Effective Problem-Solving Steps in the Workplace | Indeed.com

Problem-solving steps · 1. Define the problem · 2. Identify alternative solutions. · 3. Evaluate solutions. · 4. Select a solution. · 5. Implement ... 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CareerDevelopmentEffectiveProblem-SolvingStepsintheWorkplaceMarch22,2021ShareFacebookEmailLinkedInTwitterProblem-solvingisapartofeveryone’swork,whetheryou’reamanagerorentrylevel.Aprojectmanagermaysolveproblemsfortheirclientsandteammembers,whileindividualcontributorsmaysolveproblemsforthemselvesortheircoworkers.Hence,itisimportantforeveryemployeetounderstandtheproblem-solvingprocessanddevelopproblem-solvingskills.Ifyouarelookingforcareeradvancementtoamanagerialrole,youmustgainmasteryoverthisprocess.Whatisproblem-solving?Problem-solvingistheprocessofunderstandingachallengeandworkingtowardfindinganeffectivesolutiontoit.Dependinguponthetypeandcomplexityoftheproblem,itmayinvolvetheuseofmathematicaloperationsandmaytestyourcritical-thinkingskills.Whenprospectiveemployersaretalkingaboutproblem-solving,theyareusuallytryingtogaugeyourabilityandskillstodealwithdifficultsituationsandcomplicatedbusinessproblems.Almostallemployersvalueproblem-solvingskillsandseektohaveemployeeswiththesetraitsinordertoaidthedecision-makingprocessintheday-to-dayfunctioningofthecompany.Readmore: Problem-SolvingSkills:DefinitionsandExamplesProblem-solvingstepsHerearethebasicstepsinvolvedinproblem-solving:1.DefinetheproblemAnalyzethesituationcarefullytolearnmoreabouttheproblem.Asinglesituationmayinvolvemultipleproblems.Identifyeachproblemanddeterminethecause.Trytoanticipatethebehaviorandresponseofpeopleaffectedbytheproblem.Then,baseduponyourpreliminaryobservation,takethefollowingstepstopinpointtheproblemmoreaccurately:Separatefactsfromopinions.Determinetheprocesswheretheproblemexists.Analyzecompanypoliciesandprocedures.Discusswithteammembersinvolvedinordertogathermoreinformation.Definetheprobleminspecificterms.Gatherallthenecessaryinformationrequiredtosolvetheproblem.Whiledefiningaproblem,makesureyoustayfocusedontheproblemratherthantryingtodefineitintermsofasolutionatthisstage.Forexample,“Weneedtorewritethetrainingdocuments”focusesonthesolutionratherthantheproblem.Instead,saying,“Trainingdocumentsareinconsistent”isabetterwaytodefineaproblem.Dependinguponthecomplexityoftheproblem,youmaywantto usetools,likeflowchartsandcause-and-effectdiagrams,todefinetheproblemandits rootcauses.2.Identifyalternativesolutions.Brainstormallpossiblewaystosolvetheexistingproblem.Invitesuggestionsfromeveryoneaffectedbytheproblemandconsultthosewhomayhavemoreexperiencewiththetypeofchallengeyou’reexperiencing.Youcanalsousesurveysanddiscussiongroupstogenerateideas. Keepthefollowingpointsinmindwhileexploringalternatives:Considereveryaspectthatcouldslowdowntheprocessof solvingtheexistingproblem.Makesuretheideasgeneratedareconsistentwithrelevantgoalsandobjectives.Checkthateveryoneparticipatesintheprocessofideageneration.Distinguishbetweenshort-andlong-termalternatives.Writedown alltheproposedsolutions.Youshouldhaveatleastfivetoeightofthemforeachproblem.3.Evaluatesolutions.Onceyouhavealistofalternatives,itistimetoevaluatethem.Assessthepositiveandnegativeconsequencesofeachalternativedefinedinthepreviousstep.Analyzeandcompareallthealternativesintermsoftheresourcesrequiredfortheirimplementation,includingtime,data,personnelandbudget.4.Selectasolution.Aftertheevaluationprocessisover,selectasolutionmostlikelytosolvetheproblem.Considertowhatextentasolutionmeetsthefollowingobjectives:Itsolvestheproblemsmoothlywithoutcreatinganotherproblem.Itisacceptabletoeveryoneinvolved.Itispracticalandeasytoimplement.Itfitswithinthecompany’spoliciesandprocedures.Itisimportanttoconsidertheimplementationpartwhilechoosingasolution.Decide thefollowing:TheemployeesresponsibleforexecutingthesolutionHowtheemployeeswillimplementthesolutionTheamountof timeandresourcesneeded5.Implementthechosensolution.Thenextstepinvolvesimplementingthechosensolution,whichusuallyrequiresyoutotakethefollowingactions:Developanactionplantoimplementthechosensolution.Defineobjectivesandseparatethemintomeasurabletargetstomonitortheimplementation.Definetimelinesforimplementation.Communicatetheplantoeveryoneinvolved.Developfeedbackchannelstouseduringtheprocess.6.Monitorprogressandmakeadjustments.Makesuretocontinuouslymeasureprogresstoensureyoursolutionworks.Gatherdataandfeedbackfromotherstodetermineifthesolutionmeetstheirneeds.Youmayneedtomakeadjustmentstotheprocessifanythingunexpectedarises.Ifyoufeelthesolutiondoesn’tworkasplanned,youmayneedtoreturntoyouralternativesolutionsandimplementanewplan. Whataretheimportantproblem-solvingskillsemployerslookfor?Manyemployersseekcandidateswithexcellentproblem-solvingskills.Herearesomeofthemostimportantproblem-solvingskills:Listening: Activelisteninghelpsyougathervaluableinformationforproblem-solving.Agoodproblem-solvercanidentifyeveryoneinvolved,encouragethemtogetinvolvedandactivelylistenstodifferentopinionstounderstandtheproblem,itsrootcauseandworkablesolutions.Analyticalthinking: Analyticalthinkinghelpsyouresearchandunderstandaproblemanditscauses.Theabilitytoestablishacause-and-effectrelationshipisalsoessentialinanticipatingthelong-termeffectsofacourseofaction.Thosewith stronganalyticalskills canevaluatetheeffectivenessofdifferentsolutionsandchoosethebestone.Creativity: Problem-solvingrequiresyoutocreateabalancebetweenlogicandcreativity.Youneedtouseyourcreativitytofindthecauseoftheissue.Italsorequirescreativitytodevelopinnovativesolutions.Creativepeoplebringuniqueperspectivesandgiveanewdirectiontothecompany.Communication: Whetheryouareseekingsolutionstoanexistingproblemorwantotherstofollowacertaincourse,youshouldbeableto communicateeffectively.Youmayneedtotalkwithothersinperson,overthephone,viatextorthroughemail.Youmayalsoneedtocorrespondwithmanydifferentpeople,includingteammembers,customersandmanagers.Effectivecommunicationacrossavarietyofchannelsallowsyoutobeagoodproblemsolver. Decisionmaking: Youshouldbeabletodecidewhatmethodsyoushouldusetoresearchtheproblem,whichsolutionsyoushoulduseandhowyoushouldimplementthesolution.Almosteverystageofproblem-solvingrequiresyoutomakeadecision.Teamwork: Problem-solvinginvolvesteamwork.Youaskpeopleabouttheirperspectiveontheproblem,involvethemindevelopingeffectivesolutions,seektheirfeedbackonthechosensolutionandrelyonteammemberstoimplementtheprocess.Itisessentialtoinvolveandmotivateallmembersoftheteamforeffectiveproblem-solving. Related: HardSkillsvs.SoftSkillsHighlightingproblem-solvingskillsonyourresumeShowcasingyourproblem-solvingskillsonyourresumecanhelpyoustandoutfromothercandidates.Youcanmentionyourproblem-solvingskillsundereithertheskillsorachievementssectionofyourresume.Insteadofsimplywritingthatyoupossessproblem-solvingskills,trytoillustratehowyouhaveusedtheseskillstosolvespecificproblemsinyourpreviouspositions.Considerthefollowingexamples:“Reducedtheinstancesofsafetyviolationsby40%throughstrategicinstallationofrailingsontheproductionfloor”“Reducedinventoryhandlingcostsby15%byusingspecializedsoftwaresolutions”“Increasedcustomersatisfactionratingsby25%bydocumentingastandardprocessandscriptstoaddressgeneralquestions”Trytotailoryourresumesoyourproblem-solvingskillsmatchthejobwhichyouareapplyingfor.Creatingatailoredresumecanhelpyougainandmaintaintheattentionoftherecruiterorhiringmanagerastheyreviewyourresume.ReadMoreWhatAreProjectManagementMetrics?(WithExamples)HowToImproveProductionQualityProcesses(WithBenefits)DefinitiveGuidetoCreatingEmailSubscriptionsRelatedViewMore arrowrightHowtoCreatethePerfectElevatorPitch-PlusExamples[Video+Transcript]Inthiscareeradvicevideo,learnhowtocreateanelevatorpitchforanetworkingeventorinterviewthattellsacompellingstoryaboutwhoyouareandwhereyouaregoinginyourcareerinundertwominutes.Myers-BriggsJobs:PersonalityTestToFindYourIdealCareer[Video+Transcript]Inthiscareeradvicevideo,learnindicatorsthatcanhelpyouidentifyyourMyers-Briggspersonalitytypeandjobsthatcouldbeagoodfitforyou.