by 
If you are building a business you must get comfortable with the reality that you will always have problems to solve. Problem solving will be your essential responsibility as you establish and fortify your business because problems are naturally inherent when building a business.
The fast pace of environmental and industry changes leads to new problems continuously. Working with people, because of our various perspectives, leads to more problems. The changing nature and realities of our customers also lead to problems. There’s no way we can escape the need to efficiently and effectively solve these problems.
“I’ve often contended that the best leaders are the best problem solvers. They have the patience to step back and see the problem at-hand through broadened observation; circular vision. They see around, beneath and beyond the problem itself. They see well-beyond the obvious. The most effective leaders approach problems through a lens of opportunity” Glenn Llopis
Problem solving skills help you understand your business more and give you a deeper and deeper knowledge of your industry. This approach helps to establish you as an expert in your industry and these skills will help to keep you focused and calm in the face of difficulties. They will add to your self confidence and impress your workers and affiliates with your sense of control and courage.
Every expert on problem solving suggests carefully defining the problem first. This step will keep you to the task of solving the correct problem. Asking “why” is appropriate in any problem solving situation. So, asking “what” the problem is and “why” it exists will often lead to to the correct solution up front.
Beyond the simple solution, three types of problems have been identified and fall into the category of “difficult problems”. universalclass.com has provided these examples of “difficult problems” a business owner may encounter.
Intransparency– This occurs when the full nature of the problem is unclear. This might happen when some element of the industry that you are not familiar with is involved. Such as being required to provide a service in your industry that you haven’t provided in the past.
Polytely (many goals) – Here many goals must be met by the resulting solution. Such as implementing an innovation that integrates systems, matches the skills of the workers and pleases your customers.
Dynamics- This refers to a problem with time constraints. Such as the need to make a decision quickly.
If you’ve created a culture of openness and trust for your business, problem solving and frankly, all business operational matters will be easier to manage. Your workers won’t fear reprise or judgement. They will know that unusual or unpopular solutions are welcomed for review.
Your attitude about the problem will likewise influence the quality of your decisions. Affiliates will notice your calmness in the face of challenges and your resolve to make an efficient and effective decision. Each time you solve a problem in your business you will get better at doing it. Often you can look to past problem solving experiences to solve the current problem.
“A leader must never view a problem as a distraction, but rather as a strategic enabler for continuous improvement and opportunities previously unseen.” Glenn Llopis
The most widely accepted problem solving process is the Polya Problem Solving Method. George Polya was a Hungarian who immigrated to the United States in 1940. The major contribution is his work in problem solving. In 1945 he published the book “How to Solve It” which quickly became his most prized publication. It sold over one million copies and has been translated into 17 languages. He is known as “the father of problem solving”.
Polya contributed 4 principles to the discipline of problem solving. See A. Motter for a complete description of the principles.
Principle #1 Get a complete understanding of the problem. In other words, know exactly ‘what’ the problem is and ‘why’ it exists. Polya highlights the need to understand the ‘language’ of the problem and the ability to put it in your own words. He also suggests drawing a picture or diagram of the problem to help with understanding what’s going on.
Principle #2 Develop a Plan. Polya revealed that there are many reasonable ways to solve a problem. He advises to choose an appropriate strategy when solving your problems.
Some of his suggested strategies are:
Guess and check
Eliminate possibilities
Look for a pattern
Draw a picture
Solve a simpler problem
Work backward
Principle #3 Devise and carry out a plan. Design a plan around your strategy. Basically, he suggests you must use patience and persistence when planning and implementing your strategy and of course, if it doesn’t work, they something else. He reminds us that this is how mathematicians do it. They keep trying until something works.
Principle #4 Look back. Polya suggests that you can learn a lot by reviewing your process and results. Ask what worked and what didn’t. This allows you to evaluate your strategy and be better prepared to solve future problems.
It’s not too difficult to keep these guides in mind when solving your problems particularly when you know these guides are followed by the best problem solvers. Define ‘what’ the problem is and ‘why’ it is a problem, then apply Polya’s guide to enhance the growth of your business.
More business growth guidance: “20 Directives for Small Business Success: Do or Die”
