Problem-Solving Skills or problem-solving skills are essential skills that must be used in almost every matter, whether it is work or life. Therefore, people who are good at solving problems or do it well are always in demand.
If you are looking for a job, wanting to change jobs or advance in your career, you need to update yourself on what HR, employers or most companies are looking for. Compared to the past, graduating with honors, doing many activities, having a history of volunteering or internship experience with leading companies, these are the top things that companies look for. But now, with the changing situation, businesses and industries have changed over time, plus the advent of technology, something that is more in demand than the average grade is “problem-solving skills”.
“Problem-solving skills are crucial to any career path.”
No matter what position you work in, whether it’s a small company or a large one, you’re going to be exposed to both big and small problems all the time. If you’re one of those workers who want to succeed in your chosen path, know that being able to solve problems effectively is one of the things that will help make your future career path much smoother. But just having this skill may not be enough, you have to show it to everyone.
What are problem solving skills?
In simple terms, problem solving skills are the skills that allow you to identify what the problem is, take control of it, and determine what situation you want to change. If you can identify what the problem is that you are facing, problem solving skills allow you to determine the best outcome you want by planning the process that will bring about that outcome, evaluating whether the process will succeed or fail, and if it fails, what will you do to fix it?
“People who can bring solutions to the table are seen as people who can get things done.”
Being able to solve problems effectively can help you succeed and make an impression, no matter what type of job or career you plan to pursue. The further you advance in your career, the more important these skills become.
6 steps to problem solving and the skills needed for each step
Let’s check if you have the skills to solve this problem and if not, try following these 6 steps.
1. Identify and assess the problem.
You can’t solve a problem if you don’t know what the problem is. So the first step is to figure out what the problem is that you’re dealing with. Once you know that, assess the potential impact, whether it’s on people, resources, the company or reputation. Find out the scope of the problem – how much damage can it do, and how large a scope do you want to limit it to? Once you’ve answered all the questions, you’ll be able to come up with the right solution.
The skills needed at this stage include
-analysis
-attention to detail
-data collection
-prediction.
2. Go to the source of the problem.
Now that you know what the problem is and its possible impacts, it’s time to look for the root cause of the problem and its causes. Because identifying the source of the problem will give you insights to make decisions about how to fix it. During this problem-solving process, curiosity is key. You will need to use it to explore all the factors that may be contributing to the problem.
The skills needed at this stage include:
– Analysis
– Brainstorming
– Creativity
– Critical thinking
– Curiosity
– Research.
3. Brainstorm possible solutions.
How much brainstorming you need to do depends on what problem you’re dealing with. If the problem is small and straightforward, you might be able to throw in just two or three possible solutions. If it’s a big problem, take the time to think further, clarifying the path to a better, more sustainable solution. The more people involved in brainstorming, the better, because you’ll get different perspectives on many different things.
Skills required at this stage include:
– Brainstorming
– Communication
– Creativity
– Decision
-making – Listening
– Patience
– Teamwork.
4. Evaluate the solution
Once you have a list of possible solutions from your brainstorming, the next step is to make sure that each one is the best solution. You need to narrow it down carefully. To be successful during this problem-solving phase, you need to be able to delve deeper into each solution and evaluate how feasible it is.
Skills required at this stage include:
– Analysis
– Fact checking
– Speculation
– Prioritization
– Research
– Teamwork.
5. Choose the best solution.
Once you have narrowed down your options and weighed the pros and cons of each, it’s time to choose the best approach. If the problem is complex or will have a significant impact on your company beyond your level of responsibility, it’s best to present the possible solutions to your manager or other stakeholders and let them make the final decision.
The skills required at this stage include
– Analysis
– Communication
– Decision making
– Persuasion
– Forecasting
– Teamwork.
6. Use judgment and consider the consequences.
Implementing a solution and making it work means developing a plan and coordinating with others on the team. Before closing the issue, you need to step back and evaluate whether the solution actually solved the problem, achieved the outcome you estimated, or created a new outcome that wasn’t on your evaluation list. Follow up to make sure that the solution you decided on solved the problem and didn’t create new problems down the road.
Skills needed at this stage include
: -Adaptability -Analysis
-Communication -Collaboration
-Data analysis -Delegation -Listening to feedback -Goal setting -Project management and planning -Time management.
How to improve your problem-solving skills
It is true that great people never stop learning. If you want to improve your problem-solving skills, try talking to experts who are working on challenges. They may face decision-making to solve problems every day. Problems that are so big that we cannot solve them today may be problems that they have encountered countless times. If you start learning from them, they may become small problems that you can solve with no effort.
“Practice, like anything else.”
If you want to become a good rider, you have to ride every day. You may fall once, but you may not fall on the same curve again. If you want to develop problem-solving skills, you have to practice solving problems as often as you can. Most people jump to the easy solution to a problem. The next time you are faced with a problem, instead of rushing to the easy solution, take some time to go through the whole problem-solving process before you decide to solve the problem you are facing.
When problem-solving skills are in demand, it’s not enough to just train yourself to be great at problem-solving for companies to recognize you. You need to know how to show them that you have these skills, too.
- On your resume : You can show your future employer that you are an excellent problem solver on your resume. Where you are listing your past work experience, include challenges you have faced. Briefly describe what problem you encountered, what you solved, and most importantly, what positive results you created by solving it.
- In your cover letter : You have a lot of room and flexibility to showcase your problem-solving skills in your cover letter. Use this space to tell a short story about a time you solved a problem related to the job you’re applying for. What was the problem? How did you come across it? How did you solve it? What was the outcome? And what lessons did you learn?
- During the Interview : The interview process is your best chance for your problem-solving skills to shine, so you need to be prepared. Pick 2-3 situations where you had the opportunity to use your problem-solving skills. You might ask the interviewer to share some issues or problems that you might have encountered if you were selected for the position you are applying for. And if they ask you back, what would you do if you were in the position? Don’t be alarmed. If you have stories of similar problems in the past, this is a good opportunity to bring them up. Remember, the interviewer is not expecting you to come up with detailed solutions to problems that their company is facing. They just want to know how you would start thinking about those problems if you were hired.
Conclusion
The further you advance in your career, the more responsibilities you will have. As you work your way to success, you will likely encounter countless problems to solve. Some of them you may have encountered last month or last year, while others may be too new to be solved with the old solutions you used to. But remember, nothing is impossible if you treat problems as learning, solutions as research, and solutions as presentations. When you finish, it will be a huge experience that you will be able to use throughout your career.
“The further you go, the more complex, ambiguous, uncertain and risky the problems become. Only those who can solve the problems will be encouraged and supported along the way.”
Reference:
How to Improve Your Problem-Solving Skills
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