What are the best problem solving approaches for remote and hybrid settings?

1 Define the problem

The first step of any problem solving process is to define the problem clearly and precisely. This can be tricky when you are working remotely, as you may have different perspectives, assumptions, and information sources than your teammates. To avoid confusion and miscommunication, you should use a common tool or platform to share the problem statement, the goals, the criteria, and the constraints of the problem. You should also invite feedback and questions from your team members, and make sure everyone agrees on the scope and the urgency of the problem.

2 Generate ideas

Once you have defined the problem, you need to generate as many ideas as possible to solve it. This is where creativity and divergent thinking come in handy. You can use various techniques to stimulate your imagination and generate ideas, such as brainstorming, mind mapping, SCAMPER, or reverse brainstorming. However, to make these techniques work in remote and hybrid settings, you need to use online tools that allow you to share, record, and organize your ideas visually and asynchronously. Some examples of such tools are Miro, Mural, Padlet, or Jamboard.

3 Evaluate and select ideas

After you have generated a lot of ideas, you need to evaluate and select the most promising ones to test and implement. This is where critical and convergent thinking come in handy. You can use various criteria to evaluate and select ideas, such as feasibility, desirability, viability, originality, or impact. However, to make this process fair and transparent in remote and hybrid settings, you need to use online tools that allow you to rank, vote, and comment on your ideas collaboratively and asynchronously. Some examples of such tools are Dotstorming, Loomio, Poll Everywhere, or IdeaFlip.

4 Test and refine ideas

Once you have selected the best ideas, you need to test and refine them to make sure they work and meet the problem criteria. This is where experimentation and iteration come in handy. You can use various methods to test and refine your ideas, such as prototyping, piloting, feedback loops, or A/B testing. However, to make these methods effective and efficient in remote and hybrid settings, you need to use online tools that allow you to create, share, and modify your prototypes and test results quickly and easily. Some examples of such tools are InVision, Figma, Google Forms, or Typeform.

5 Implement and monitor ideas

Once you have tested and refined your ideas, you need to implement and monitor them to see if they solve the problem and achieve the goals. This is where execution and evaluation come in handy. You can use various tools to implement and monitor your ideas, such as project management software, communication channels, dashboards, or surveys. However, to make these tools useful and reliable in remote and hybrid settings, you need to use online tools that allow you to coordinate, communicate, and measure your progress and outcomes clearly and consistently. Some examples of such tools are Trello, Slack, Google Analytics, or SurveyMonkey.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?