The Top Soft Skills You Need To Succeed In A Salesforce Role: Problem-solving techniques

Problem-solving is something every professional should master, and according to our latest Careers and Hiring Guide, an essential skill for Salesforce Technical Consultants. Whether you work in recruitment, finance, marketing, engineering, or any other field, you will inevitably encounter issues that require your attention and resolution. 

The good news is that there are various techniques available that you can use to tackle different types of problems.

In this instalment of our series: “The top soft skills you need to succeed in a Salesforce role”, we’ll explore some of these problem-solving techniques and how each can be effective.

SWOT Analysis

SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It’s a method which can be applied to almost any situation and is useful in decision-making and strategizing. Using a SWOT analysis helps you identify how to improve and maximize opportunities, while identifying any risks and setbacks.

Almost anything that requires strategic planning can use the SWOT method.

Technical consultants can use SWOT analysis when overseeing projects, giving them a clear overview of what works, what doesn’t, and how to move forward.

Root Cause Analysis

Root Cause Analysis is used to identify the underlying cause of a problem. This technique entails asking “why?” repeatedly until the cause of the issue is found. The issue can be pinpointed and corrected before causing more problems further into a process.

Technical consultants use root cause analysis for many reasons. For example, if a project is behind schedule, the root cause analysis process may uncover a lack of communication between team members. Once the problem is recognized, a plan can be put in place to resolve it.

Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a technique used to generate a large number of ideas and solutions to a problem in a short amount of time. The goal is to produce creative ideas which haven’t been thought of before. Brainstorming is effective when the problem is complex and requires multiple perspectives.

Technical consultants can use brainstorming to generate multiple different ideas that they can test in order to provide solutions for an employer or client. This could be anything from streamlining processes, suggesting new product features, or providing a better experience for customers.

IDEAL

The IDEAL problem-solving model consists of five stages:

1. Identify the problem
2. Define goals
3. Explore solutions
4. Act on the chosen strategy
5. Look back at what you learned

Here are some things you should consider at each stage.

Identify the problem

• Ask yourself what needs to be solved and how it can be fixed
• Is this the cause of the problem or is there a larger problem that needs to be addressed?
• What is causing difficulties?
• Address the skills gaps

Define goals

• How will you be affected?
• What would you like to accomplish and what might get in the way?

Explore solutions

• Are there any new resources or skills required?
• Are there any existing resources or skills that can tackle these issues?

Act on the chosen strategy

• Weigh up the pros and cons and of each option
• Choose the best solution
• What course of action now needs to be taken?

Look back at what you learned

• How can the new skills you’ve learned be used in future?
• How did the solution tackle the problem?
• Did it work? Why (or why not)?
• Are there any other possibilities to explore?

Technical consultants may use the IDEAL problem-solving methodology to uncover issues during software implementation, for example. This method will allow them to plan the best course of action to get the project back on track and ensure the best results for their client.

Read all of our findings in our blog post here.

Keep an eye out for our next article, where we’ll discuss different project management methodologies to implement in your Salesforce role.