How do you solve a problem?

How To Solve a Problem?
 
Do you relish solving a problem or does it frighten you?
 
Some of us may find this quite challenging.  
 
When we are faced with a problem, our minds can sometimes go into panic, depending on the size of the problem.

In this initial stage of being presented with a problem, one would really benefit from acknowledging how you feel about the problem and accepting that there is a choice you may have to make. 

You can CHOOSE to do nothing, work out ways to resolve the problem, or you can take action and put things in place to understand the problem and ultimately create change if this is what you want.

Some of you may have heard of Pros and Cons method or the SWOT method (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats). 

Whichever you choose, it comes down to seeking out a solution that works for you and helps you to either change your situation or make a current situation better.

Okay so, you think you have a problem – Have you identified the actual problem?

• What do you want instead of this problem?
• What is the best thing that could happen once you have identified your best outcome?
• Brainstorm, think out of the box on how you could get to the best outcome. (this may be just for you or it may involve others).
• Check for evidence that may already exist that gets you closer to the best outcome.  You may be using some skills or solutions already, so identify these and use them.
• What small step can you take that will get you closer to that best outcome? Then once you have that step, break it down to half a step if you need.
• Breaking down the problem into tiny little bits that you can manage.  If you are not quite there yet, then check in with yourself that you are calm enough, ‘open’ enough to creatively begin to solve the problem.
• Is this a new problem or one you have experienced before?
• What are your options in reaching your best outcome?
• You now get to choose the solution – make a decision. Perhaps you have created a list of things you can tick off.  Trust in yourself to make a decision and put it into action.
• Test it, afterall, you have put in effort to get your best outcome, so test if it is working.
• Maybe it is just a case of tweaking a thing or two or maybe you need to reassess if the problem is still a problem (this may involve going back to the first steps and brainstorming for some new ideas). 

 
So, the next time you are faced with a problem, remember to calm yourself after any initial panic, acknowledge what is going on, note who is involved, what you are able to do initially that may help and then start with the steps you can manage.
 
And ask yourself if you have had to deal with a similar problem before.  If so, how did you come to a solution that worked for you and what strengths did you use to solve it?

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