Written by Horng Yuan | Photo by Olav Ahrens on Unsplash
I would be lying if I were to tell you that life is a bed of roses. No, life is anything but a bed of roses. Life comes with challenges and problems; some are intimidating and some are discouraging. When left undealt with, they limit your potential and hinder your personal growth and career progression. You remain stuck; you can even regress.
Do you know that how you handle problems reveals a lot about you?
You may feel overwhelmed or discouraged when faced with adversity. But, is this necessary? Do you know that all problems, regardless of their size and magnitude, can be dealt with using the same basic strategy?
You need to develop a "problem-solving mind-set"; it is a mindset that distinguishes great decision makers from those who do not know what they are doing. Note that decision making at its core is problem solving. The “problem-solving mind-set” spurs executives like you to be more skillful in decision-making and problem-solving. You will see problems as stepping stones and opportunities to master and exploit for growth. When you continuously develop confidence in handing and overcoming problems, more opportunities will be opened up for you.
7 Practical Steps
The following are seven practical steps you can apply each time you encounter a problem in life or work.
1. Set a goal
I have previously touched on goal setting here and here. Goals are helpful in many ways and situations, including solving problems. Set a goal as it focuses your attention on a solution and not the problem. You will be clearer on how you should spend your time. Setting a goal gives you the best chance to solving your problem; it also helps you feel you have better control over your situation. Note that if there is nothing you can do about the problem you are facing, it is best that you cease spending any time and energy on it. Move on and work on something else.
2. Stop wasting time
You cannot afford to waste time on silly and petty things when you have a problem to solve. Identify and avoid your biggest time-wasters, lest they will drain you of your energy. Stay committed to your goal and solution; you might come to realise that solving your problem is not as hard as you thought it would be.
3. Create a plan
Now that you have a goal and blocked out things that waste your time, you need a plan to follow through the solution to your problem. Note that if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. Having a plan means you know your strategy and steps; you know what has to happen and what you need to do to accomplish your goal. Follow your plan step by step, keep going and working back until you perform the desired actions. You are making progress in solving your problem.
4. Ask for help
Do not be shy to ask for assistance and resources that can be used to solve your problem. Get whatever help and support you can from your family members, friends, colleagues, superiors, peers in the Lead+ Tribe, and mentors; this will significantly speed up your problem-solving process. You can always show appreciation and return the favour later. Your priority now is to first solve your problem.
5. Visualise success
The advantage of visualising and imagining success is that it makes your objective clear, if not clearer. Constantly visualise success, on a daily basis; imagine that you have successfully solved your problem, or close to solving it. This will keep you focused and motivated, and boost your confidence.
6. Persevere
Hang in there for as long as possible as you work on and execute your plan. The key is not to give up. According to Walter Elliott, “Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another”. So, know that you are making progress and are not wasting your time. Just persevere and keep working your plan. You can do it!
7. Figure out how to prevent similar problem
This is the last step you should look into after you have solved your problem. Reflect and think how the problem first came to be, and how to avoid it in the future. This is to protect you from going through the same pain and grief again. It would be a shame to have gone through the problem and negative emotions without learning anything. Learn from the problem so to be wiser and more capable.
Conclusion
You can expect challenges and problems when you have big visions, goals, and aspirations; it is part of life. Therefore, it is crucial to have a strategy and process to deal with them when they arise. Many times, a solution can be found, so pursue it actively. The worst thing you can do to yourself is to do nothing. Remember, sitting around worrying is never a solution. Your success is predominantly determined by your ability to solve problems. Develop and adopt a “problem-solving mind-set”!
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