HOW TO APPROACH AND SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS
Problem-solving is the most widely-known and widely-used application of thinking skills. Problems can be any situation where we are prevented from moving forward or reaching our goals. Problems are caused by lack of information, lack of insight or lack of ideas. For many, a problem is a reason to give up. But for those with thinking skills, a problem is a challenge to be overcome.
People usually respond to a problem in one of 3 ways:
they get uncomfortable and wish it would go away
they feel they have to come up with an immediate, and correct, answer
they look for someone to blame.
Most of us find facing a problem a problem. We think something bad is going to happen. The goal of any problem-solving process is to make us competent to handle conflict.
“How you look at a situation is very important, for how you think about a problem may defeat you before you ever do anything about it. When you get discouraged or depressed, try changing your attitude from negative to positive and see how life can change for you. Remember, your attitude toward a situation can help you change it. You create the very atmosphere for defeat or victory.” (Franco Harris).
The Classical Approach
The classical approach to problem-solving is a step-by-step approach which makes use of the analytical style of left-brain thinking and the synthesis style of right-brain thinking. Here it is:
Become aware of the problem.
Define the problem and define the criteria for a solution.
Survey what you know (the clues).
Advance possible solutions using different approaches to thinking, including sounding others out.
Test them, either in your head, on paper or in practice.
Identify the best solution and carry it out.
The Classical Approach works best in stable environments where there is a known body of information about the problem and time to solve it. In unstable environments, eg those undergoing a large amount of unpredictable change, information may be uncertain and a decision needs to be made swiftly. In these situations, you may need to use some less conventional approaches to problem-solving such as the following.
Do Nothing
The psychologist Carl Jung suggested that we sometimes go looking for problems where none exist. Certainly some solutions to problems can cause more pain than the original problems. When a new situation arises that you think is a problem, ask yourself:
is this a problem or just a new situation that we hadn’t expected?
is this a problem or an opportunity in disguise?
if it is a problem, could I change my goals and plans to stop it being a problem?
“For every problem under the sun, There is a remedy or there’s none. If there is, try and find it; If there isn’t, never mind it.”
Take Your Time
Tim Hicks, founder of mediation business consultants Connexus, says that people are born problem-solvers but don’t realise it. Our fear of conflict means we rush into solving problems when it is infinitely better to take our time. By being patient, we are willing to put the solution at the end of the process rather than at the beginning. It also means being willing to live with “life unresolved”, not always a comfortable thing to do. Hicks says a problem is like a curve in the road where we can’t see the straight road ahead. Take the bend too fast and you’ll come a cropper. Slow down and you’ll make it fine.
Sleep On It
We don’t understand the full workings of the mind but we do know that forcing solutions can sometimes block creativity. This can sometimes happen when we are under time pressure or working with limited resources. The possibility of seeing our plans and goals ruined presses on us and, instead of freeing up our creativity, freezes it instead. By relaxing, going away and doing something else, or sleeping on it, the subconscious mind can work on the problem by itself and come up with an answer.
Attack the Problem
Attacking a problem is a way to tell yourself that you are not going to let a problem beat you. It is a good way to deal with people problems which are often ignored or dealt with only half-heartedly because we fear upsetting someone. If we battle fair and square with a problem and marshall all our resources to defeat it, we are sure to beat it. One way to do this is to use more than one approach, for example, first sleeping on it and then, if that doesn’t work, analysing it, and then, if that doesn’t work, using a creative approach.
Thanks for reading, I hope this helps you solve your problems, and please look out for the next installment of this article(pt2)
People usually respond to a problem in one of 3 ways:
they get uncomfortable and wish it would go away
they feel they have to come up with an immediate, and correct, answer
they look for someone to blame.
Most of us find facing a problem a problem. We think something bad is going to happen. The goal of any problem-solving process is to make us competent to handle conflict.
“How you look at a situation is very important, for how you think about a problem may defeat you before you ever do anything about it. When you get discouraged or depressed, try changing your attitude from negative to positive and see how life can change for you. Remember, your attitude toward a situation can help you change it. You create the very atmosphere for defeat or victory.” (Franco Harris).
The Classical Approach
The classical approach to problem-solving is a step-by-step approach which makes use of the analytical style of left-brain thinking and the synthesis style of right-brain thinking. Here it is:
Become aware of the problem.
Define the problem and define the criteria for a solution.
Survey what you know (the clues).
Advance possible solutions using different approaches to thinking, including sounding others out.
Test them, either in your head, on paper or in practice.
Identify the best solution and carry it out.
The Classical Approach works best in stable environments where there is a known body of information about the problem and time to solve it. In unstable environments, eg those undergoing a large amount of unpredictable change, information may be uncertain and a decision needs to be made swiftly. In these situations, you may need to use some less conventional approaches to problem-solving such as the following.
Do Nothing
The psychologist Carl Jung suggested that we sometimes go looking for problems where none exist. Certainly some solutions to problems can cause more pain than the original problems. When a new situation arises that you think is a problem, ask yourself:
is this a problem or just a new situation that we hadn’t expected?
is this a problem or an opportunity in disguise?
if it is a problem, could I change my goals and plans to stop it being a problem?
“For every problem under the sun, There is a remedy or there’s none. If there is, try and find it; If there isn’t, never mind it.”
Take Your Time
Tim Hicks, founder of mediation business consultants Connexus, says that people are born problem-solvers but don’t realise it. Our fear of conflict means we rush into solving problems when it is infinitely better to take our time. By being patient, we are willing to put the solution at the end of the process rather than at the beginning. It also means being willing to live with “life unresolved”, not always a comfortable thing to do. Hicks says a problem is like a curve in the road where we can’t see the straight road ahead. Take the bend too fast and you’ll come a cropper. Slow down and you’ll make it fine.
Sleep On It
We don’t understand the full workings of the mind but we do know that forcing solutions can sometimes block creativity. This can sometimes happen when we are under time pressure or working with limited resources. The possibility of seeing our plans and goals ruined presses on us and, instead of freeing up our creativity, freezes it instead. By relaxing, going away and doing something else, or sleeping on it, the subconscious mind can work on the problem by itself and come up with an answer.
Attack the Problem
Attacking a problem is a way to tell yourself that you are not going to let a problem beat you. It is a good way to deal with people problems which are often ignored or dealt with only half-heartedly because we fear upsetting someone. If we battle fair and square with a problem and marshall all our resources to defeat it, we are sure to beat it. One way to do this is to use more than one approach, for example, first sleeping on it and then, if that doesn’t work, analysing it, and then, if that doesn’t work, using a creative approach.
Thanks for reading, I hope this helps you solve your problems, and please look out for the next installment of this article(pt2)
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