How to Solve Difficult Problems 3 Ways of #ProblemSolving

How to Solve Difficult Problems

Problem solving is not easy. If it were, everyone would be a problem solver. I have already shown what I believe are the some simple steps to take to begin to solve a problem or issue in my article The Cyberbok 5 Step Problem Solving Method.

While that method described a method or process to solve a problem or deal with an issue - there are actually 3 key prerequisites to meet before you can begin applying these 5 problem solving steps.

3 Prerequisites Before You Can Start Solving Problems

The 3 prerequisites that must be met in order to solve a problem are simple but necessary.  Here they are:

1. Acknowledging (admitting) the problem exists
2. Clearly defining and understanding the problem and its patterns, symptoms and effects
3. Determining to find the root cause of the issues or problems

Let's now look briefly at each of these 3 prerequisites...

1. Acknowledging (admitting) the problem exists

This is pretty much the first requirement for any problem. You have to believe it exists, that there actually is a problem. That is the single most important step on which all others rise or fall.

If you do not believe a problem exists, or if the team or those whom you work with don't believe it, or if leaders and managers and other don't believe the problem exists, you'll get nowhere. The battle will be lost before it's even fought, at this first, most critical step. (See Sun Tzu)

This problem recognition demands three things to be done effectively to show, prove and convince others that here is a problem: marketing, communication. and persuasion. I talk more about this at my article How to Convince Others Using Marketing Communication and Persuasion.

Once you've received consensus that there is indeed a problem, your next step is to reach agreement on what exactly the problem(s) is or are. You must first use informal methods or semi-formal methods, ideally, to brainstorm and discuss or use the Delphi Method to Brainstorm and Avoid Groupthink.

2. Step two is to clearly define and understanding the problem and its characteristics in detail, using main themes and points or pillar statements to define an issue.

Albert Einstein once said, "If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first 55 minutes determining the proper question to ask, for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes." 

That Einstein quote speaks to exactly what I'm referring to in this second part, to ensure we know most clearly and exactly what the problem is first, and perhaps also what it is not.  That is so very important.  We must seek to clearly and completely understand the problem.

Step two should scope the various patterns, symptoms and effects. This requires some research and discovery, to see what the common events, symptoms, characteristics and outcomes of the problem(s) is or are.

By clearly defining these characteristics, you will begin to better understand the problems and then define them.

3. Determining to find the root cause of the problem.

I talked before about the importance of driving at root causes to find a solution. While I am not going to detail here how to determine a root cause, I will tell you why this is a key step in the overall problem solving thought process, as a pre-requisite.

We don't want to just be treating symptoms and then the problems resurface. Also, we must think in terms of degrees of solvability possibility (completely, partially, etc.) and then solve in ways that may need to encompass deterrence, avoidance, distraction, enticement, diversion, indirect and direct confrontation (the last one being the last resort), etc. The

For actual steps on how to find root cause issues and problem(s), I detail a few simple but highly effective ways I've done this in my career, in my article How to Find the Root Cause of a Problem.

Next, however, let's look at the nature and characteristics of what is called a "wicked problem" because we all face this kind of problem, whether we know it or not. I talk about this in my article The 10 Characteristics of a Wicked Problem, subscribe so you don't miss it!