Have
you ever noticed that some people seem to be natural born problem
solvers? Look closer, and you'll discover that problem solving is
more a skill than a gift. Effective problem solvers share ten common
characteristics. 
1.
They have an
"attitude"!
Simply
expressed, effective problem solvers invariably see problems as
opportunities, a chance to learn something new, to grow, to succeed
where others have failed, or to prove that "it can be done".
Underlying these attitudes is a deeply held conviction that, with
adequate preparation, the right answer will come.
2.
They re-define the
problem.
Problem
solving is a primary consulting skill. Seasoned consultants know
that, very often, the initial definition of the problem (by the
client) is incorrect or incomplete. They learn to discount
statements such as, "Obviously, the problem is that ..." and follow
their own leadings, but ...
3.
They have a system.
Perhaps
the most common model is the old consulting acronym: DACR/S in which
the letters stand for Describe, Analyze, Conclude, and
Recommend/Solve. As with many formulas, its usefulness stems from
the step-by-step approach it represents. Effective problem solvers
take the steps in order and apply them literally. For example, in
describing the problem (the first step), they strenuously avoid
making premature judgments or ruling out possibilities. In analyzing
the information, they are careful that their own prejudices do not
interfere. In developing conclusions, they are aware of the need to
test them thoroughly. Finally, most astute problem solvers recognize
that there is almost always more than one solution, so they develop
several alternatives from which to choose.
4.
They avoid the
experience trap.
The
world is becoming increasingly non-linear. Things happen in pairs,
triads, and groups and often don't follow traditional lines from
past to present and cause to effect. In such an environment, where
synchronicity and simultaneity rather than linearity prevails, past
experience must be taken with a grain of salt. Seasoned problem
solvers know the pitfalls of relying on what worked in the past as a
guide to what will work in the future. They learn to expect the
unexpected, illogical, and non-linear.
5.
They consider every
position as though it were their own.
For
effective problem solvers, standing in the other person's shoes is
more than a cute saying. It's a fundamental way of looking at the
problem from every perspective. This ability to shift perspectives
quickly and easily is a key characteristic of effective problem
solvers. As one especially capable consultant put it, "I take the
other fellow's position, and then I expand upon it until I
understand it better than he does".
6.
They recognize
conflict as often a prerequisite to solution.
When
the stakes are high in a problem situation, the parties are often
reluctant to show their hands and cautious about giving away too
much. In such instances, managed conflict can be an effective tool
for flushing out the real facts of a situation.
7.
They listen to
their intuition.
Somewhere
during the latter stages of the fact-finding (description) process,
effective problem solvers experience what can best be called,
"inklings"-gut-level feelings about the situation. When this
happens, they listen, hypothesize, test and re-test. They realize
that, while intuition may be partially innate, effective intuition
is overwhelmingly a developed faculty-and they work to develop it!
8.
They invariably go
beyond "solving the problem."
On
a time scale, just solving the problem at hand brings you to the
present, to a point you might call, ground-zero. Truly effective
problem solvers push further. They go beyond simply solving the
problem to discover the underlying opportunities that often lie
concealed within the intricacies of the situation. Implicit in this
approach is the premise that every problem is an opportunity in
disguise.
9.
They seek permanent
solutions.
Permanent,
as opposed to band-aid solutions, has two characteristics: (1) they
address all aspects of the problem, and (2) they are win/win in that
they offer acceptable benefits to all parties involved.
Symptomatic problem solving, like bad surgery or dentistry, leaves
part of the decay untouched, with the result that, over time, it
festers and erupts. Just for the record, a permanent solution
is one that STAYS solved and doesn't come back to bite you.
10.
They gain agreement
and commitment from the parties involved.
It's
easy, in the heady rush of finding "the answer" to a problem, to
fail to gain agreement and commitment on the part of everyone
involved. For effective problem solvers, just "going along" via
tacit agreement isn't enough. There must be explicit statements from
all parties that they concur and are willing to commit to the
solution. Agreement and concurrence really constitute a third
characteristic of the "permanent" solution discussed above, but they
are so often ignored that it is important that they be viewed
separately.
Written
by Shale Paul, Copyright 1996-2008, CoachUniversity.
by Coach U, all rights reserved.