Last night, I had an unexpected visitor in the middle of the night. As I stumbled half-awake to the bathroom in a remote part of the Yasawa Islands in Fiji, I heard something scurrying in the dark. A quick flick of the light revealed…nothing. At first. Then, in the corner, under the sink, I caught sight of a shadowy figure. My Texan instincts screamed “squirrel,” even though that made zero sense in Fiji. What could it be?

This was a perfect metaphor for the challenges we face as leaders—problems that don’t fit into our familiar framework, issues that refuse to be neatly categorized. Some challenges are easy to recognize; we’ve seen them before, and we know how to deal with them. But others, much like my midnight visitor, defy easy explanation. So how do we approach the unknown, the unexpected, the challenges that don’t fit into our comfortable boxes?

Here’s a practical framework for tackling those unfamiliar problems:

Start with Curiosity:

When faced with an unknown challenge, resist the urge to jump to conclusions. Take the time to gather information, ask questions, and understand the problem space. In my case, curiosity had me poking around in the dark, trying to figure out what was lurking under the sink. In business, it might mean reaching out to your network or diving into research before making any decisions.

Structured Brainstorming:

Don’t go it alone. Bring in diverse perspectives from your team, encourage creative thinking, and use tools like mind mapping or the “5 Whys” to dig deep. This is the time to explore all possibilities, no matter how unconventional they might seem. Just like I was mentally listing all the possible creatures that could be sharing my midnight bathroom break, in business, this is where you expand your thinking beyond the obvious.

Test and Refine:

Once you’ve got a few ideas, it’s time to test them out. Start small, gather feedback, and be ready to pivot based on what you learn. My “test” involved a broom handle and a lot of hope. In your business, it might be a pilot project or a small-scale experiment. The key is to learn quickly and adjust as needed.

Eventually, the mysterious shadow turned out to be a land crab—a creature far outside my usual Texan frame of reference. After a brief round of broom hockey, it scuttled out the door, leaving me with a story to tell and a valuable lesson learned.

Key Takeaway

As leaders, when faced with unfamiliar challenges, curiosity, collaboration, and iterative problem-solving are your best tools. Embrace the unknown, learn from it, and allow it to stretch your thinking. The most valuable lessons often come from the situations that don’t fit neatly into our preconceived notions.

Conclusion

Whether it’s a midnight crab in Fiji or a perplexing business challenge, the key to effective leadership lies in our ability to navigate the unexpected with an open mind and a willingness to learn. Every challenge, no matter how strange or unfamiliar, is an opportunity to grow, adapt, and ultimately, lead with greater wisdom.