The mindful manager: exploring habits of mind during creative problem-solving in agricultural businesses

Operating in an increasingly changing business environment presents modern managers with complex problems that require creative solutions. This study delves into applying the 16 Habits of Mind (HoM) as a framework to enhance creative problem-solving competencies among managers. By conducting an exploratory qualitative research study through semi-structured interviews with 21 managers from different functional areas within the agricultural industry in South Africa, we examine the relevance of these habits when solving business problems. Our findings uncover a nuanced prioritization of these habits, with persisting, learning continuously, and listening with understanding and empathy emerging as top-ranked in management sciences. This research contributes to the theoretical discourse on managerial skills and effective problem-solving techniques. It provides practical implications for managers' training and development in this context and other emerging markets. These findings emphasize the necessity of nurturing a diverse range of thinking skills among managers to foster resilience, flexibility, and creativity by innovating in contemporary business.