What do you do if your problem solving skills need a boost?

Boosting your problem-solving skills can involve several strategies: - Practice puzzles. - Break down problems. - Get feedback. - Learn from mistakes. - Think divergently. - Stay organized. - Relax for focus. - Learn new techniques. - Read widely. - Keep learning always. Remember, improving problem-solving skills is an ongoing process. Stay patient and persistent, and you'll see progress over time.

An approach that I find very helpful is to step away from the problem and circle back fresh. This provides new perspectives and energy to attack from a different angle.

Disconnect from technology after working hours and prioritize quiet time with family, good sleep, some time in nature - usually recharges the problem solving abilities to come back at the hard problems with a deeper understanding and strength.

First of all we should identify what is the problem is and that itself many places we are lagging. So we should start from Identifying the problem and then start finding the cause of the problem, then find the appropriate resources to address the problem then go for fixing it. In our organization, we will be conducting an Open Hackathon yearly once and for that people should come up with their own problem statement which they have faced in the past or collaborate with their respective business team to get the problem statement. Then those real problems will be taken for Hackathon event and will ask the team to solve the problem. So bottom line is identifying what is the problem itself a problem in these days.

I've found that brainstorming sessions with colleagues who have differing viewpoints are incredibly valuable. It challenges my usual way of thinking and pushes me to consider alternatives I might not have otherwise. Embracing contradictory opinions doesn't just broaden our perspective—it also sharpens our problem-solving skills in unexpected ways. It's all about turning differences into strengths :-)

Some tips to boost your Problem solving skills could be: - don’t rush yourself to find a solution. If it is urgent find a workaround to make the business running then analyze the situation deeply. - Use Fishbone analysis to find the root cause of the problem - Share your thinking with others and listen to their opinions then revisit your analysis if needed - Use exclusions technique to minimize the possible causes and be more focused on possible solutions. - Think out of the box and don’t be biased by others thoughts. - Find the simplest way to solve the problem then improve - split the problem into inputs -> (processing) -> output. And see how changing input impact output then change processing if needed - keep learning and adapting

Assuming I'm tapped out of ideas, I start by talking to my most trusted voices. My most trusted voice is my wife of almost 30 years. She knows me better than anyone and can get me to look at things differently. If you don't have a significant other, consider those closest to you even if they are outside your industry. You need to consider someone that won't tell you what you want to hear.

1. I’d do a mind mapping first . Jot down all the issues circumventing the problem. 2. Think about various possible solutions for that problem. 3. Discuss and debate the same with industry friends, my spouse, my friends and my mentors - everyone would add their own perspective and most of the times there might be an easy way out. 4. Post the acquired knowledge and suggestions work on the possible solution I believe in. Execute that possible solution, follow it up if it’s required and periodically monitor it. I’d not want to blame anyone at the end of the day for my decisions.

In my experience seeking different perspectives from different stakeholders can be such an eye opening experience. They can shed light into your blind spot and you can be surprised. You may think why I didn't I think of this before. Try putting the hat of the closest stakeholder in the problem and think what is he or she thinking or feeling. Empathy is key, when you connect to the source of the challenge a light bulb gets turned on and suddenly your perspective shifts. Always remembering your goal is to resolve the problem and overcome the challenge, so you need to be simple in your approach without complicating matters.

In general problems in business remains the same, they are mainly repeated but old solutions doesn't work like copy & paste methodology. Perfect and accurate solution will change with the circumstances and the time. Past working and experiences can provide a clue but continuous learning, dialogue with Team, discussion with peers and mentors, comprehensive understanding and alignment with new age work force may give a boost to problem solving skills.

Continuous learning is the process of learning new skills, enhancing knowledge and gathering relevant information of the problem. It helps to build a portfolio of experiences.

I use artificial intelligence to teach me continuously. I particularly like setting up custom GPTs (AI assistants) for specific tasks. For example I have a "Ancient Alchemist" I put in the GPT store to teach me the Proto-Indo-European language from 1000's of years ago (no one else but AI speaks it!) and also a custom GPT to teach me coding. I can't code but my custom GPT doesn't mind if I cry when I'm trying to install homebrew for Python and calmly talks me through the error messages. I like learning with AI as I can do it adhoc but continuously. Kind of like an on-demand online course but non-linear. A non-analog mentoring program that delivers learning continuously. Using custom instructions to get novel analogies in philosophy is brill!

To improve problem-solving abilities through continual learning, adopt a growth mindset and view problems as chances for growth. Discover new knowledge and skills through books, classes, and mentorship. Reflect on previous events to extract lessons and apply them to future situations. Continue to be curious and open-minded as you explore different topics and opinions. Engage in self-directed learning and experimentation, testing new approaches and iterating in response to feedback. Encourage knowledge sharing and cooperation by cultivating a learning culture in your workplace. By committing to continual learning, you may broaden your problem-solving toolset, adapt to changing circumstances, and foster innovation.

Learning is the only way to stay updated on any given situation and the more we learn, the more likely we are to make the right decisions. As the society is daily faced with new challenges learning becomes detrimental in problem-solving setting. My approach on the matter is not to ignore any problem regardless how small it is and try to learn from it. When bigger problems arise within the same context are more likely to have similar if not the same features of the smaller ones. In short, “learn from smaller problems”

The best thing you can do to increase problem-solving is to use hands-on training to reinforce concepts and practices. The more learning styles you incorporate, the better the retention. Hands-on is invaluable, but most companies don't take advantage of it. There is only so much you can learn in a lab. Get out there!

How do you get people more experience without changing their job? Offer realistic simulation training. Simulation creates realistic business situations where people must make decisions with incomplete information. Then you debrief on why that was the best answer or not. And you can gamify it as a friendly competition.

Practice problem-solving regularly to sharpen your skills. Dedicate time to solve puzzles, brain teasers, or real-world challenges. Break down problems into smaller components, brainstorming potential solutions, and evaluating their effectiveness. Reflect on each practice session to identify areas for improvement and adjust strategies accordingly. Consistent practice builds confidence and proficiency in problem-solving.

Practice problem-solving regularly: Like any skill, problem-solving improves with practice. Seek out opportunities to solve problems in your daily life or engage in activities that require problem-solving skills. The more you actively practice, the more proficient you become.

When learning an instrument, you have to practice it regularly for it to "go in". But it's easy to waste practice time by being unfocussed. You can easily lose 70-80% of the impact of practice this way: just playing pieces through, or repeatedly trying the same thing again and again. Good practice is intentional. You must go in with a specific goal or target, and work towards it. Ideally it's a goal or target that can be hit relatively quickly. For instance: I'm going to play these eight notes at the correct speed, in a way that feels "right". You don't do anything else until you hit that micro-target. Once you have, move on to the next eight notes, then work to join them together. Intentional practice works in every area. Set a goal.

"I can't, for the life of me, remember what book this was mentioned in, but it really moved me. There was an inner-city teacher who would not give an F. She would only give children a NY... Not Yet. This obviously speaks to confidence building, but in a corporate setting, we must encourage risk-taking. We learn more from our mistakes than we do from our successes. When you build this into your culture, you will solve problems faster and develop great leaders."

This is my favorite. We can’t grow unless we fail. We might enhance in some areas, yet until you fail we won’t look hard at what needs improved. Being truthful with ourselves and letting go of the notion that ‘failure is not an option’ can be liberating. Embrace the suck that comes with failure and look for the next opportunity to shine.

Embrace failure as a natural part of the learning process. Analyse setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning. Reflect on what went wrong and extract valuable lessons for future endeavours. Cultivate resilience by reframing failures as stepping stones toward success. Keep pushing forward, adapting strategies based on newfound insights, and persevering towards your goals.

Fracasar nos permite intentar una y otra vez conseguir dominar una actividad e incluirla en nuestro aprendizaje y desarrollo como persona. 5. Subir autoestima. Dado que fracasar nos acerca al aprendizaje, también desarrolla nuestras habilidades y el valor que percibimos en nosotros mismos

Consider gaining extra problem solving experience by volunteering. Some companies offer a volunteer day paid leave so find a local community group that needs some help or start one if none exist. A few years ago the village hall where I lived was rather tired and used by primary school for PE. It needed new heating system and a full refurbishment. Local council said they could fund one or the other not both. So a group of parents got together and we all offered to do the refurbishment...council installed new air source heat pump....problem solved.! Volunteering will boost your mood and energy and improve your first hand experience

Adapt strategies based on analysis of the problem. Think of the problem and what outcome is desired. Outline the different approaches that would get to the desired outcome. Determine which approach is best based on different t factors such as time, cost and impact.

Adapt strategies based on feedback and evolving circumstances. Remain flexible and open to alternative approaches when facing obstacles. Regularly assess the effectiveness of your problem-solving methods and be willing to pivot if necessary. Embrace experimentation and iteration, continuously refining your approach to optimise results in dynamic environments.

Seek diverse perspectives: Engage others in the problem-solving process. Collaborate with colleagues, seek input from experts, or gather feedback from stakeholders. Diverse perspectives can provide fresh insights, challenge assumptions, and lead to more innovative solutions. Practice problem-solving regularly: Like any skill, problem-solving improves with practice. Seek out problem-solving opportunities in your personal and professional life. Engage in puzzles, games, or activities that require critical thinking and decision-making. The more you practice, the more your problem-solving skills will develop.

Ideally, you should learn several problem solving techniques, so that you have a toolbox from which you can choose your tool best suited for the problem. You also need to practice flexible thinking so that you can quickly change if your first attempt do not seem to give results. you may need to juggle several tools depending on where in the process you are.

Get back to your roots. 1. Scale your knowledge on the area. It will boost confidence and improve results. 2. Inquire and replicate what others in the field are doing, that makes them continue to thrive and stand out 3. Admit your setbacks, failures or limitations and restrategize 4. Partner with those excelling in the area: learn as much as you can within the period and accelerate your growth 5. Never ever give up. Keep pushing. Just know you are Failing Forward

At any time I realized of loosing any skill I made a quick selfdiagnosis, but first I put the question to myself: is it important for me? If the answer is not, than the problem solved, if the answer is yes, then comes the deep search. If I cannot find the solution in myself I turn to one of my friends or colleagues who is expert in the matter (by my opinion) and discuss it. Usually I find the solution by myself, but I need the conversation with someone else. It often happens, that I find the solution of serious problems by talking to someone... They look at me strangely, when at the end I say: Thanks for Your help. They say: I didn't say anything. But You could listen! :)

If your problem-solving skills need a boost, consider the following strategies: 1. Take a break: Sometimes, stepping away from the problem can help you clear your mind and approach it with a fresh perspective. 2. Break it down: Divide complex problems into smaller, manageable parts to tackle one by one. 3. Change your environment: A new setting or surroundings can stimulate creativity and thinking. 4. Seek diverse perspectives: Collaborate with others, ask for input, or seek out different viewpoints to broaden your approach. 5. Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness techniques can improve focus and clarity! Remember, problem-solving is a skill that can be developed over time with practice, patience, and persistence.

here are some creative and practical tips to further enhance your problem-solving abilities: Exercise Your Brain: Engage in activities that challenge your thinking, like logic puzzles or games2. Keep an Idea Journal: Write down any ideas that come to you throughout the day. This can help you think outside the box. Mind Mapping: Use visual aids like mind maps to organize your thoughts and see connections between different aspects of the problem3. Physical Exercise: Regular physical activity can improve cognitive function and thus enhance problem-solving skills. Get Enough Sleep: A well-rested mind is more capable of critical thinking and creative problem-solving.