Dilemma thinking can refine your messaging approach. Here’s how.

There are a number of tools and approaches for crafting purposeful crisis communications, whether the message addresses a national emergency or reputational issue unique to your brand. But beyond the crisis plan and the decision-making framework, you must ask a more fundamental question: Are you even thinking about the problem in the most pragmatic context?

TED recently published a video, “How ‘dilemma thinking’ transforms argument into action,” that unpacks the concept, which is derived from the work of management philosopher Charles Hamden-Turner.

So, what is dilemma thinking anyway?

Defining dilemma thinking

In today’s seemingly dystopian society, there is no shortage of interconnected social issues and problems that challenge the ability to conduct measured, non-partisan communications with our workforce and other stakeholders. Too often, we can get caught up in making sure we are on the right side of an argument to take meaningful action that effectively ties back to our organization’s core mission and values.