The Great World of Possibilities

There is never a single way to get things done. Frequently there are 'best' ways or 'ideal' solutions, but never a single or 'only' way. Yes, I know there is always some wise guy who will tell you that his way is the only way, but he's wrong. Or at least in my experience, he's usually wrong. What there is, however, is a 'right' solution. Find that and now you've really got something.

The ability to solve problems is one of those abilities that creates value in the person who has developed the skill. In a word, people who can solve problems are useful. If problem solving isn't one of your great manager skills and you'd like to develop that in yourself, here are a few ways to begin the great work to become a valuable resource in this area.

1. Ask.  That's right, it's as simples as that. Ask for the opportunity to solve a problem within your organization. Start small, but by taking on a small problem and working to come up with the right solution, the spotlight will be on your efforts and the outcome will be great regardless of how well your solution works. Others will see your effort, thought processes and work ethic. You'll be seen as action oriented and positive and that in and of itself, is great!
2. Ask.  That's right, ask lots of questions and the most important of these is, "What is it we expect to see when this problem is solved?" There has to be a clear vision of what should be happening.  For instance, if the problem is too many errors are being made within a specific work process, then the question is, "What is the acceptable error rate?" Once that is known, the next question might be, "What is the exact workflow for the offending process?" Asking questions will lead to knowledge and knowledge is powerful. Remember, keep asking questions until there is enough information to support the solution ideas that are now popping into your head!
3. Document.  As you work through the questions, solutions will indeed present themselves, but how practical are they? At this point, it's more important to capture the raw ideas than it is to question their viability. Yes, it will be important to test viability, but for now, simply document with as much detail as necessary for you to remember the important parts of each solution.
4. Question.  Next, question each of the possibilities. Remember, the path of least resistance is desired. What makes sense to the organization, saves money, time, effort or resources? Although an easy solution my present itself as a great possibility, it may fail the test of common sense.
5. Document.  That's right, document some more! Documentation is your friend!! Capture all of the information about the tests so that proof of the right solution is supported.
6. Present. Prepare a great presentation of the work and the solution, gaining acceptance and then, pilot that solution with a small group to further establish that it is the right one. Document the results of the pilot and there should either be full acceptance of the superior solution or an opportunity to go back to the list of possibilities (you've created a well of them, you know) to try again.

The point here is to develop the ability to see all of the possibilities that a problem presents. Solving problems can be fun! It just takes a little work to find the prize. What's the prize, you ask? It's that great sense of accomplishment you'll have when the real solution is found and you were the one who made it happen! Best wishes and remember, stay cheerful!