See problems from different perspectives

Reframing

Reframing is the practice of deliberately shifting your perspective to see a situation in a new way, often revealing opportunities, solutions, and insights that were invisible from your original viewpoint.

In one sentence

“See problems from different viewpoints”

Quick facts

Time required

5–10 minutes

Primary benefit

Perspective Shifting

Techniques

9 individual techniques

The core mechanism.

The science

Where it came from.

Reframing is a cognitive technique derived from fields like cognitive behavioral therapy, design thinking, and linguistics. Research in cognitive psychology shows that how we frame a problem dramatically affects which solutions we consider viable. By reframing, we can bypass cognitive biases that limit our thinking to conventional approaches.

Techniques

9 techniques, each ready to use.

Each technique is a distinct prompt or operation. Apply them one at a time or combine several for deeper exploration.

Question Assumptions

Challenge what you take for granted

Identify and challenge your underlying assumptions about the problem. What if the opposite were true? What if a constraint didn't exist? This creates space for new possibilities to emerge.

Change the Scale

Zoom in or out from the problem

View your problem at different scales — zoom out to see the bigger context or system, or zoom in to focus on specific details. Each level of scale reveals different patterns and leverage points for intervention.

Shift Timeframes

Consider past, present, and future views

Examine your situation through different timeframes. How did we get here? What's happening right now? What might this look like in a week, a year, or a decade? Temporal shifts often reveal new insights.

Metaphorical Reframing

Apply metaphors and analogies

Describe your problem using metaphors from different domains. 'This project is like a garden/journey/orchestra.' Each metaphor highlights different aspects and suggests new approaches to your challenge.

Stakeholder Perspectives

Adopt others' viewpoints

View the situation through the eyes of different stakeholders. How would a customer/competitor/child/expert see this? Each perspective reveals blind spots and new possibilities your original view missed.

Problem to Opportunity

Convert problems into possibilities

Restate problems as opportunities or questions starting with 'How might we...?' This shifts from a fixed, negative framing to an open, solution-focused mindset that invites creative engagement.

Boundary Shifting

Redefine the scope of the challenge

Experiment with expanding or contracting the boundaries of your problem. Include more factors or focus on a subset. Often, the most powerful solutions come from redefining what's 'in' and 'out' of scope.

Inverse Reframing

Flip from negative to positive

Convert negative statements into positive ones. Instead of 'How do we reduce complaints?' ask 'How do we increase moments of delight?' This shifts focus from problems to be solved to value to be created.

Means vs. Ends

Distinguish methods from goals

Separate your ultimate goals from the means used to achieve them. Often we confuse the two, limiting possibilities. Ask: 'What are we really trying to achieve here?' to open up new solution paths.

Best practices

How to apply it effectively.

Use this pack when you feel stuck with a particular definition of your problem or when conventional approaches aren't yielding results. Begin by articulating your current understanding of the situation, then draw a reframing card to shift your perspective. Try multiple reframes to generate diverse insights. The most valuable reframes often feel uncomfortable at first because they challenge your existing mental models.

Best use cases

When to reach for this.

When you feel stuck with your current definition of the problem
When conventional approaches have consistently failed
When you want to find opportunities hidden in the current framing
When stakeholders disagree on what the problem actually is

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