Fast Company: How Looking At Art Can Make You A Better Problem Solver
"If you want to improve your ability to solve problems, a trip to an art museum might help. That’s because how you observe paintings, photographs, or sculptures can provide you with tools that help you approach dilemmas at work, says Amy Herman, author of Fixed: How to Perfect the Fine Art of Problem Solving.
“The best things happen on the exit ramp of your comfort zone,” she says. “It helps to get out of thinking about the same things in the same way that you do every day. And very few people look at works of art every day.”
Seeking out new situations that are different than your everyday life can give you a way to look at a problem from another perspective. Here are three steps to try out:
First, observe: Go into a gallery (or look at art online) and ask yourself, “What works of art would I want to take home with me?”
Ask questions: When you’re trying to solve a problem, don’t just put the burden on yourself. Ask someone else. What’s their perspective? Looking at art, everyone sees something different.
Finally, read the label: Once you understand what you see and you hear what others see, reconcile your observations with what’s on the label, the name of the work, and the background story."
Read the complete article here
💬 Think of a recent problem you are facing or have faced. How can applying the 3 steps mentioned above help you?
#Art #ProblemSolving
@SoulfullyAButterfly I love the idea!
I don't have much opportunity to go to art gallery since 2020, so whenever I feel stuck, I usually browse to see and enjoy graphic designs, amazing house designs (I like architecture), and nature photographs.
Another things I like to do, call it art therapy if it fits, are doing zentangle (it helps me a lot of time to reset and refresh), and watching ballet performance on YouTube 😅
No. 1 ✔, no. 2 ✔, no. 3 well noted!
Thanks for the post, Soulfully! 💜
@SoulfullyAButterfly
Hi Soulfully! I really love the analogy that looking at art can compare to working through anything we may be struggling with! Applying the 3 steps can really be helpful when remembering to take a step back and realize that everything can be thought through and worked out! Thank you for sharing this!!
@SoulfullyAButterfly
Great article! After reading this I honestly think that I should be going out to appreciate aesthetics and art more often. As a science major I rarely get an opportunity to really have moments to challenge my creativity or artistry and as the article mentions, I think doing so will enhance problem-solving skills even more.
@SoulfullyAButterfly This was such an interesting read. Thank you!
