How can you ensure your problem solving skills are current and effective?

You need to take a step back and see how the ?problem“ is the result of the systems, processes, culture, rules and incentives. For example, if we‘re talking about a problematic employee, here are a few different places to look at: - values based hiring not in place or poorly executed - people pleasing in the culture that leads to feedback avoidance - incentives for performance that don’t reward how you work together - poor communication as remote professionals need to communicate more effectively leading to misunderstandings

While clearly identifying the problem is a great first step, it’s incomplete if you don’t also determine what success of a solution would look like. Too often people rough out what we think the problem is and jump to solutioning. Not only is this an issue for overall performance improvement, it becomes nearly impossible to effectively assess how well you solved the problem. Waiting until your solution is finished to assess whether it was success is like painting the target after you throw the dart. You may feel good about yourself, but you have no concrete data to assess whether you fixed anything or whether your problem solving skills are where they need to be. And, to be clear, you won’t get 100%, but you should start with something.

Typically, clients and employees are the ones to bring "problems" into the light. I'm certain there's no shortage. More important than identifying "any problem" is to identify the most pressing issues for various levels - the individual, the team, and the organization. Priority can be deduced by several factors including the level of urgency and importance, the impact of the issue on short-term and long-term goals, and the resources required (both human and monetary), the ROI (return on investment), and risk evaluation for responding to it vs not. Bringing a variety of opinions in to determine which "problem" to solve first is highly recommended.

Identificar correctamente el problema real es el inicio de la solución. Se atribuye a Einstein la siguiente frase: “Si yo tuviera una hora para resolver un problema, y mi vida dependiera de la solución, gastaría los primeros 55 minutos en determinar la pregunta apropiada, porque una vez conociera la pregunta correcta, yo podría resolver el problema en menos de cinco minutos”

where the problem has been identified by exclusive groups, it can nearly be GUARANTEED that “the problem” is not, in fact, THE PROBLEM. c-suite leaders are valuable in their own rite, AND based on positionality alone, they are LIKELY to miss the mark when it comes to having their finger on the ACTUAL pulse of the work. utilizing tools is great, and even better is to maximize the scope of involvement.

It helps here to adopt a beginner's mindset - sometimes the experience we carry can hinder our ability to come up with new solutions. You can take this to the extreme by asking what would a X year old try to do in such situation? How would they solve this problem.

make sure that your framework makes sense for the work. it seems obvious, but many leaders and orgs are using frameworks they love in irrelevant ways. for instance, where your framework is GREAT for product management tasks, it may have NOTHING to do with service provision for community. where this is true, you can activate entire processes that invalidate the core mission and purpose of the work you’re trying to do. mission, goal, and values alignment is critical at all levels, because without clarity here, not only will it be inefficient, it will indubitably cause harm.

Take the approach of continuous improvement. Evaluate, plan, and then implement. Repeat. The first step is to identify areas for improvement. Perform a self-assessment to think about how you normally problem solve, and the outcomes of your problem-solving approach. Seek feedback from others. They may have observed actions and behaviors that can offer you greater insight into your problem-solving effectiveness. Be honest with yourself and conduct a self-reflection to identify your natural tendencies in conflict situations. Think about how you typically respond to disagreements, and what the outcomes were based on your conflict resolution approach.

consider adding to the key stakeholders by clarifying the most impacted folx re: the challenge/decision, and then ensuring you have thought partnership from those demographics. for instance, where you’re changing technology products, solutions are great from product managers…HOWEVER, they are insufficiently vetted where end users, technical assistance resources for the end users, and tech support resources for internal stakeholders aren’t vetted. and not just their management…the people at the call centers and help desks. this level of engagement and investment will pay off in dividends, no matter how well the product choice works out.

Seek exposure to new fields, ideas, and perspectives. Read diversely, network outside your comfort zone, and attend conferences. Broader knowledge fuels creative solutions. Tackle real-world challenges, even small ones. Volunteer, participate in hackathons, or join a problem-solving team. Active practice hones your skills and builds confidence. Learn structured approaches like Design Thinking, Lean Startup, or SCAMPER. They provide a roadmap for navigating complex problems and avoiding rabbit holes. Don't jump to conclusions. Actively seek and consider alternative perspectives, data, and evidence. Unbiased thinking leads to innovative solutions. Share ideas, brainstorm with diverse teams, and learn from other's approaches.

Es importante tomar en cuenta nuestros sesgos cognitivos y heurísticas. Algunos a tomar en cuenta: Sesgo optimista Sesgo de confirmación Efecto de desinformación Heuristica de disponibilidad Conocerlos y tener un sistema para reducir su impacto y/o contrarrestarlos.

There are a few things you can do to ensure that your problem management skills are current and effective: - Stay up to date on the latest problem management tools and techniques. - Regularly practice your problem management skills. - Seek feedback from others on your problem management performance. - Seek out opportunities to apply your problem management skills in new or challenging situations.