22 Nov Problem-Solving Skills| Improve Your Problem-Solving Skills in 2021

Introduction

-In our day-to-day activities, we are all faced with problems or challenges we must overcome for us to move ahead. Let’s define what a problem is. A problem is regarded as a situation unwelcomed or harmful that needs to be dealt with. It can also be a question raised for inquiry, consideration, or solution. Problem-solving skill is highly essential for survival. This article will guide you on how to improve your problem-solving skills. Let’s dive right in.

 What is problem-solving?

It is raining and you have to go to the mall down the road to buy groceries. How do you get to the mall without being beaten by the rain? You can pick up an umbrella and rush down to the mall. On the other hand, you can decide to drive down in your car to the mall. That’s two solutions to a problem. You are free to go with the one that suits you.

Problem-solving is an act of defining a problem, identifying, finding the root cause, prioritizing, and finding solutions to a problem. In simple terms, problem-solving is providing solutions to challenges or problems.

Is problem-solving a skill?

Problem-solving is a soft skill which like other skills, can be learned through education or training. It is a skill you can develop when you accustom yourself to recurrent issues in your field or industry and by learning from professionals.

 It is an essential skill in the workplace and also in daily life.  This skill helps you to navigate through the issues of life.

Why is Problem Solving Skill Important?

 Having problem-solving skills will not only help you in your workplace but also in your daily life. Human beings are created to solve problems. Problem-solving skills possessed by great scientists were the reason for the great inventions we enjoy today. Breakthroughs in Medicine, Engineering, business, law, and other fields are a result of people coming up with solutions to problems. Imagine Micheal Faraday (the father of electricity) did not invent electricity! You’d probably not be reading this article on your device at the moment.

Steps in Problem-solving

Here, we will discuss the effective steps to take when you are solving problems. It’s important to follow these steps in the correct order if you want to solve a problem effectively. We’d be discussing five steps you must take to solve a problem.

STEP 1: Identify and Define the problem

This is the first step in problem-solving. This is the most important and the foundation of problem-solving. When you identify the problem, you are halfway to the solution. This is where you have to separate fact from opinion; ensure your statements are backed up with data.  Find out the root cause of the problem and not just the symptoms.

Here you can ask the following questions: What is the problem? when did the problem start?

STEP 2: Generate Possible Solutions

The next step is to come up with different solutions. Brainstorming is one of the ways you can use it to generate solutions. A brainstorming session is where you generate lots of ideas both the ones that will make it to the final stage and those that you will have to discard. The brainstorming session is not where you evaluate the solutions you come up with. An important thing to keep in mind while brainstorming is “quantity over quality”. The more solutions you come up with, the higher the chances of having the best solution.

You can brainstorm individually or in teams although having a brainstorming session with your teammates is preferable.

STEP 3: Decide on a Solution

After you have generated possible solutions, now is the time for you to sieve your solutions. You have to separate the wheat from the chaff. During your brainstorming session, you must have come up with solutions that cannot be implemented but couldn’t discard them because that’s not the aim of brainstorming.

This step is where you analyze and select the best solution for the problem. You must have considered factors such as cost, resources, and timeliness while going for the solution you considered to be the best.

STEP 4: Implement the solution

Now that you’ve decided on a solution, this is the time to implement the solution. You have to act on and execute the solution you chose. It will be a total waste of time if you do not implement the solution you chose after going through the previous steps.

STEP 5: Evaluate the results

This is the final step in problem-solving and this is where you carefully evaluate your results.  You can do this after some weeks or months of implementing your solutions. For better evaluation of your results, ask the following questions:

• Did any new problems arise as a result of this solution?
• Are there possibilities that the solved problem will return?

Problem-Solving Tools

• Fishbone Diagram- This is also called cause and effect or Ishikawa diagram and it is a visualization tool used in problem-solving. From its name, it takes the shape of a fish skeleton.  It is used to identify the root cause of a problem. The root problem is placed as the fish’s head and the causes project to the left, representing the bones of the skeleton. The ribs which branch off the back represent major causes while the sub-branches branch off of the causes and represent root causes.
• Flowcharts- A flow chart is a simple diagram that maps out a process so you can easily communicate it to your teammates. You can use a flowchart to show the operations and sequences needed to solve a problem. See a flowchart as the blueprint of a design you have created for solving a problem.
• Mind maps– A mind map is a useful tool in problem-solving as it helps you visually represent and structure your thoughts. It allows you to visualize problems and see the bigger picture at a glance, reduces stress, and awakens your creativity.

How to Improve your Problem-solving Skills

1. Develop the right attitude

Having a positive mindset and the right attitude while approaching problem-solving is key. In fact, do not see it as a problem rather as a challenge and an opportunity to make things better.

 2. Use problem-solving tools to visualize

There are several tools you can use to visualize problems. When you visualize a problem, you will see and understand the situation and project it to others. This will help you to develop a plan to solve the problem.

3. Adopt a lateral way of thinking

The lateral way of thinking helps you approach solving problems in a creative manner. You are able to think outside the box and use your imaginations to come up with new solutions.

4. Practice active listening

As much as some people underate listening in problem-solving, it is a key strategy when you are solving problems. Active listening allows you to gather lots of information and critically examine the root cause of a problem.

5. Be curious

Be sure to wear your curiosity hat during problem-solving. When you are curious, you are able to collect a large amount of information relevant to the problem. This will help you to generate new ideas and come up with possible solutions.

CONCLUSION

A popular saying goes thus: you’ll be remembered either for the problems you solved or the problems you created. Think about it. Success and having a breakthrough either in your career or in your business is tied to your ability to solve problems.