Solving Problems with Practical Solutions

Isaac Asimov hit the nail on the head when he said,

“If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.”

This is so true. Learning how to solve problems is one of those topics in the world that we don’t spend time learning about. While we may “talk” through our problems, learning about them is a whole different story. Think of the lost productivity at work or the lost emotional energy in your personal life spent dealing with “problem dramas.”

So, how do you reduce the “problem dramas” and get on with constructive working and living?

Imagine the freed-up energy you could put toward other areas of your life. So, what about yourself or a peer who is stuck in their ways? While you can’t change a leopard’s spots, you can change behaviors.

Rather than stew over a problem, work on finding solutions to resolve it. Use these six steps to solve problems:

1. Define the problem and the expected results. Ask yourself, “What is the problem?” State it as specifically as possible giving attention to all facets of the problem. Charles Kettering (inventor of the first electrical ignition system for the automobile) once said, “A problem well-defined is half solved.”

3. Generate solutions. Gather all possible solutions, no matter how wild they may seem. This is the time to brainstorm. All ideas are possible solutions at this stage. Use everyone’s creative imaginations and note all possible solutions. In the words of noted philosopher Bertrand Russell, “The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating the problem in a way that will allow a solution.”

5. Implement the solution. Start acting on the solution. Remember that you may have more problems by not doing anything than by doing the wrong thing.

As you learn how to solve problems, it is important to realize how they develop and fester. People can be much too serious about problems, which can make problem solving become a very emotional issue. The tension and anxiety surrounding problems are not inherited; they are learned and they start at an early age.

As children we may have been taught that our decisions were final and they can’t be changed. Does this scenario sound familiar? Did you ever ask for an outfit that you regretted later on and your parents made you wear it because it’s the one you chose at the time? As a result, you may have felt sorry that you made that decision in the first place.

We have been conditioned to exist with our problems rather than making decisions about them. We look for others to blame instead of owning our results. We can feel victimized or want to get even when we feel someone else is forcing his or her decision upon us. And all that can make a “problem” something to be pretty anxious about.

When we don’t have choices, it results in us beginning to avoid making decisions because we become fearful of them. We also may “blame” the person we feel is “making” us have to live with our decisions. The “problem” with that attitude is that decisions are the safety valves of problems. Once we have made a decision we can move and take action. The goal is to make things happen instead of being “stuck” in indecision.

When we own our decisions we can feel the freedom that only personal responsibility can bring. Which is why with young children and toddlers it’s important to give them a choice for even the most simple of things such as putting on shoes to go outside. Rather than force them into a particular pair of shoes if they are resistant, ask if they want to wear their blue shoes or their white shoes. This allows them to make a choice while meeting your goal of putting on their shoes to play outside. You can see how giving choices early on can help foster confidence by giving a child the freedom to make their own decisions with guidance and support.

Whether it’s getting your child to wear shoes, addressing a client’s problem, or encouraging your team to tackle a particular project, remember that you always have a choice and the importance of giving others a choice. Soon you will find that your “problems” are simply opportunities to become a much more valuable resource to your boss, your peers, your clients, your friends and your family.