Fixating on any single solution too early keeps you stuck in a limited view of the problem, blinding you to other options that may have more impact.

Here are 3 simple practices to help you stay open to new solutions and possibilities.

Slow Down

Before diving into problem-solving mode, create some space to breathe, think, and explore.

Go for a short walk, take a coffee break, eat lunch—anything that will interrupt the habit of immediately jumping to conclusions about your problem.

Lean Into the Discomfort of Not Knowing

Next time you’re facing a high-stakes, complex business challenge, pay close attention to any uncomfortable thoughts and emotions that arise.

When you’re aware of your discomfort, you’ll no longer be unconsciously controlled by it. You can choose to take a deep breath, lean into the feeling, and give yourself the time you need to explore multiple options.

Identify the Real Goal

Before committing to your first idea for a solution, take a step back and ask yourself, “Why does this problem even matter?”

Let’s pretend that your initial problem statement is, “Our website conversion rate is too low.”

Ask yourself, “Why does that matter? Is website conversion a high-level goal that we’ve committed to achieving, or is it simply a means to an end?”

When you look at the problem from this angle, you may see that the real issue is something like, “We need to hit our revenue target, but we’re currently falling short.”

Improving your conversion rate is just one of many possible solutions to this problem—and not necessarily the best. There may be much better options based on the real goal of “hit our revenue target.”

What will you do today to stay open and receptive to better solutions?

Will you create some space, get comfortable with being uncomfortable, and identify the real goal?