By Joe Smith
Special to the Record
It does not matter what kind of business you are running, be it service-oriented or selling products, you will inevitably be faced with a problem that needs solving.
The key to dealing with these challenges will be your ability to first recognize you have a problem, analyse it and then develop an effective solution.
Sounds relatively simple, but so often we make assumptions and take a kneejerk reaction to solving it rather than following the appropriate steps needed to resolve the situation.
Problem-solving in business works best when you follow a few guidelines that have proven to be invaluable in achieving a positive result.
Albert Einstein is quoted as saying, “If I had an hour to solve a problem I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and five minutes thinking about solutions.”
To begin developing an effective solution requires a clear and accurate description of the problem. Identify what you consider to be the root cause by going beyond a superficial analysis. Look at the problem systematically to find out what the underlying causes may be.
This process does not have to be difficult. Start by asking a few questions such as … When did the problem first appear? What events led to the problem? Are there internal or external factors involved? How is affecting your business? Knowing the answers will help you to get a clearer picture of the situation.
Now that the problem has been defined you can start developing a list of possible solutions. Be as objective as you can and then prioritize which solution will best deal with the situation. You may not be able to do it all yourself so take the opportunity to bring in others who can provide more diverse thinking.
Now that you have a list of possible solutions determine which ones are most suitable for dealing with the situation. The key is to make sure these solutions line up with your overall strategic plan. If not, you may have to make adjustments because the market environment or your customer’s needs have changed. Furthermore, you need to evaluate the pros and cons of each solution.
One key to a successful solution is to make sure the problem is not repeated. As Einstein further observed, no problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it. In other words, the solutions to our problems cannot be found by using the same approach that caused the problem in the first place. It takes patience, focus and imagination.
Joe Smith is a communications consultant and an accomplished fine artist. He can be reached via email at joesmith@shaw.ca