McKinsey · Ideas & Institutions
TIER 4 Sat, 27 Sep 2025 16:39:00 +0000
6 key steps | | | --- | --- | | | | | | --- | **Share this email** | | | ---|---|---|--- | ************ --- | | | | | Share this email on **LinkedIn** --- | --- | | Share this email on **X** --- | --- | | Share this email on **Facebook** --- | --- | | | | --- --- | | TIMELESS INSIGHTS–AND WHY THEY’RE AS RELEVANT AS EVER --- | | --- | | | | | --- | | Brought to you by Alex Panas, global leader of industries, & Axel Karlsson, global leader of functional practices and growth platforms --- | | --- | | --- | | | We hope you find our perspectives useful. Let us know what you think at Alex_Panas@McKinsey.com and Axel_Karlsson@McKinsey.com. --- | | —Alex and Axel _ _ --- | | | September 2025 --- | | To celebrate the 60th birthday of _McKinsey Quarterly_ , the _McKinsey Classics_ newsletter is dedicating a full year to enduring _Quarterly_ articles that were ahead of their time. Also, check out our final special-themed birthday issue of the _Quarterly_, which explores our future on the planet, available now. --- | | | --- | | ## **Six problem-solving mindsets for very uncertain times** --- | | If you’ve ever talked with a four-year-old before, you’ve likely picked up on one common trait that most young kids possess: They ask questions, and lots of them. But before you brush this off as merely a minor (if at times adorable) nuisance, the authors of this _McKinsey Quarterly_ classic would challenge you to channel your inner four-year-old the next time you encounter a problem at work. Why? Because when faced with uncertainty, being curious about a wide range of solutions can help you arrive at a better one—and help avoid the behavioral biases that can hinder creative problem-solving. That’s one of six mutually reinforcing problem-solving mindsets that the authors argue are crucial for uncertain times. The other five are equally paramount: Be an _imperfectionist_ , with a high tolerance for ambiguity; have a _“dragonfly eye”_ view of the world to see through multiple lenses; pursue _occurrent behavior_ and experiment relentlessly; tap into the _collective intelligence_ , acknowledging that the smartest people might not be in the room; and practice _“show and tell,”_ because storytelling begets action. Needing to solve a problem doesn’t have to _be_ a problem. To learn more about how to cultivate the mindsets of the best problem solvers, read our _Quarterly_ classic “Six problem-solving mindsets for very uncertain times.” --- | | | | | | Crack the code --- | | --- | | | --- | | **Read our latest thinking on this classic topic ** --- | | | | --- | #### **How Strategy Champions win** --- Only 21 percent of executives in a McKinsey survey on corporate strategies think their companies’ strategies are high quality. We call the ones that are beating the market and moving up the power curve of economic profit—which has never been steeper—Strategy Champions. These companies excel at designing bold strategies, mobilizing their organizations effectively, and sustaining focused execution. Read our latest insights on the topic from McKinsey Senior Partner Alejandro Krell and coauthors. **Design bold strategies** | | | --- | | _—Edited by Drew Holzfeind, editor, Chicago _ --- | | | --- | | | | --- | #### Introducing Ask McKinsey: Our new chatbot --- Get quick, personalized, trusted answers to your most pressing questions, powered by McKinsey’s research and published insights on AI, digital, and tech. **Let’s chat ** | | | --- | | **Is there a classic business topic you’d like us to feature?Send us an email—we’d love to hear from you.** --- | | | --- | | | | | --- | **Follow our thinking** | | | | ---|---|--- | | | | | | **McKinsey Insights** \- Get our latest thinking on your iPhone, iPad or Android. --- | | | | ---|---|--- | | | --- | | **Share these insights ** --- | | **Did you enjoy this newsletter?** Forward it to colleagues and friends so they can subscribe too. Was this issue forwarded to you? Sign up for it and sample our 40+ other free email subscriptions here. --- | | This email contains information about McKinsey's research, insights, services, or events. By opening our emails or clicking on links, you agree to our use of cookies and web tracking technology. For more information on how we use and protect your information, please review our privacy policy. --- | You received this email because you subscribed to our McKinsey Classics newsletter. --- | Manage subscriptions | Unsubscribe --- | Copyright © 2025 | McKinsey & Company, 3 World Trade Center, 175 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007 ---