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In a group situation, how can making a difficult decision be handled creatively? First, it's important to understand that, often, the reason a decision is difficult to make is that none of the available options would really solve the problem that you and the others are hoping it will solve. After all, if one of the options were really a great solution, the decision would be easier to make. Ironically, it's when none of the options is clearly a good one that the decision becomes difficult - and, often, hotly debated.
In situations where a decision is difficult to make, the ideal creative approach would be to create yet another option: one that would effectively solve the problem. However, creating an effective solution usually takes longer than what's allowed for making the decision. If the decision must be made soon, what can be done? First, if necessary, you can express your preference for the option that seems least offensive - knowing that the problem won't be solved soon no matter which option is chosen.
Then, if solving the problem is important to you, spend time creating a more effective solution. Once you've created an effective and appropriate solution, share the idea with other people. If it really does have merit it will be passed on to other people, just as a good joke becomes widely shared. (And if you should hear about a good solution that you can further improve, pass on your refined version of it.) If your solution is truly effective and appropriate, it will eventually find its way into a list of options that decision-makers can choose from. You might not get credit for your creative efforts, but if solving the problem was your goal, you will have helped to reach that goal.
Creative problem solving is a slow process and therefore conflicts with the need to often make quick decisions. In a group situation, one way to deal with this contrast is to spend time creating solutions to a few problems and to share your solutions with other people. Effective solutions eventually get adopted, although it usually takes much longer than we would like it to.
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