How the Best Problem Solvers Crack the Code

Great problem solvers are made, not born

The one thing that is certain today is uncertainty.

To overcome uncertainty, it’s important to have the right mindset about solving problems.

How do become a better problem solver? You learn from the best.

Solving problems starts with having an open and curious mindset. The best problem solvers can succeed under any conditions, especially when there’s a lot of uncertainty.

In today’s global pandemic, there’s a lot of uncertainty. No one knows what tomorrow brings. That’s always the case. Even more so today.

There are five mindsets that the best problem solvers use to become more successful. Let’s dive into each one of them.

1. They are relentlessly curious about the problem

Why, Daddy? Why, Mommy? Why? As any parent knows, little children are relentless with their curiosity. They want to know why things do what they do. Children, especially those at the age of three and four years old, love to ask questions. They have a strong desire to figure things out.

The best problem solvers are on a mission to discover new things. They are thirsty for knowledge. The best problem solvers have an insatiable appetite to ask questions to solve a problem.

“It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” ― Albert Einstein, a German-born theoretical physicist

2. They embrace ambiguity

The best problem solvers embrace ambiguity because there could be a lot of different probabilities and the risks associated with exploring new ideas. They understand there is a lot of trial and error in solving a problem. What they may initially think is the problem may not actually be the problem.

Excellent problem solvers don’t leap to conclusions. They trust the process to guide them to an answer.

“Learning to live with ambiguity is learning to live with how life really is, full of complexities and strange surprises.” — James Hollis, an American author

3. They look at the problem from many different perspectives

The best problem solvers understand there are many ways to look at a problem.

The best problem solvers take a 360-degree view of a problem. How would your competition see this problem? What about your colleagues? How about your friends and family? The best problem solvers find multiple perspectives to help clearly define the problem.

Getting the right perspective to a problem is a problem in itself.

“What we see depends mainly on what we look for.” ― John Lubbock, a banker, politician, and scientist

4. They love the show and tell

Show and tell is an elementary school activity that’s critical in problem-solving. Storytelling helps recognize gaps or problems that exist in the understanding of the problem. It shows unique and different ways to solve it. Storytelling is problem-solving.

“The purpose of a storyteller is not to tell you how to think, but to give you questions to think upon.” — Brandon Sanderson, an American fantasy and science fiction writer

5. They listen to others

Great problem solvers crowdsource ideas from other smart people. It’s important to bring in the brightest minds to solve the toughest problems. Smart problem solvers understand that it’s important to listen to others.

“Solving problems means listening.” — Richard Branson, an English business magnate, investor, author and philanthropist

Bringing it all together

Your mindset as a problem solver is just as important as how you approach solving the problem. Great problem solvers are relentlessly curious, embrace ambiguity, look at the problem from different perspectives, use storytelling, and listen to others.

In times of uncertainty, it’s important to have the right mindset to solve problems. That’s how you become a better problem solver.

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