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Summary

The website content provides a comprehensive guide on enhancing problem-solving skills, emphasizing its importance in both professional and personal contexts.

Abstract

The article "How to Improve Problem-solving Skills" offers a detailed approach to honing one's ability to tackle challenges effectively. It begins by defining a problem and the act of problem-solving, acknowledging it as a skill that can be developed through practice and education. The importance of problem-solving is underscored by its role in driving progress in various fields, from science to business. The guide outlines five key steps in the problem-solving process: identifying and defining the problem, generating possible solutions, deciding on the most appropriate solution, implementing the chosen solution, and evaluating the results. Tools such as the Fishbone Diagram, flowcharts, and mind maps are recommended to aid in visualizing and structuring the problem-solving process. Additionally, the article suggests fostering the right attitude, using visualization tools, adopting lateral thinking, practicing active listening, and maintaining curiosity as methods to improve problem-solving skills. The conclusion encourages readers to focus on solving problems rather than creating them, suggesting that one's success is closely tied to their problem-solving capabilities.

Opinions

  • Problem-solving is presented as an essential skill in both the workplace and daily life, driving human progress and innovation.
  • The article suggests that problem-solving can be learned and improved upon, much like other skills, through training and exposure to common industry issues.
  • Brainstorming is highlighted as a valuable technique for generating a wide range of solutions, with an emphasis on quantity over initial quality.
  • The selection of the best solution should consider factors such as cost, resources, and timeliness.
  • The importance of implementation is stressed, noting that failing to act on the chosen solution renders the problem-solving process ineffective.
  • Regular evaluation of the implemented solution is recommended to ensure long-term effectiveness and to identify any new problems that may arise.
  • Visualization tools like Fishbone Diagrams, flowcharts, and mind maps are touted as effective aids in problem-solving, helping to identify root causes and structure thoughts.
  • A positive mindset and the right attitude are considered crucial for successful problem-solving, viewing challenges as opportunities for improvement.
  • Active listening is valued as a key strategy in problem-solving, allowing for the collection of comprehensive information and critical analysis.
  • Curiosity is encouraged during the problem-solving process, as it leads to the gathering of relevant information and the generation of novel ideas.

How to Improve Problem-solving Skills

A complete guide to improving your problem- solving skills in 2022

Photo by Daria Nepriakhina 🇺🇦 on Unsplash

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 unwelcome or harmful that needs to be dealt with. It can also be a question raised for inquiry, consideration, or solution.

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 with 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 Michael 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’ll 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 might come up with solutions that cannot be implemented but can’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 a 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 Skill

  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

A lateral way of thinking helps you approach solving problems in a creative manner. You are able to think outside the box and use your imagination 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 ready 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.

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