Are you an effective problem-solver?

Problem solving is the essence of what leaders exist to do.  As leaders, the goal is to minimize the occurrence of problems - which means you must be courageous enough to tackle them head-on before circumstances force your hand.

 Effective problem solving is one of the key attributes that separate great leaders from average ones.  Being a successful leader doesn't mean that you don't have any problems. Rather, it means that you know how to solve problems effectively as they arise. Successful leaders solicit and evaluate others' ideas for solving a particular problem. Seeing and clarifying problems, either solo or in collaboration, is the first challenge to a leader's creative skill set.  As Karl Popper, one of the most influential 20 th century philosophers of science, once eloquently stated, "All life is problem solving." 


Here's some tips on how to be an effective problem-solver from the website Crestcom:
Step 1: Identify the Problem
What are things like when they are the way we want them to be?  
Step 2: Analyze the Problem
At what stage is this problem? This helps you identify the urgency of the problem.
Step 3: Describe the Problem
You should be able to describe a problem by writing it in the form of a statement and you should do it in 12 words or less. 
Step 4: Look for Root Causes
This step involves asking and answering a lot of questions. Ask questions like: What caused this problem? Who is responsible for this problem? When did this problem first emerge? Why did this happen? Also ask the most important question: Can we solve this problem for good so it will never occur again?
Step 5: Develop Alternate Solutions
Just about any problem you have to deal with has more solutions to it than the one that you think of first. So, it is best to develop a list of alternate solutions that you and your team can assess and decide which one will be the best for the particular problem.
Step 6: Implement the Solution
Implementing the solution you decide on can include creating an implementation plan. It could also include planning on what happens next if something goes wrong with the solution if it doesn't work out the way you thought it would.
Step 7: Measure the Results
From your implementation plan in step 6, make sure you track and measure the results so you can answer questions such as: Did it work? Was this a good solution? Did we learn something here in the implementation that we could apply to other potential problems?


    Great leaders are great problem-solvers. They take proactive measures to avoid conflicts and address issues when they arise.