Problem Solving

Solve problems effectively

Problem solving is a key skill, and it is one that can make a huge difference to your career. At work, problems are at the centre of what many people do every day. You're either solving a problem for a client, supporting those who are solving problems, or discovering new problems to solve.

The problems you face can be large or small, simple or complex, and easy or difficult to solve. Regardless of the nature of the problems, a fundamental part of every employee’s role is finding ways to solve them. So, being a confident problem solver is really important to your success.

There are four basic steps in problem solving:
• Defining the problem
• Generating alternatives
• Evaluating and selecting alternatives
• Implementing solutions

Defining the Problem

Problem definition is one of the most important steps in the problem solving approach. A wrong definition of the problem would not only fail to resolve the issues involved but could also lead to more complicated problems. Tools like 5 Whys, Appreciation and Root Cause Analysis help you ask the right questions, and work through the layers of a problem to uncover what's really going on.

Generating alternatives

Having identified the problem, the decision-maker needs to generate appropriate alternatives to resolve the problem. An understanding of organisational and external constraints as well as organisational resources helps in identifying the range of feasible action alternatives open to the decision-maker.

Evaluating and selecting alternatives

The next step after generating alternatives would be to rank them, before actually evaluating them. The decision-maker should check whether the alternatives generated cover the entire range, and whether each is distinct from the other. A final check may be needed to see whether adoption of the best assessed alternative is consistent with the requirements of the situation, whether it is implementable and the convincing to other involved.

Implementing solutions

Once the alternatives are developed and selected, the implementation plan has to be developed. In this phase, the decision-maker needs to decide who would do what, where, when and how. Solutions are often less than perfect, and the decision-maker may have to remind and reassure that he or she had made the best decision given the situation and the alternatives that are available.

Using the four-step model will help you improve your approach to solving the problems that your team and your organisation may face. You'll be more successful at solving problems and, because of this, more successful at what you do. What's more, you'll begin to build a reputation as someone who can handle tough situations, in a wise and positive way.

During interviews, you need to convince the interviewers that you will be able to fix their problems and help their company achieve its goals. One of the best ways to answer interview questions is to use your career success stories.

Career success stories are tales of the defining moments in your career when you overcame significant challenges to succeed. These stories create memorable impression and let your interviewer recognise your ability to handle the tasks at hand, solve complex problems and provide a solution.