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Guest post by: Rich Grehalva Become an Author

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In my workshops and in my keynote talks, no matter if I’m talking about consultative selling, leading a team, change management or being a parent. You need to understand...how to identify problems before you can solve them.

The really interesting thing I have found is when I ask someone “what problem are you having?” 99.9% of the time they tell me the answer.

For instance I asked a client what problem are they having? He said, “ We need new software this is the answer not the problem.” A friend called me to help her and I asked, “What problem are you having?” She said, “We need teamwork” this is the answer not the problem. I can give many more examples but you get the idea.

Why do we answer the question with the answer instead of the problem? I think we do not even hear the word problem, because we know what we want. We just have not gotten it.

How many times have you caught yourself saying that there could be no other solution to a problem and that that problem leads to a dead end? How many times have you felt stumped knowing that the problem laying before you is one you cannot solve. No leads. No options. No solutions.

With some creative problem-solving techniques you may be able to look at your problem in a different light. And that light might just be the end of the tunnel that leads to possible solutions.

When you apply creative problem-solving, you must change your mindset to the fact that there may be more than just one solution to the problem. And, you must be open to the fact that there may be solutions to problems you thought were unsolvable.

Now, with this optimistic mindset, you will be more creative in solving our problems.

1-The reason we cannot solve our problems is that we have not really taken a hard look at what the problem really is.

Understanding the problem and having a solid understanding of its workings is integral to solving the problem. If you know how it works and what the problem is, then you have a foundation towards solving the problem.

Do this...write down a simple statement of what problem is. Identify what other problems this problem is creating and for who. Look for all the participating entities and what their relationships with one another are.

Many times we get stuck here because we write down the answer not the problem. I teach in my workshops the secret known only to a few for uncovering the problem. Here is what you do.

Write this down...What problem will (insert your answer here) solve?

This one technique is the secret to uncovering the problem. For instance when I asked, “What problem are you having?” She said , “We need teamwork” I replied, “What problem will teamwork solve?” I got the answer which ended up not being teamwork at all.

After getting to the problem take note of what will happen if do nothing.

Now you have a simple statement of what the problem is.

2-Write down all the constraints and assumptions you have about the problem.

Sometimes it is these assumptions that obstruct our view of possible solutions. You have to identify which assumptions are valid, in which assumptions need to be addressed.

3-Solve the problem by breaking it into smaller parts.

Solve it going from general view towards the more detailed parts of the problem. This is called the top-down approach. Write down the question, and then come up with a one-sentence solution to that from them. The solution should be a general statement of what will solve the problem. From here you can develop the solution further, and increase its complexity little by little.

4-It helps to have critical thinking as you solve a problem, you must also keep a creative, analytical voice at the back of your head.

When someone comes up with a prospective solution, tried to think how you could make that solution work. Try to be creative. At the same time, look for chinks in the armor of that solution.

Remember that there may be more than just one solution being developed at one time.

Keep track of all the solutions and their developments. Remember, there may be more than just one solution to the problem.

5-Remember that old saying," two heads are better than one."

That one is truer than it sounds. Always be open to new ideas. You can only benefit from listening to all the ideas each person has. This is especially true when the person you're talking to has had experience solving problems similar to yours.

6-Be patient. As long as you persevere, there is always a chance that a solution will present itself.

Remember that no one was able to create an invention the first time around.

So, next time you see a problem you think you cannot solve, think again. The solution might just be staring you right in the face. All it takes is just a little creative thinking, some planning, and a whole lot of work.

Be the Difference!

Rich

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