The Do’s & Don’ts of Problem Solving

Need help with the do’s and don’ts of problem solving? Every day we are faced with hundreds of questions, challenges or situations that demand consideration, answers or actions. If any of these are regarded as possibly unwelcome or harmful, you might say that they are ‘a problem’.

Problems come in all shapes and sizes. They cause worry and stress. They must be solved and overcome. No one wants problems. No one likes or needs them. The moment you realise that ‘you might have a problem on your hands’ most of us feel under pressure to find the answer and resolve the issue. Sometimes people feel completely overwhelmed with what they need to face. Em feels that if she can’t solve a problem immediately then she is failing. The truth is though that some problems do not have an instant solution.

So what to do – and what not to do? Here our Em and Milla’s top tips to help with problem solving

Stop!!

It is really important that you take your time. Unless you are in a truly life-threatening situation that requires an immediate response, you can take a bit of time. You do not need to come up with an answer the moment that the issue arises. Milla’s suggestion is that you breathe and count to at least 6 (preferably 10). There is a good reason for doing this.

When you are put in a stressful situation or under pressure to respond, the first part of your brain that reacts is the most emotional part. You automatically think ‘I have to do something NOW!!’ But you don’t have to do that. By giving yourself time to think about what you are being faced with, you will be able to make a more rational and considered decision. No matter what anyone tells you, nothing is so urgent that you have to decide there and then. Be confident that you can stop, take a step back and give yourself a few (or more) moments to consider what you should do next. If you do this, you might also discover that things are not quite as bad as you first thought.

Talk about it

To solve a problem, you need to understand what the detail of the problem is first. This might mean you asking lots of questions about what happened (What are the facts? How did it become a problem?). Just by asking those questions, you may find out that what you thought was insurmountable is actually easy to fix. Never be afraid to ask as many questions as you need to and share what is happening with others. 

The reason what you are facing is a problem is because you’ve never come across anything like it before. We forget though that, none of us knows everything! We don’t all have the same knowledge or expertise. If you talk about what you have to deal with, you will find that someone you know has probably come across this before or been through something similar. Talk to people you trust to give you good advice. There is truth in the saying ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’.

 If they don’t know what to do? There are other ways to find out the answer; you may need professional help or advice. You could do some research on the internet to see what you can find out. Do not forget there is a way to find the answer, but to find the answer you have to talk about it first.

Break your problem into manageable chunks

Once you have worked out what the problem is about, one of the best ways to solve it is to break the solution down into smaller pieces that you can deal with one at a time. As Em well knows, the best way to eat a cake is just one spoonful at a time!

Think of the solution as a series of steps that you need to take.   Decide what each one is, how you are going to complete it and how long each step will take to complete. You then have your plan and you can take some action.

Make sure that each step is achievable. If it isn’t, then break that down into smaller steps that are. Don’t focus on what you can’t do, focus on what you can do instead. Don’t worry about how long the steps might take. Just remember that every time you take one you are on your way to getting to the end and closer to a solution. If you are concerned that your plan might not work, talk it through with a friend or colleague and ask for help. 

Put your plan into action

Once you understand the problem, have worked out a possible solution and have broken that solution down into manageable parts, you can then begin to take action. Carry on and do each part of the plan. When you have completed one part, start the next. This is putting your solutions into practice. As you complete each part, you move closer to the finish.

The End!

Know when you have solved your problem. How do you know once you have finished dealing with it? What does the end solution look like or feel like? It is important that once you solve your problem, you acknowledge that you have done it and feel really positive that you have reached the end.

                  

Do

• Do stop and take your time and give your head time to clear.
• Do talk about it to your friends or people that you trust – you will be surprised at how helpful others can be!
• Do research and seek help.
• Do break a problem down and solve one bit of it at a time.
• Do create a plan and then action it.
• Do enjoy achieving having solved your problem.

 

Don’t

• Don’t panic and do anything without thinking about it first.
• Don’t keep it to yourself and worry.
• Don’t think that no one can help you and that there isn’t help out there for you.
• Don’t assume that you are all alone with this.
• Don’t focus only on what you can’t do.
• Don’t think that your problem is insurmountable and cannot be solved.

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