How to Develop Your Problem-Solving Skills

You use problem-solving every day, both in your professional life and personal life, often without even knowing it. While some people find problem-solving easier than others, you can also develop and strengthen problem-solving skills over time. Certain job roles require greater problem-solving abilities. If you are aiming for such a role, your problem-solving skills need to be top-rate. 

Below, explore problem-solving and why it is important, especially in the workplace. Also, discover a list of top tips for improving your problem-solving skills. 

What is problem-solving

Problem-solving is the ability to see a problem, challenge, or question, come up with several possible solutions, and choose the best option. It may be as simple as looking out the window, seeing rain, mentally sorting through your outfits, and deciding which will keep you dry. 

In the workplace, problem-solving is a highly valued skill, as it relates to daily life for various roles, including those in science, mathematics, business, technology, and health care.

Why are problem-solving skills so important at work

Most careers require some problem-solving skills. Problem-solving helps businesses and people advance. It allows you to question, make connections, and consider alternatives, which helps you improve processes, make decisions, and develop new products and innovations.

Who uses problem-solving skills

You’ll need problem-solving skills for many careers. Just a few examples include:

• Accountant

• Detective

• Mechanical engineer

• Statistician

• Pharmacist

• Software engineer

• Data analyst

• Registered nurse

Tips for improving your problem-solving skills

Whether you work in a profession where problem-solving is critical or not, you’ll benefit from following these problem-solving tips to enhance your skills. These tips help in work and everyday life. 

Take time to analyze the problem.

You may have heard the quotation famously contributed to Einstein: "If I had an hour to solve a problem, I'd spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and five minutes thinking about solutions.” This advice highlights the first problem-solving stage: carefully analyzing each part of the problem to carefully calculate an appropriate response. With this approach, you’ll generate more useful solutions for your situation. 

Good problem-solving involves asking questions that help you get to the root of the challenge. Sometimes, the problem might be obvious. Sometimes, solving it may require more thought and looking carefully at what caused the problem. 

Consider different perspectives.

Sometimes, it’s helpful to look at a problem from different angles. If you just look at a problem from your own perspective, your own biases and preferences can limit your solutions. Understanding multiple perspectives can lead to more insights. Often, a problem has more than one cause, and seeking more than one perspective can lead to a better understanding.

To discover different perspectives, you may need to seek help from others. You can do this in several ways:

Brainstorming: Get a group of people together, consider the problem by posing a question, and write down all the ideas that come up. This will give you a good amount of information to work with when coming up with a solution and allow for multiple perspectives.

Expanding your knowledge: Research the problem’s subject area. Understand different theories and how others have solved similar problems. 

Observing: If possible, ask a friend, classmate, or family member to consider the problem and see if they see it in the same way that you do. You may also try to put yourself in someone else's place to see how they might translate a problem, such as viewing a sales funnel as a customer instead of just as a business manager.

Focus on the solution.

Once you have spent time understanding and analyzing a problem, focus on solutions. This is the time to review the possible solutions, decide which are valid, and eliminate those that aren’t. This might be a lengthy process, or there might be some obvious answers. Test each solution properly before making any decisions. 

Write out your thoughts. 

To focus your process and manage your ideas and thoughts throughout the problem-solving process, it can be helpful to write down important points and facts you’ve gathered. Often, the writing process clarifies your ideas and helps you make new connections. It will also serve as a reference for later.

Communicate clearly.

If you’re working with a team, it’s important to clearly communicate your understanding of the problem, ideas, and possible solutions. You must also be an excellent listener to gather your team’s perspectives and input. 

Problem-solving is a process. You’ll need to communicate clearly and listen actively to discuss and agree on the steps your group will take and the roles of those involved. 

Evaluate results and make adjustments.

Problem-solving involves testing the solutions you identify. When doing this, it’s important to not only record the results but also evaluate them for their effectiveness and make any necessary changes. Evaluating your results helps you understand what went well and what didn’t and know what changes to make in the future.

Learn from past experiences.

Taking time to understand the root of a problem and to evaluate the results gives you information to use when you solve similar problems in the future. If you have identified effective solutions, you can try these approaches next time.

Next steps

Improving your problem-solving ability is a worthwhile venture, as these skills are useful in various careers and daily life. By understanding the problem in front of you and taking the time to explore solutions, you can put a quality plan in place.

Are you thinking about applying for a role where problem-solving is a vital skill? On Coursera, you can find highly-rated courses to develop your problem-solving abilities. For example, IBM’sPeople and Soft Skills for Professional and Personal Success Specialization is a great place to start. You might also consider Professional Skills for the Workplace Specialization, delivered by the University of California.