Highly Effective Strategies To Become A Better Problem Solver
Problems are inevitable. Yet, when dealing with tough challenges, people give up too soon. Those who have outstanding problem-solving skills can achieve long-term success. Almost everyone strives to become better at problem-solving but only a few become good at it. Why? Because they don’t realize that problem-solving is not a talent, but a technique that can be learned.
In this article, we will discuss four stages of problem-solving and how they can help tackle challenges quickly and in a precise manner.
Stages Of Problem-Solving Explained
1. Understanding The Problem
First thing first. Realize what the problem is all about and how it can be solved. Get data to extract the details of the problem. What type of problem it is. How difficult it is to solve. What solutions have been tried in the past to solve the problem? What successful solutions are there to solve the problem? Consider assumptions, data, and hypotheses as well. Ask the proper questions!
2. Brainstorm
Brainstorming is the next part after you have identified the problem. Brainstorming is to come up with ideas that you can use to find specific solutions to your problem. It can be difficult in the start to find relevant solutions, therefore creating mental notes. You can even write down your ideas to tackle tough situations, boost creativity, and streamline the mental process.
3. Select The Right Strategy
When you have found a few viable solutions to solve the problem, it is time to decide on the right one. Always prioritize the one that helps solve the problem and creates a win-win situation for all parties involved. People who limit themselves to a particular strategy or alternative for a long period of time do not develop into exceptional problem solvers. Therefore, it is recommended that you come up with different ways to solve the problem. As that is how you will evolve into a better problem solver.
4. Implementing Solution
Once you have the solution available to the problem, the next thing you would want will be to implement it properly. You may need to adjust your organization’s business model at times to make the solution fit in. The action plan should be written in such a way that the recommended solutions are embraced by both related individuals and the organization. You must realize that the key to improving the yield of any individual or business is to deploy the proper solution without any hiccups.
Problem Solving Techniques That You Should Know
1. Listing Obstacles Properly
This problem-solving technique says to find every possible solution to the problem. In reality, issues are rarely isolated. People with strong problem-solving skills frequently take a close look at the difficulties at hand. Furthermore, they take down all of the potential elements that may stymie a given remedy. When you mention every impediment, you significantly reduce the likelihood of the recently introduced solution backfiring.
2. Reverse Engineer The Problem
Another technique to solve a problem smoothly is by reverse engineering it. This type of technique is mostly used by engineers to solve problems that they get stuck with.
For example, if a car engine is not working, there are a gazillion reasons for that. The engineers will reverse engineer the actual cause of why the engine is not working. They will look at the causes to see how the problem actually occurred and try to solve it accordingly.
In the same way, you can reverse engineer the challenges you experience on a daily basis.
3. Stay Open-minded
It is possible that the actual problem is quite different from the one you believe you are experiencing. There’s a good chance that the problem is caused by something other than what you’re thinking.
There is also a possibility that the solution may be different than what you think it is for the problem you are experiencing. In all these scenarios, staying open-minded is the only thing that you can do. Being open-minded helps you explore different options and helps listen to different angles of the same problem.
Obstacles That Can Hinder Problem Solving
Here is a list of obstacles that can hinder your progress during problem-solving.
1. Mislead Information
There is a high chance that the information available is useful but unrelated to the subject at hand. With irrelevant data, you get tons of erroneous results that can become a hassle when it comes to problem-solving. The more intricate the situation, the simpler it is to get disoriented and deceived by the range of information.
2. Mindset
Your problem-solving endeavors can only help when your mindset is not limited to a set of pre-tested notions. Never forget that no two issues can be solved in the same way. You need to have the mindset of a problem solver, someone that can find answers to problems and look for solutions in the most unlikely of places.
3. Trial & Error
The best way to solve a problem is to take a trial and error approach. When you are not sure what the real solution is, you can only make educated guesses. Educated guesses involve reasoning to learn the mechanism behind the solution, bypassing common barriers, and challenging the mindset that can become rigid in such cases.
Bottom Line
We hope that the strategies we discussed regarding problem-solving have helped you become a better problem solver. Remember that problem solving involves rigorous efforts and a trial and error approach to find the most appropriate solution. Since not all solutions will have the same impact, it requires continuous improvement for deploying the best strategy.
