Problems occur on a daily basis in business and everyday life. Some problems are small and easy to solve. While other problems can be complex and may require more effort to fix. However big or small the problem is, being able to find the root cause and provide a solution is a skill every employer craves when looking for talent.
For your own personal development, it's important to possess and exercise this skill because it builds you up as a leader. Being able to research problems, actively listen to others, and decide on the best solutions are some early signs of great leadership.
We've looked at many problem-solving strategies out there and want to share with you four essential steps you can practice to solve problems in the workplace.
Identify the Problem
It's essential that you separate fact from opinion. Start to gather all the information you can about the source, what or who is affected, and how often the problem happens. Don’t hesitate to use visual aids such as flowcharts and drawings to help you better understand the procedures.
Brainstorm Solutions
Now that you've gathered details about the problem, it's time to brainstorm some solutions. It is highly recommended that you include all teams that are involved in the problem in a brainstorming session. Start to think of similar problems you've encountered and how it was solved. When coming up with ideas, you may start to hear that certain solutions are not best fit for all teams.
Evaluate Solutions
You have identified the problem, gathered some initial solutions, now it’s time to compare and contrast your ideas. It's important when weighing each option that you start to consider what resources are needed, are these long-term or short-term solutions, how fast does the problem need to be solved. and what risks come with each solution.
Implement Solution
Once you've made your decision on the solution that addresses the root cause of the problem, now it’s time to take action. With the support of your team, you should start to implement your solutions into workflows that aim to fix the problem. To ensure you've picked the best solution, begin to monitor your progress and gather data on specific milestones.
How can an employer see my problem-solving skills when I'm applying for a job?
You can showcase your problem-solving skills in your cover letter. Even though it may not be required, you should still attach one to your application. The cover letter tends to fill in the gaps the resume may leave. Here are some examples of how you can show your problem-solving skills in a cover letter:
Sample #1
When I was hired as a junior project manager intern, I was originally tasked with redesigning our CRM system. Unfortunately, an external issue derailed a crucial project milestone. To ensure we stayed on track to complete the project, I coordinated specific team meetings to make sure project sprints continued moving forward. As a result, we were able to launch the product ahead of schedule.
Sample #2
While working on the data analytics team, we often encountered situations where the marketing team would benefit from specific data points from our customers. I then worked directly with marketing leadership to create a script that could visualize the key data points so their team members can view them at any time.
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