The term "puzzle" is often used in corporate boardrooms with casual abandon. Executives talk about "puzzling situations," "pieces that don’t fit," or markets that are "a complete puzzle." At the same time, this may seem like harmless jargon. Still, the careless use of the word 'puzzle' belies a gross misunderstanding of a puzzle—a structured problem requiring a tailored, meticulous approach to solving. In essence, a puzzle is not a riddle; it's an art and a science that beckons for a solver's full engagement and strategic prowess.

Much like a jigsaw puzzle, business problems come with an array of oddly shaped pieces: market trends, consumer behavior, internal processes, etc. If you've ever watched a world-class jigsaw puzzle solver at work, you'd marvel at the precision, strategy, and sheer focus. It's not just an idle pastime—it's a cerebral sport. And oh, how much our executives can learn from it!

The Art of Edge-Sorting

Jigsaw masters don't scatter pieces all over the table and hope for a magical assembly. They start by sorting the pieces—usually by beginning with edge pieces to frame the structure. This technique is called edge-sorting.

Business Takeaway: Before diving into a complex project or facing a challenging market, identify your edge pieces—core competencies, market differentiators, and primary stakeholders, and, more importantly, your frame of reference, that is, the market where you decide to compete. This creates a stable (1) frame within which other elements (the internal pieces of the puzzle) can fit.

Divide and Conquer

Elite jigsaw solvers often divide their puzzles into sections by color, pattern, or another characteristic to tackle the problem in bite-sized chunks.

Business Takeaway: When faced with a multifaceted issue, divide and conquer. Break the problem into its components, departments, or market segments, and tackle each individually before trying to solve the whole. This prevents the feeling of being overwhelmed and allows for specialized focus.

The Sub-Assemblies

Puzzle champions also often create small sub-assemblies of pieces they know fit together and then integrate them into the larger picture.

Business Takeaway: Similar to creating sub-assemblies, create task forces or cross-departmental teams focusing on specific sub-issues or projects. Once these 'sub-assemblies' have been optimized, they can be reintegrated into the larger operational strategy.

The Fit Test

A jigsaw piece either fits or doesn't. Period. When a master puzzler finds a piece that doesn’t fit, they don’t force it; they move on to the next.

Business Takeaway: Only some strategies or team members will perfectly fit a project or department. Refrain from trying to force a square peg into a round hole. Recognize the misfit and adjust accordingly.

Pause, Reflect, and Re-assess

Even the best puzzle solvers take a step back to see the bigger picture—sometimes literally. It's easy to get lost in the granular details and miss an obvious solution.

Business Takeaway: Regular intervals of reflection and assessment are essential. Take a step back and look at the overall business landscape. You may see connections or solutions that must be made apparent amidst the hustle and bustle.

The Final Piece

Placing the final piece is satisfying for a jigsaw enthusiast because it means all elements are in harmony—a complete picture is formed.

Business Takeaway: The 'final piece' in business might be a successful product launch, a profitable quarter, or a fruitful partnership. It symbolizes that all the disparate elements—planning, execution, teamwork—have come together cohesively. However, compared to jigsaw puzzles, business problems are alive, and their components move constantly, so executives need to track the parts regularly to accommodate the whole puzzle again.

So, the next time you're faced with a 'business puzzle,' remember, it's not just a cliché. It’s an opportunity to apply a rigorous methodology to problem-solving. Assemble your team, sort your edges, divide, and conquer, and may you fit your final piece with the satisfaction of a champion puzzler.

(1) At least for the duration of your project, as we will see later.