Why Problem Solving?

I chose problem solving because it is a very important skill to have. Every morning I wake up I have to solve a problem. When I wake up, I am very tired because I have terrible sleeping habits. Every morning I have to decide which way is the most efficient to wake myself up. Just like most Americans I take the easy way out and chug a cup of coffee. This is a small example of problem solving. I made the choice to drink a cup of coffee to solve my problem of being tired. There were many other choices I could’ve made. I could’ve had a nice breakfast, exercised, took a cold shower, etc. Instead I choose to drink the coffee. This might have not of been the best choice, but a “bad” choice is better than no choice.

Problem solving a decision making are almost synonymous. They share some of the same aspects. Both of these cause people stress if they are not prepared for the situation. As Irving and Mann state in, Decision making :a psychological analysis of conflict, choice, and commitment, “The symptoms of stress that are often observed at the time of making a difficult decision include feelings of apprehensiveness, a desire to escape from the distressing choice of dilemma, and self-blame for allowing oneself to to get into a predicament where one is forced to choose between unsatisfactory alternatives (Elowitz, Janis, Mann 1977). This quote is so true because many times I have been in a situation where I blame myself for being in it and just want to escape. Some nights I have to make a decision if I should stay up late to finish a task or go to bed early and wake up early to finish the task. I usually stay up late causing me to be tired in the morning, which in turn leads to me having to solve my problem of being over tired. These decisions become more stressful based on the magnitude of the decision. If the choice is very important you will become very stressed, both physically and mentally (Elowitz, Janis, Mann 1977). Life and death situations are the most stressful decisions anyone can make. These decisions can hurt you at the core if you have to make a decision you would never want to make in a different situation. Unfortunately, sometimes you end up in these situations. Luckily, most things can always be fixed. They can be fixed with problem solving.

Problem solving is a very important skill to have because it is in all job fields. Having a good sense of problem solving can make your job more easy and enjoyable. I work at a family run hardware store. When I first started there I did not know anything about plumbing, electrical and carpentry. This lack of knowledge and lack of problem solving skills would get me frustrated and for a short period of time I hate my job because of this. After 3 years of working there, I now have the experience and the practice of problem solving to be able to fix even some of the more complex questions that customers have. Without me being able to adjust and become a good problem solver, I would of continued to be miserable at my job eventually causing me to hate it and then quit. This skill of problem solving does not just benefit me, but it also benefits my boss/co-workers and the customers. With me being able to solve problems on my own, I no longer have to bother my boss and co-worker for help. This also allows the customer to have a more efficient and enjoyable experience when seeking help. The one comment I get all the times from customers is, “I like coming here because I know you can always solve my problem or at least help me find a way to solve my problem”. This is important because even if you do not have the skills to solve a problem, you should at least be able to point the customer to someone who can solve their problem.

Over the next few weeks I plan to improve on my problem solving skills. I have hit a certain threshold where I need to be able to better my problem solving skill through other aspects of learning instead of practice. I want to learn more ways to make myself a more rounded problem solver, through research and through other forms of learning maybe like finding a mentor.

Citation:

Elowitz, L., Janis, I. L., & Mann, L., 1977, Decision making — a psychological analysis of conflict, choice, and commitment, Free Press