We’ve all been there—stuck on a problem that feels impossible to crack. The kind that keeps your team spinning, pouring time and energy into the same solutions without meaningful progress. It’s frustrating, demoralizing, and costly.
But breakthroughs aren’t reserved for the lucky or the brilliant. They happen when you approach challenges differently—by shifting your perspective, experimenting with speed and purpose, and using the resources and insights already at your fingertips. This is how organizations go from feeling stuck to delivering results that transform their business.
When teams spin their wheels, they don’t just waste time—they lose confidence and momentum. Customers grow impatient. Competitors move ahead. The opportunity cost can far outweigh the immediate problem.
Take the story of Procter & Gamble and their journey to create the Swiffer. Back in the 1990s, P&G’s floor-cleaning products weren’t resonating with customers. The team spent months trying to refine their existing product line—better mops, better cleaning solutions—but they weren’t getting anywhere. They needed a new perspective.
By reframing the challenge—What if mopping didn’t need water or a bucket?—they discovered a whole new approach. Customer research, rapid prototyping, and a willingness to abandon assumptions led to the Swiffer, which became a billion-dollar brand. That breakthrough didn’t come from a lucky guess. It came from the principles of innovation, the same ones you can apply to solve your team’s toughest problems.
Teams often get stuck because they’re trying to solve the wrong problem—or only part of it. To get to the breakthrough, you need to step back and ask: What’s really holding us back? Sometimes, the answer is uncomfortable, but it’s necessary.
For example, when we work with teams during Design Sprints, we guide them to break their challenges into manageable pieces, helping them focus on the root issue rather than just the symptoms. This clarity often reveals opportunities they couldn’t see before.
Breakthroughs rarely come fully formed. They emerge through rapid, small experiments that give you just enough data to decide what works—and what doesn’t. Don’t aim for perfection in your first attempt; aim for progress.
This approach isn’t just about speed; it’s about reducing the risk of big failures. At Centered, we encourage teams to embrace a culture of experimentation—where trying, learning, and iterating become the norm. Curious how to get there? Start with Building an Innovation-Ready Culture.
Sometimes the solution is right in front of you—it just isn’t being heard. Customers, employees, and even your own data are constantly providing feedback. The key is to design systems that collect, amplify, and act on those insights.
The principles of feedback loops are central to the strategies outlined in Breakthrough Innovation: Supercharge Your Thinking. Accelerate Innovation. They help teams break free from analysis paralysis and make decisions with confidence.
When you’ve been stuck for too long, it’s hard to see beyond the problem. A new perspective—whether from someone outside your team or outside your company—can be transformative.
That’s why organizations often turn to external facilitators for help, especially with persistent challenges. Whether it’s a Design Sprint or a focused workshop, a fresh perspective can inject the clarity and energy needed to move forward.
The path to a breakthrough is rarely easy, but it is achievable. Reframe your challenge, test ideas quickly, leverage feedback, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Procter & Gamble’s Swiffer didn’t emerge because of luck—it came from intentional processes that anyone can replicate.
What’s keeping your team stuck might just be the starting point for your next great success.
Ready to unlock your breakthrough?
Download Breakthrough Innovation: Supercharge Your Thinking. Accelerate Innovation and discover how to solve complex problems fast.