategies and representations in mathematics education [Special issue]. ZDM – The International Journal on Mathematics Education, 41 (5), 535–540.

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Vessey, I. (1991). Cognitive fit: A theory-based analysis of the graph versus tables literature. Decision Sciences, 22 , 219–240.

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Problem solving is the key of doing and also learning mathematics. It takes also the fundamental role of developing mathematical knowledge. Responding to the current reform movement in mathematics, students are expected to learn to be a flexible thinker. The ability to think flexible is challenged by the globalisation, hence influence mathematics education. A flexible thinking includes ability to apply knowledge in different contexts rather than simply use it in similar context when it is studied. Arguably problem solving activities can contribute to the development of the ability to apply skills to unfamiliar situations. Accordingly, an appropriate classroom instructional strategy must be developed. A cognitive load theory suggests that by reducing extraneous cognitive load during learning could enhance transfer learning. A goal-free problem strategy that is developed based in cognitive load theory have been showed to be effective for transfer learning. This strategy enables students to learn a large numbers of problem solving moves from a mathematics problem. The instruction in a goal-free problem directs students to ‘calculate as many solution as you can’ rather than to calculate a single given goal. Many experiment research evident goal-free problem enhance learning. This literature review will discuss evidence goal-free problem facilitate students to solve problems flexibly and thus enhance their problem solving skills, including how its implication in the classroom.

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How To Promote Flexible Thinking and Risk-Taking in Math Class

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Showing students that math is a flexible subject can be powerful. So many kids (and adults) believe that math is all about getting right answers. But it’s not! When we can show students that there are many ways to solve a problem and that we can use flexible thinking to think in different ways, we empower our students .

We allow them to see math as a creative subject and give them the opportunity to see math in their own way.

In this post, Shareen Hando, a teacher from Winnipeg, Manitoba , shares the many different ways she uses Math Conversations in her classroom to empower her students – helping them to see themselves as mathematicians and share their thinking in creative ways.

My Math Background

I come from a background of experiencing math anxiety, timed tests, and focusing on mental math and fluency rather than problem-solving – I share this commonality with many colleagues. Because of my past experience, I was passionate about finding methods and research-based practices to build mathematical mindsets and problem-solving practices with my students, and sharing math ideas in creative ways. 

Related: 13 Simple and Quick Alternatives to Timed Math Fact Tests

Encouraging Risk-Taking, Flexible Thinking, and Confidence with Problem-Solving

I started the year with an emphasis on, and celebration of, every student’s ideas – correct or not. As part of our daily number routine, reluctant sharers knew that every morning, every student had an opportunity to share. They could see that other students might have made a mistake, but those students were recognized for trying and explaining their reasoning .

The focus was not on the right answer, but instead on the thinking and the courage to try.

Constant daily exposure helped students begin taking risks and feel comfortable sharing ideas without the pressure of the teacher calling on them. My goal was for students to feel comfortable sharing and to respond with a comment or question that kept students thinking. Slowly but surely, I began to hear the discourse in my classroom with phrases like

“I’d like to add on to…”

“I agree because…”

“I like how you solved it.”

“I disagree. How about…”

I began seeing math talk signals being used in other subjects and the phrases we use during play.

Resources that Help Me Promote Flexible Thinking and Risk-Taking in Mathematics

I found Shelley Gray resources during a time of hybrid learning. Teaching both in-person and online was already a near-impossible task – throw in creating engaging digital and paper activities and it was, well… is there a word for worse than impossible? There were not enough hours in the day.

In this digital space we have so many amazing websites to find tasks such as counting collection images, which one doesn’t belong (WODB), subitizing images, and story problems – but wouldn’t it be nice to have ALL of these diverse rich tasks in one place , catered to your students’ ability levels?

I aligned immediately with the philosophy and ideas that Shelley incorporates into her resources. I jumped right in, and both students and I LOVED her Math Conversations . The next year, I began exploring different ways I could incorporate Math Conversations into my combined classroom.

How I Adapt and Use Math Conversations in My Classroom

Math warm-ups.

We pull up a math conversation slide and right after the morning meeting my students are ready for a minds-on thinking task. We establish our math talk symbols, reinforce that mistakes help us grow and we are off! 

Related: Do You Need Help With Number Talks? Here’s the Quick Start Guide

Activating Prior Knowledge Before Introducing a New Concept

If we are starting a new unit, I will scroll to find a Which One Doesn’t Belong (WODB) to spark curiosity and activate what students already know. 

Sharing Ideas for In-Person and Online Learners Via Flipgrid

Work smarter, not harder as my colleagues would say! I was able to have rich conversations with students during hybrid learning by posting a slide of the Math Conversations through Flipgrid. In class, we would have a whole class math talk , and then share student responses on Flipgrid; online learners were able to add their own ideas to the same math conversation, and view their friends’ responses afterwards! It was so powerful! It made my students feel connected, and they felt like they had a responsibility to share and teach their friends at home. 

Displaying Math Tasks and Student Thinking in the Classroom

Recently, I have started making 4-5 monthly math tasks that center around concepts and goals we are focusing on in numeracy. I pulled slides from Shelley’s Math Conversations to showcase and display students’ learning. We started with projecting the slide on the screen, then I would record students’ thinking with their initials and have a math talk.

Students love seeing their work on the board! If students agreed, I would also add their initials beside one solution.

I also used the Math Conversation slides to create bulletin board displays where students could share their flexible thinking. I love displaying students’ thinking because even those who are more reluctant to publicly share are still given a chance to write down their answers to the math task. They are given a choice if they want to write their name on the back or front of the card.

Math Conversations have been a huge hit in our classroom. During our math instruction, it has been amazing to see students reflect back on our bulletin board and make connections when we are practicing skills such as two-digit addition or equality. Showing students’ thinking allows them to feel not only more confident in sharing ideas, but also to see themselves as mathematicians. 

Ready to Start Math Conversations to Foster Strategic, Flexible Thinking in Your Classroom?

Each Math Conversations package includes 200 ready-made slides. There is NO prep required – just display the slide and start your math talk! See all the details HERE.

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