FOR BUSINESS OWNERS AND MANAGERS: THE ART OF PROBLEM SOLVING

Problems are difficulties that may hinder progress whether it is an organizational problem or personal problem. Problems make us feel discomfort. Therefore, knowing how to solve them is very important so that you stay in control for of your personal life or you keep your organization in control. Here are a few tips to consider to effectively finding solution of problems:-

1. Understand Problem:

Simple explanation for this point is that you can’t say you are solving a problem while you don’t know the problem. But deep inside this point, is the requirement that you do a thoroughly analysis of a situation you are facing to determine what exactly is the problem. Common mistake is that some of us would be dealing with outcomes of a problem or symptoms of problem while the real problem is left unattended.

2. Understand the root of the problem:

After understanding what the problem really is, then come into examining the causes of the problem. You need to understand these so that you can measure the scope of the problem and be able to develop appropriate solutions for that problem.

3.Understand the scope of the problem

Understanding the problem and its root alone are not enough. It is important also to know the extent of the problem you are dealing with. The scope of the problem will help you understand the impact of the problem and help you in designing appropriate solution. It will be easy also to make a follow up of the problem

4.Understand how long it has been there

This point together with the point on scope of problem will help you realize the amount of effort needed to solve a particular problem you are facing.

5.Understand the impact of the problem

This is the most obvious part of problem solving. However, you should not get into trap of looking for ways to rectify such impacts thinking you are solving the problem. Again remember, you need to differentiate the impacts/outcomes of a problem and the real problem. You need to have separate sets of solutions for eliminating the problem and calming down/rectifying the impacts of the problem. Moreover, the impact of the problem may be used to justify the solutions you want to implement to solve the problem.

6.Create appropriate solution of the problem

Yes of course you need solution to solve a problem. But if the solution isn’t appropriate to the problem, the problem will remain unsolved.

7.Develop alternatives to your solution

Remembering that best plans sometimes fail, you should establish alternatives to the appropriate solution you are going to create. The alternatives you develop should also be able to solve the problem, which is why in the first place we call them alternatives.

8.Make a follow up

Don’t just implement a solution and leave it there. Make a follow up to understand if the problem is solved and how effective the problem solving was.

Notice the lesson learned, and documents this so that in the future if the same type of problem happens you will have a place to start in your analysis of problem and formulating a solution.