Solving 3 Rubik's cubes while juggling: Problem-solving 3.0
“The problem isn’t the problem. The problem is your attitude towards the problem.”
?In a time where the complexity of problems increases, solving them is a tougher challenge than ever before. Complex problem-solving skills are valuable assets to add to your set nowadays. But how to bring them to the next level? Try and look at it from a different perspective!
Here are my 5 favorite angles. Curious to hear yours! #sharingiscaring
1.????Break it down – Root cause analysis? Yes! Of the whole problem, the smaller problems underneath, you know that already. To look at the whole mess and then start breaking it down. But how about where bitesize problems overlap? Seemingly small issues that mess up your flow on several occasions, should be prioritized even over the obvious bigger issue that’s right in front of you.
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2.????Practice your solution – Brainstorming? Sure! But in my modest opinion there’s too much thinking and too little doing in this world when it comes to actual problem solving. In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice they’re not. If you want to know if your solution might work? Try it out! #minipilot #failingfast
3.????Anticipate future consequences – Just fix it? NO! Don’t “just” go for the quick fix to be done with it today. Think ahead on the problems your solution might throw at you tomorrow. That attitude either changes your perspective on the solution, OR, gives you a head start in your next root cause analysis! Get ready to anticipate!
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4.????Go for that 8 – Striving for perfection? My inner perfectionist tells me “hell yeah”! But the perfect solution won’t magically come to you overnight. Nor by staring at the beautifully designed mind maps, charts and sketches in front of you… And then of course, there’s the issue of not knowing what you don’t know! In an ever-changing world your “perfect” solution today is outdated tomorrow. It’s utopic to think that you’ll ever score a sustainable 10. Start with a 7, go for that 8 and do your absolute best to maintain it every day. It might even bring you to a 9 when anticipating well :)
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5.????Keep the soul alive – Lost in translation? We all know how that feels. Fed up with the mess. Feeling you’ll never get there. Learning new skills comes with dedication. Trying to succeed might feel like hard work, but at least you know there’s a reward waiting for you at the end of the struggle. Giving up (or delegating ;) ) might feel like the easiest thing to do, but sobbing and sticking to the misery of not being able to find the solution (yourself) is even harder! If you get stuck? Shelf your problem for the day and come back to it tomorrow with some freshly squeezed energy!
Looking for a bit of spirit to keep you going? Look at the brilliant, talented Angel Alvarado (Colombia) who broke his own Guinness Book record last year, juggling 3 Rubik’s cubes and solving them at the same time. It always seems impossible until it’s done, right?
Wishing you lots of problems to solve today :)
Have a good one.
Wieke
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