How to Be Better Problem Solver
To be a better and more creative problem solver, start with
these three simple steps:
1. Learn some good problem solving techniques and approaches.
The more of these you know, the better problem solver you can
be.
2. Practice using the techniques repeatedly, until they become
habit. This is the "programming" of your mind, and
it assures the power of your subconscious will be there to help
you.
3. Let many ideas to flow forth. Discard ideas later, or make
them into something useful, but you have to have ideas first
- and the more the better. Just suspend your judgment or any
critical impulses until you have a list of possible solutions
to look over.
Problem Solving Tools
The tools you'll use are various techniques and approaches.
As noted above, the more you know, the better your odds of finding
creative and useful solutions to problems. With that in mind,
here is one to get you started.
Clarify Problems
Ever stop in the middle of a project to ask "What exactly
are we trying to do here?" Vague problems are tough to solve,
aren't they? For example, if you are unhappy with your house,
and you want to effectively solve that problem, you need to identify
the specific things you are unhappy about.
Suppose you were assigned the project of designing a better
employee scheduling system for your employer. What's better,
fewer hours on the payroll, or a schedule that makes for happier
employees? These are the kinds of questions you would need to
ask.
To be an effective problem solver you need to make clarifying
problems a habit. Ask the right questions. How do you do that?
You could start by asking any question you can think of. This
can work, although it may tend to waste time.
It is better to identify the key elements of the problem.
Ask "why do I care?," or "why is this problem
important?" These questions not only clarify the problem
itself, but can help to determine which problems you need to
be working on first.
Work up and down the hierarchy of values to clarify what the
problem is. Suppose you start with the problem of "where
to go on vacation." Ask why you need to solve this. The
answer might be the more important value of "I want to have
a good vacation." Approaching the problem at this level
may yield other solutions that resolve the "where"
or make it less important.
Questioning the need for a good vacation can lead to the more
important value of "having a good life." On that level,
some people may find that their vacations are an escape from
an unsatisfactory job. Looking for a better career may be the
more important task. You might just get back to choosing a vacation
destination, but this process can help clarify why the problem
needs to be solved, and suggest new ways to do that.
Clarify what the problem is, and which is the most urgent
or important problem. This is a great way to be a better problem
solver. Why not add it to your arsenal of problem solving skills?
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