How to think about problem-solving?

How to think about problem-solving?

You are at this interview or appraisal and when asked about strengths you calmly say –?#problemsolving

Why? Could be because you are really good at solving problems or maybe you have been reading those reports around that Problem Solving is one of the ?????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????????????????#?????????????????????????? .

When asked to explain we usually give examples. Not bad. We are only justifying what we said.

I, however, believe that ???????? ?????????????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ??????????????.

Why?

When you respond with examples you are sharing stories of the problems you solved. ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ????????. The question is seeking what is your ‘method’ of problem solving. That is a skill. The problems you solved are examples, not the skill.

Let’s dissect this. What is the skill part in problem-solving?

1.?????Ability to ???????????? ?? ?????????????? dispassionately and clearly

2.?????Mindset to avoid solving the problem without understanding the causes – ?????????????? ???? ??????????????????

3.?????Using divergent thinking to ???????? ?????????????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? that could solve the problem

4.?????Using convergent thinking to ???????????????? ???????? ???????????? ?????? ??????????????????

5.?????Having the ???????????????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ?????????????????? the solution.

Many of you will notice a?#sixsigma ?approach above. The Define-Measure-Analyse-Improve-Control or?#dmaic ?was not really invented by Six Sigma. Dr J M?#juran ?had already been teaching a universal problem-solving method at many companies well before Six Sigma. This included a diagnostic and remedial journey that is universal to solving a problem.

In summary, your problem-solving skill is not the example you can share. Your skill is deeper and should be applicable to multiple situations. It should be ????????????????????. It should be a process.

For more on this please read my post on LinkedIn here .

Tired of New Year Resolutions? Try commitments!

Over the last few days, I have been sharing a series of New Year commitments I want to work on. Not resolutions. Commitments are habits and systems that we try and persist with. The goal is the process and not a milestone. So, running regularly is the goal, not a marathon. How does this help? Having a very out of reach goal leads to disappointments early in the cycle and most people drop off.

The series is on LinkedIn and you can read the latest post here . I look forward to your comments.

In summary, the 6 tips I have shared till now are - Reading, Writing Staying Active, Talking to people, Being grateful and Simplification/Minimalism.

You can also watch the 2 min video series on YouTube .

More book summaries - Think Again and Drive

After the fantastic response to my notes on Mark Mason's The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*uck I have tried to write more about books. If you missed this one then check here.

I ended 2021 with two fantastic books.

Think Again. A masterclass by Adam Grant. You can read the post here .

?????????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????????????????? ?????????? – Daniel Kahneman

This is easier said than done. Keeping an open mind means accepting that we are wrong. It takes more than humility to accept this. It takes courage.

If you have time for just one book in 2022, I would recommend this book. This book is in the small category of life-changing books such as 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and Man’s search for Meaning.

Intelligence is usually seen as the ability to think and learn but in a rapidly changing world ???? ?????????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????????.

???? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ??????????. ???????????????? ???? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?? ????????????????.

???????????????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?? ?????????? ?????? ??????????????. Thinking Again asks us to be in scientist mode. Scientists are open to rethinking what they know. They keep looking for facts that could prove them wrong. They know that they may not know.

Most importantly, have the courage to Think Again.?

Summary of Drive by Daniel Pink. DRIVE by?Daniel Pink ?has been on my reading list for some years now.

Dan ???????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ????-????????????????. But that is his true strength. ????????’?? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????! In this book, Dan presents?#???????????????????? ???.??. He believes that we all have an intrinsic drive to be better. There are three key aspects of ?????????? – ????????????????, ??????????????, ?????? ??????????????.

Ever offered your child a reward for some basic chore? We all have. The first few times there is enthusiasm for the reward. Then it becomes ‘expected’ and is part of the deal.

The core of this book is the focus on the three elements of Drive.

????????????????: Our ability to do what we choose is best for us. We still do what is aligned to the ethics and morals of society but are free to choose when and how to perform. A workplace example could be leaving team members to pick the time of the day they will start and work as long as they are committed to the goal the team has.

“?????????????? ?????????? ???? ????????????????????; ???????????????? ?????????? ???? ????????????????????.” – ???????????? ????????

??????????????: A state of being the best in our chosen field. You surely know people who are driven to be a master in what they do. They are not annoying you, they are living to the standards they set for themselves.

You know that feeling of effortless ease when everything seems to just work. There is a name for that feeling – Flow. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a legend in Psychology coined the term Flow. It is experienced when we are engaged in tasks that are just above our current skills. Not too easy, not too difficult.

??????????????: A higher calling. A need that is larger than our immediate or future benefit. This is what we do for society. Humans are perhaps the only species capable of having and working towards a purpose.

Thought of the week

What is the purpose of storage space? To store or to retrieve? Our minds are the same. If you don't plan to retrieve a thought, why store it?

Stay connected

If you like this newsletter and my work please do share it along. I will be grateful. I am building a community of people interested in managing better and any help will be deeply appreciated.

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Stay safe. Safe happy. Manage Better.

Regards,

Anshuman