Let’s admit the fact that we all face tough situations in our daily lives. While many people shy away from this fact to claim that they are flawless in their work, at least at the start of a new task we do face problems. Problem solving is a tough phase but we need to make it as smooth as possible without terming it impossible so that it can get on your nerves.

Luckily for us, there are plenty of techniques that are available to solve virtually every problem at hand. This post is aimed at people who don’t know how to solve complex problems at work and the various techniques/steps involved in it.

There are 4 core steps known as methodical four-step process. I’m sure you will have a flashback after going through these below mentioned steps you first encountered the Scientific Method.

• First of all, a problem must be defined. What is its cause? There should be a confirmation that a problem do exist.
• Secondly, one needs to identify various options for solutions. Look around for some ideas to solve the problem at hand.
• Thirdly, evaluate your options and choose from among them. What is the best option for your particular problem? What’s the easiest one and how you can choose one?
• Fourthly, implement the chosen solution. Does it solve the problem? Do you need some other option?

Creative Problem Solving Techniques

But the above mentioned technique is a bit old school and you need to get creative when it comes to solving your problems. You need to think out of the box when it comes to thinking unlike most of the others. Creative Problem Solving is actually a formal process coined by Sidney Parnes and Alex Faickney Osborn. This technique emphasizes several things. Let’s analyze this in detail.

Separate the Idea Formation from Evaluation: When you brainstorm creative ideas, list it all down separately. Only prioritize or evaluate them when everything is captured.

Judging will Shut it Down: Nothing stops the flow of creative ideas faster than judging then on the spot. Evaluate only after the brainstorming is complete.

Restate Problems as Questions: A group can be directed into thinking of creative ideas as open-ended questions are hurled towards them.

Use a Positive Approach: Many people like to add a new idea by starting “But I think…” which translates into a negative approach. Instead use “Yes and…” to make sure you are starting to solve the problem on a positive note.

Problems Solving Tips from Psychology

Through our experience, we learn many new aspects of simple things we do every day. For example, if you always complete a task manually, then you can use an online task management software as a ploy for solving some queries and ease off your load. Throughout history, human beings have been able to find new ways of completing their tasks and lately complete them efficiently.

The famous trial-and-error technique was formulated by American psychologist Edward Thorndike in 1911. Basically after watching cats who figured out how to escape from the cage he placed them in. He termed it law of effect.

Reproductive Thinking

After Edward Thorndike, many other psychologists took his theory forward and concluded that problem solving can happen via reproductive thinking. It is concerned with solving a problem by using past experiences and reproducing that experience to solve the current problem.

One way is to look up the solution through mental set or entrenchment. This is when you are so fixated on a solution that used to work well in a previous situation but can’t be applied to a current problem. Don’t get hooked to an idea even if won’t get you results. Just let it go and look for alternate solutions.

The other way is using a cognitive bias called functional fixedness which can ruin any of your critical thinking techniques as you’ll see an object’s conventional function.

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