When planning and implementing change, problems sometimes arise. Problems will certainly arise during your life as a manager (if they haven’t already!).
Being personally effective also means being able to face and resolve problems in a planned and proactive way. But not in a hasty and haphazard way. So how to go about it?
Effective problem solving depends on having a structure and a process which will act as a guide when you are faced with no matter what problem.
Here is a a clear and straightforward way of solving problems. It is made up of four stages:
Think for a moment about how you solve problems. Do you already follow this process? If not, what process do you use? It is not unusual for a manager when faced with a problem, to leap from PROBLEM to ACTIONS in one jump and, of course, the action chosen could be exactly the right one BUT often it is not as you have leapt the two important stages of ANALYSIS and OPTIONS.
For example you think the problem with the city transport system, is there aren’t enough buses! Action: buy more buses!
BUT what if you buy more buses and the situation is the same? The answer maybe that there are already enough buses but they are inadequately maintained, or that there is a shortage of drivers, or that the time tabling needs to be revised or..
What you have done in identifying the problem is to leap straightaway to the solution to buy more buses which in this case would be a waste of time and money.
Below are some questions which will help you through the process in a systematic way either on your own or with your team:
1 DEFINING THE PROBLEM
Once you have answered the questions, you will be in a position to clearly and accurately define the problem. You should then write a Problem Statement which spells out this clearly defined problem. Once you know exactly what you are dealing with, you have a better chance of coming up with the most appropriate solution!
2 ANALYSIS
3 OPTIONS
4 ACTIONS
This Management Skills for New Managers course is aimed at recently appointed Managers. Using real world scenarios it covers the skills required to make the adjustment from working alongside your colleagues to managing and motivating them to work for you.
Silicon Beach Training offer wide range of Management ∧ Leadership training courses.