Each and every week the Square Holes team are deep in the bowels of a number of projects, working to mine all of the insights that we can to help grow businesses and support thriving cities.

These insights are used by businesses and organisations to innovate their offerings, move into new markets, track their impact and hone their products and output. Each week we will be sharing a broad insight that we have learnt for you to use in your own work.

Let us know what you find valuable!

Jason: The science of complex thinking

I’ve felt like my brain has been running on hyperdrive of late, and it can be easy to feel a tad burnt out if one is not careful. But the flipside is a simple, almost boring life where thinking is pretty straight forward. This got me pondering the pros and cons of deep thinking. It turns out that complex problem solving strengthens the brain by building new neural pathways and enhancing neuroplasticity – our ability to adapt and think creatively under pressure. But too much complexity can overload the prefrontal cortex, leading to fatigue and rigid thinking. Recovery is a critical part of the process. During rest and downtime, the brain’s default mode network activates, connecting ideas and restoring clarity. Balancing deep work with deliberate pauses keeps individuals, teams and systems adaptable, creative and ready for what’s next.

Dylan: Adaptable is key 

The work we do at Square Holes is so varied and often complex that no two projects are identical. We are lucky to have many great jobs on at the moment, all with their own unique objectives, stakeholders and challenges. With so much diversity, the importance of being adaptable and flexible has never been more apparent. Each project brings new contexts, timelines and expectations, requiring us to adjust how we think, plan and collaborate. What works for one client or study is not always suitable for the next and that’s part of the challenge and the joy of what we do. Remaining open-minded and adaptable allows us to respond creatively to change and support each other (and our clients), whilst also delivering meaningful outcomes.

Mahalia: Ritualistic joy 

When the pandemic hit and many of the activities that helped to ground us and bring us joy were momentarily put on hold, many of us turned to the creation of new rituals to help soothe the sudden uncertainty that was thrust upon us. These rituals ranged from online exercise classes, to weekly sourdough bakes, to learning new languages from a very persistent little owl. We invested our time, and money into these new rituals in order to create little pockets of joy in amongst the chaos. And it seems we are still doing it with the ‘joyconomy’ holding strong.

Think your business or organisation could do with some insights? Contact us here.