Find a practice for your goal
Search for the skill or situation you want to work on, such as focus, negotiation, or setting boundaries. Open a practice to read its steps before choosing what suits you.
60 results (expanded search) for "problem"
Psychological
Externalizing the Problem
Instead of "I am depressed", say "depression visits me" — problem loses grip.
Administrative
Five Whys for Every Recurring Problem
Don't treat symptoms. Ask why five times to reach the root cause.
Leadership
Team Celebration Design (Not Just Problem-Solving)
Design a deliberate celebration after a real achievement, with the same effort you invest in problem-solving meetings — celebration is a leadership skill to practice.
Leadership
Experimentation Mindset for Adaptive Problems
There's no ready solution for adaptive problems — treat your next solution as a small learnable experiment, not a final plan that must succeed on the first try.
Parenting
Collaborative Problem Solving
Instead of imposing a fix, collaborate with your child to solve concerns of both — Ross Greene method.
Psychological
Unique Outcomes
Your problem isn't constant — when didn't it show? Those "unique outcomes" reveal your strength.
Leadership
Distinguishing Technical vs. Adaptive Challenges
Before solving any problem, ask: do we need an expert with a ready answer (technical), or do the people themselves need to change (adaptive)?
Parenting
GROW Model for Kids
Use the GROW coaching model (Goal, Reality, Options, Will) to teach your child self-problem-solving.
Professional
Calibrated Questions (Voss)
Ask with "how" and "what" not "why" — opponent solves your problem.
Professional
How-Question Strategy
Instead of direct "no", say "how can I do that?" — opponent solves your problem.
Professional
Three-Act Story
Every presentation = story: problem (1), conflict (2), solution (3).
Social
The Common Need Question
Convert "me vs you" into "us vs the problem" with one question about a shared need.
Administrative
The 5 Whys for Root Causes
For each problem, ask "why?" five times in a row to reach the root cause.
Administrative
Fishbone: Cause-Effect Diagram
Draw a "fish skeleton" of the problem: head = issue, bones = cause categories.
Administrative
OODA Loop: Observe-Orient-Decide-Act
In dynamic problems, cycle OODA faster than the adversary.
Parenting
Weekly Family Meeting
A 20-min weekly family meeting with fixed agenda: gratitude, problems, plan-the-week.
Digital & AI
AI as Rubber Duck for Thinking
Explain your problem to the model out loud. You often find the solution while explaining, before its reply.
Administrative
Wiki Content Seeding Technique
Don't wait for the team to voluntarily fill the wiki — seed 20 initial pages yourself from real past questions.
Psychological
Counter-Statements
For each negative thought, frame 3 counter-statements with evidence.
Psychological
Small Wins Diary
Log 3 small wins daily — trains brain to see positive.
Psychological
Strict Worry Postponement
All worry in one fixed 15-min daily window — only.
Psychological
Downward Arrow Technique
Under every negative thought, deeper one. Reveal with "what does this mean?"
Psychological
Reattribution
If error occurred, 100% your fault? Usually no. Recalibrate share.
Psychological
Universalization Question
Your negative thought — if someone else thought it, would you agree?
Psychological
"I'm a Failure" Audit
"I'm a failure" needs 5 evidence + 5 counter. Write them.
Psychological
Emotion Description Without Judgment
Name feeling (sad, angry) — without "I'm bad" or "this is wrong".
Psychological
Radical Acceptance
Resisting reality doubles pain. Full acceptance (not approval) frees.
Psychological
Turning the Mind
Acceptance isn't one decision — it's a recurring choice you make daily.
Psychological
Crisis Survival
In intense crisis, no decisions. Calm first.
Psychological
Sensory Distraction
In intense emotion, use 5 senses for moment distraction — not suppression.
Psychological
Daily Skills Card
Log daily which DBT skills you used and which were effective.
Psychological
Five Senses Eating
One meal/week eaten with all senses — no phone, no talk.
Psychological
Sound Anchoring
Use a sound (clock tick, AC) as presence anchor.
Psychological
Open-Eye Meditation
No need to close eyes — meditation in life as is.
Psychological
Loving-Kindness (Metta)
Wish well for self, beloved, neutral, difficult, world.
Psychological
Alternate Nostril Breathing
Block one nostril, inhale other, alternate — balances brain halves.
Psychological
Stimulus-Response Gap
Between event and reaction — there's a gap. You choose in it.
Psychological
Hourly Presence Bell
Every hour, bell reminds you to present 1 min — not meditate, just present.
Psychological
Pain Mindfulness
Pain + resistance = suffering. Pain - resistance = just pain.
Psychological
Noting Practice
Label thought "thought", then let go — don't build on it.
Psychological
Breath Counting to 10
Count breaths 1-10. If lost, restart. Simple beginner meditation.
Psychological
Hundred Returns
Every time mind wanders, return — meditation isn't stillness, it's return.
Psychological
Daily Activities Meditation
Turn repeating task (dishwashing) into meditation.
Psychological
Short Presence Prayer
One min at fixed daily time, any phrasing suiting you.
Psychological
Gratitude Visit
Write to someone who positively shaped you, then deliver personally.
Psychological
VIA Character Strengths
Free test reveals top 5 character strengths.
Psychological
Weekly New Strength Use
Each week, use one of your strengths in a new way.
Psychological
Best Possible Self
Write 15 min about best version of self in 5 years — you may see self.
Psychological
Savoring a Great Day
Recall a great old day in full detail — generates new positivity.
Psychological
Mindful Savoring
In good moment, stop. Don't rush task — intensify.
Psychological
Daily Gratitude Journal
Write 5 gratitudes daily for 21 days.
Psychological
Unsent Thank-You Letter
Write thanks letter unsent — for yourself.
Psychological
Daily Random Kindness
One random kind act daily — lifts your mood more than recipient.
Psychological
Weekly PERMA Audit
5 happiness components: emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, achievement. Rate yourself.
Psychological
Flow Activity
Find an activity where you lose time — this is flow.
Psychological
Meaning Moments Log
Log moments where you felt deeper meaning — discover what matters.
Psychological
Eulogy Writing
Write what you wish said at your funeral — discover deep values.
Psychological
Awe Walks
20-min walk looking at what amazes you — increases happiness, reduces anxiety.
Psychological
Beauty Appreciation
In your day, pause at 3 beauty moments — new pleasure forms.
Psychological
Learned Optimism (ABCDE)
With each negative: A (event), B (belief), C (consequence), D (dispute), E (energization).