How To Become A Master Problem Solver
‘We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.’ Albert Einstein
Problem Solving lands on top of the list when we talk about skills that are going to be in high-demand in coming times. No matter the rank you hold in your company, good problem solving skills can land you much higher than the people who don’t have this skill.
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Why? Because business is all about decisions. All successful leaders are great problem solvers. As a matter of fact, great leaders don’t just solve problems they are best at figuring out how to get something positive out of those problems as well.
You might heard about the story of Richard Branson and how a canceled flight led to the rise of one of the biggest travel empires in the world. This is just one of the countless examples of how being a problem solver can actually help you create an opportunity out of nothing. And this is something that can help you become a great leader, manager, team member, or any other hat that you adorn at work.
Now the question is how to become a master at problem solving? Well, there is no tried and tested formula, nor is there is a magic spell from Hogwarts that can help you become a master problem solver. But, there surely are some tips that you can practice to improve the problem solving quotient.
What are those tips? Let us have a look at them one by one -
1. Understand the ‘Why’, first
Rather than making assumptions, you need to straight away jump the reason as to why the problem arose in the first place. It is quite possible that the root cause of the problem is a silly mistake like poor understanding of the requirements when you are working on a task. Under such circumstance, instead of switching on the panic button at once it is advisable to know why the problem has come into being.
Pro Tip: Practice being patient, and controlling your emotions to avoid making impulsive decisions.
2. And then move to the ‘What’
Problems are not always going to be as easy as the one mentioned in the first point. And, when they are not the most definite next step after the ‘Why’ is to figure out ‘What needs to be done’. In those cases when the problem is a little complex, it is always a good idea to take the opinion of your most reliable resources in the team. Getting in touch with the senior members of the team - people you can look up to for helping you make an informed decision.
Pro Tip: Take the team together in every situation. After all, running a business is not a single man’s job.
3. Leave emotions out of it
A wise man once said - most of the business mistakes occur because we allow our emotions to overrule our logic. Keeping emotions out of business, therefore, becomes imperative. As a leader there will be times when you have to take the harshest of decisions. Laying off people, unfit for or unproductive to your business, is most definitely the first thing that comes on the list here. But at the same time, you need to remember that it is for the good of your business, and the good of that person as well.
That’s just one example, there are many other situations when controlling your emotions while taking decisions becomes the most important factor.
Pro Tip: Practice controlling your emotions, it won’t come in a day.
4. Persist and persevere
Becoming a master at the skill of problem solving is not something that comes easy. It is going to demand a lot of patience, persistence and perseverance out of you. There will be times when you might make the wrong choices, but accept it as part and parcel of the game. And, try to learn from it so that you can make the right decision when something similar appears in the future. That’s how great leaders become great at making great decisions.
Pro Tip: Accept the good and the bad that comes along with the decisions you make, and soon become the master at problem solving.
At the end of it remember that there is no such thing as failure, there’s only feedback. It depends entirely on how you take it. Practicing these skills will help you make the most of your grey matter, and become a master problem solver, no matter how tough the call is!
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Vartika Kashyap currently runs the marketing team at ProofHub — a project management software for teams of all sizes. She is a seasoned marketing professional who is an expert in digital marketing and entrepreneurship. She’s been featured among LinkedIn’s Top Voices for the year 2016. Connect with Vartika on LinkedIn, Medium and Twitter.
Also follow our company page @ProofHub to get the recent updates about our tool, published articles, motivational quotes & presentations.
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