What do you do if you're struggling to develop problem-solving skills early in your career?

2 Break it down

Sometimes, the problem may seem too big or complex to tackle at once. In that case, you can break it down into smaller and more manageable parts. You can use tools like mind maps, diagrams, flowcharts, or lists to organize your thoughts and visualize the problem. You can also prioritize the parts according to their urgency, importance, or difficulty. By breaking down the problem, you can simplify it and make it easier to solve.

3 Research and brainstorm

Once you have a clear and concise problem statement and a breakdown of its components, you can start looking for possible solutions. You can research and gather information from various sources, such as books, articles, websites, experts, or peers. You can also brainstorm and generate ideas by using techniques like brainstorming, mind mapping, or SCAMPER (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, Reverse). You should aim to come up with as many ideas as possible, without judging or rejecting them at this stage.

4 Evaluate and select

After you have a list of potential solutions, you need to evaluate and select the best one for your situation. You can use criteria like feasibility, effectiveness, efficiency, cost, time, risk, or impact to compare and rank your options. You can also use tools like SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats), decision matrix, or pros and cons list to help you make a rational and informed decision. You should choose the solution that meets your goals and solves the problem in the best possible way.

5 Implement and monitor

The next step is to put your solution into action and monitor its results. You need to plan and execute your solution carefully, following the steps and resources that you have identified. You also need to track and measure the outcomes of your solution, using indicators like feedback, data, or metrics. You should check if your solution is working as expected, if it is solving the problem effectively, and if it is causing any unintended consequences or side effects.

6 Review and learn

The final step is to review and learn from your problem-solving process and outcome. You need to reflect on what worked well and what didn't, what you learned and what you can improve, and what you can apply to future problems. You can use tools like after-action review, lessons learned, or feedback loop to help you evaluate and document your experience. You should also celebrate your achievements and recognize your efforts and growth.