How do your problem-solving styles impact your leadership?

1 What are problem-solving styles?

Problem-solving styles are the preferred ways of thinking and behaving when dealing with challenges. They are influenced by your personality, preferences, and experiences. They are not fixed or static, but rather flexible and adaptable depending on the situation. However, you may have one or more dominant styles that you tend to use more often and more comfortably.

3 How to identify your problem-solving styles?

There are various tools and frameworks that can help you assess your problem-solving styles. One of them is the Kirton Adaption-Innovation Inventory (KAI), which measures how much you prefer to adapt to existing structures and solutions or to innovate new ones. Another one is the FourSight Thinking Profile, which identifies four stages of problem-solving: clarifying, ideating, developing, and implementing. You can also use the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), which describes how you perceive information, make decisions, and interact with others.

4 How to develop your problem-solving styles?

Once you have identified your problem-solving styles, you can use them to enhance your leadership skills and performance. To do so, it’s important to recognize your strengths and weaknesses. Ask for feedback and coaching from peers, mentors, and subordinates to improve. Additionally, try to expand your repertoire by using different problem-solving styles depending on the context and goal. Lastly, learn from others by observing and collaborating with people who have different problem-solving styles than yours. Appreciate the value of diversity and synergy in problem-solving to get the best results.

5 How to lead with your problem-solving styles?

As a leader, you can use your problem-solving styles to inspire and influence others, as well as create a positive and productive problem-solving culture in your team and organization. You should model your problem-solving styles by demonstrating how you use them to tackle challenges and achieve results. Show your passion, curiosity, and resilience. Share successes and failures, and what you learned from them. Additionally, it's important to align your problem-solving styles with your vision and values. Explain how they help create value and impact for stakeholders and customers. Furthermore, empower your team members by providing resources, guidance, and autonomy. Recognize and reward their efforts, celebrate their diversity and creativity, and leverage their skills to benefit the team and organization.