Life is filled with challenges and problems. We have all face complicated challenges throughout our lives that can sometimes seem impossible to solve. I’m talking about the kinds of challenges that can give you sleepless nights, make you drink copious amounts of coffee, and leave you feeling frustrated and exhausted.
As a result, most people have become proficient at resolving small issues. But those who are extraordinarily good at solving problems have a serious advantage on the ladder of success. They often become leaders in their field. They achieve more feats and gain more respect with each big problem they solve.
It is true that some people are blessed naturally with the ability to solve problems, but almost anyone can hone their problem-solving skills and become a better problem solver with little effort and constant practice.
Even when you think you’ll never overcome a challenge, these strategies can help you become a better problem solver.
Identify the root problem
Oftentimes, when problems arise, there are many compounding factors that make it challenging to find a solution. Problems are rarely isolated. The problems pile up pretty quickly and solving them all at once is impossible.
To become a better problem solver, you should find the root cause of a problem before attempting to solve it. Whether it’s a misunderstanding, miscommunication, lack of instruction or broken process, finding the core cause of a problem will help you solve it quicker and easier.
Say, for instance, there is a business that is having revenue issues. There could be a myriad of reasons this business isn’t making any money. It’s not just one reason. This is why you cannot guess what is happening. You have to ask the right questions to zero in on the problem accurately.
If you find it difficult to identify the root cause of a problem, take an objective view of the issue(s) at hand and write down a list of all the potential causes. Simply pick the biggest issue and go from there. While doing this, you need to figure out the answers to these questions:
- What is behind this problem?
- What are the causes of this problem?
- Can the problem be qualified or quantified?
- What is happening at the core of the problem?
Take time to thoroughly dissect the situation; separate the symptoms from the cause. Collect information, analyze what you find and polish your diagnosis. This can take a bit of time but you have to understand that there is no better starting point to solving a problem that defining what exactly needs to be fixed.
This method usually works well when the problem is affecting people around you, not just yourself. Personal problems should take a similar, but more simplified approach (see point two).
Define the problem
Defining the problem is to simply ask ‘Why?’
Asking ‘why’ repeatedly (and answering them) on a problem can help you get to the root of it. Digging into the root cause of a problem is the way to find the best solution to solve the problem once and for all. To become a better problem solver, you have to ask ‘why’ more than once. It can even go as far as asking it up to five times.
The 5 Whys framework is one of the best ways to do this, especially if the problem in question is a personal one that you’d want to solve on your own.
For example, you always find yourself arriving late at work. Every time. If you were to apply the 5 Whys framework, it would look something like this.
- Why am I always late to work?
I always hit the snooze button because I want to continue sleeping.
- Why do I want to continue sleeping?
I feel extremely in the morning, especially when I just wake up.
- Why do I feel so tired in the morning?
I usually sleep late at night.
- Why do I sleep late at night?
I scroll through my Instagram feed constantly and I just can’t seem to stop till I sleep off.
- Why do I scroll through social media every night?
My job is very complicated and stressful, and looking through social media is the way I unwind.
If you didn’t apply this tactic, you might have settled for setting more alarms in the morning and having them beep every five minutes. With this technique, you have found that the root cause of your late arrival to work is that you cannot seem to get off social media at night.
With this knowledge, you can focus on ways to solve your problem e.g. switching off your phone an hour before you go to bed or finding other ways to unwind.
Consult a third party
One of the best ways to improve your problem-solving skills is to involve a third party. This works very well, especially when you feel stuck. A fresh pair of eyes can provide a new perspective to help you process and solve the problem.
After some time, you can become so focused and drawn into the problem that you start to reduce your brainstorming. You might also become preoccupied by one particular detail or solution. Bringing in someone who isn’t already involved in solving the problem might just be what you need to get fresh ideas or solutions.
This third party can act as an unbiased idea machine that can approach the problem from different angles and provide new perspectives.
However, your third party has to be open-minded. When facing a huge problem, many people just bring in anyone that has a brain and two hands. Unfortunately, close-minded people will not only delay the solution to the problem, they may also create a much bigger problem than the one you’re trying to solve.
To become a better problem solver, you should understand that the best solutions come from open-minded people. Your problem-solving team has to be willing to get out of their comfort zone and think outside the box. Eventually, this approach will yield creative new solutions.
Find multiple solutions
To become a better problem solver, you have to think innovatively. Ergo, you have to think outside the box. Don’t settle for the first solution you come up with. Think wide and find as many other solutions as you can. And then find more.
Now that you have a list of the causes of the problem, try to brain all the possible solutions. The best thinking happens when you are able to bounce ideas and opinions off other people. Get open-minded people in the room, listen to them attentively and think of as many alternative solutions as you can. Don’t try to evaluate these solutions yet. The time will come for that.
The brainstorming process might require you to search for answers in weird or unusual places/sources. You might have to keep an open mind, talk to different sets of people and be receptive to the exchange of perspectives and ideas.
Once you have a long list of possible solutions, evaluate them to find the one that will work best. To do this, you need to answer a few questions.
- Is this solution scalable?
- Does this solution benefit all the parties involved?
- What are the risks? Can these risks be managed?
- Is this solution viable?
- Do we have the resources to properly implement this solution?
These questions will help you find the right solution. They will help you make decisions that are feasible and beneficial to everyone.
Execute your solution
This part requires a lot of thought. No matter how great a solution is, poor execution can compound the problem rather than resolve it. We have all participated in those work meetings and conferences where ideas and solutions to problems are brainstormed and spun into a few actionable deeds, only for us to leave the meeting not knowing when or how the ideas will be implemented.
That is why you need to build a watertight plan to implement your solution. This plan will cover the parties involved, the time and the method with which you will implement your solution. You’re also going to have to determine how you will measure the success of your solution. You don’t have to be the implementer of the whole solution, but as a problem solver, you need to play an active role in it.
Take a break
Sometimes you might hit a wall while solving problems—it’s called a problem block—but you might not want to bring in a third party for some reasons. You’re stumped and, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t seem to think up creative solutions. This is absolutely normal and okay.
The solution to this might be to take a break.
It is possible to get so entrenched in a problem that you don’t carve out time to take care of yourself. The problem engulfs you and you cannot seem to rest until you have found a solution. This is completely natural. Research has shown that the normal human brain can only really focus on a project/task for 52 minutes before brain block and fatigue sets in.
However, to become a better problem solver, you need to make sure that your brain can quickly and easily process information and put that information to work. When you’re overly stressed, fatigued or burnt out, your brain become less likely to work well.
Avoid this negative problem by taking short breaks throughout your day. Whether you use a to-do list, an alarm, or even post-it notes, you should find a way to incorporate breaks into your work schedule. You can take a walk, read some great books, jog around the block or make some music. This will help you feel more energized and productive as you face big challenges head-on.
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Conclusion
Becoming a better problem solver takes a great deal of patience, persistence, and an open mind. It is very important to seek help from others and to not settle for the obvious solution, but the most feasible one. Granted, you might not get it right the first time, but constant practice will help you sharpen your problem-solving skills.
These six techniques will also prove very helpful in your quest to become a better problem solver.
- Identify the root problem
- Define the problem
- Consult a third party
- Find multiple solutions
- Execute your solution
- Take a break
