Rudiments of Problem Solving

A man without problems or challenges is one who is probably dead. These entities make up the basics of living and being able to solve or overcome them is what makes life worth living and fills us with a sense of achievement. Unfortunately, not everyone seems to know how to go about this or even feel like they have enough time to do so. We all get the same number of minutes and hours in a day to work, create, live and prosper but it's how we use those hours that makes the real difference in terms of the quality of our lives and the values we add to others daily. Having the right information also goes a long way in improving our perception of problems and challenges.
There are certain steps that could be taken to aid us in our quest to solve problems and tackle challenges that life continuously throws at us.

1. Clearly identify what you need to change.

Solving the wrong problem is one of the most significant reasons that real change and solutions do not occur. In order to create first and lasting change, you must first take time to clearly identify the problems you want solved.

2. Apply critical thinking to identify the structure of the change.

Critical thinking needs to be applied early on in the process in order to break the change down to its smallest and most actionable items. Critical thinking also allows us to determine the best courses of action.
Sometimes, ideas fail. Not because they're not good enough but because we simply failed to think them through appropriately. Too often we start out with a new plan or idea that we are wildly enthusiastic about but fail to be realistic about requirements or outcomes. The result is that the idea dies on the vine.

3. Apply Creative Thinking to Identify Other Solutions.

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Challenging assumptions, beliefs, and absolutes for the purpose of seeing what else exists or is possible allows you to get the most out of your thinking process. It is important you explore all of the alternatives that exist when you set out to create powerful change in a short period of time. Often you'll discover there are quicker, better, and more efficient solutions to the challenges you face. Many of us forget to look for creative solutions and only look to linear solutions that seem obvious.

4. Identify next steps.

It can be difficult for people to define what should be changed and what it can mean, because they focus on the result and abandon the process, hoping that someone else will pick up the pieces and make it happen. Unfortunately, it isn’t quite that simple. You must identify the steps to be taken and document them. Be as specific as possible when documenting your next steps and assign specific completion times. Undocumented next steps don’t happen—it’s that simple. Part of being able to create a solution pattern is the ability to redirect your focus back to the plan whenever necessary; if you don’t have a plan you won’t know where to refocus your efforts.

5. Schedule Your Change and Take the First Steps to Action.

The most powerful action you can take in initiating change is to schedule and act. If you plan to focus on your health and one of your identified steps is to contact a personal trainer, then pick up the phone and make the call. If you need to pull together a team for the change you want to create, then put the e-mail together identifying the team and send them the meeting notice. By taking one immediate action, you commit yourself physically (by the actual action), mentally (by starting a process), and emotionally (by acknowledging the feelings that getting started brings).

6. Evaluate Your Activity and Measure Your Success.

As you go through the process of creating change, you must regularly evaluate your activity. When evaluating, you need to compare it to the plan and to the timeline that you’ve set for yourself. By rigidly following this structure, you’ll be insured of remaining on track and know that the focus being applied is contributing to the accomplishment of the goals set out for yourself or your team.
Measuring your success is a critical element to ensuring change.We often underestimate or overestimate the time the change will take or what assets and resources are required for success. For change to happen quickly, you must know what needs to change in your personal process and in the structure of your plan as early as possible. Measurement also reinforces a commitment to the project and provides great satisfaction when a job is being done properly and efficiently. Measurement allows you to predict the results of hard work before the final product is realized. Measurement is the key to long-term success in creating fast and permanent change.

**7. Reward Your Successful Completion. **

It is said that a job well done is a reward in itself, but I believe that is only partially true. You may find inward satisfaction by what you’ve accomplished, but in any change there are others who participated in your success and they deserve recognition as well. Celebrating and rewarding your success teaches you and your team that at the end of every worthy task there is cause for celebration! Conditioning your mind and behavior results in predictable success. Rewarding success brings teams together. Great bonding and ownership occur when you celebrate a success together. And, in the case of business, when others see a team celebrating their successes, they are much more likely to want to contribute to a winning team in the future.

Shout out to some people who have been very influencial and push me to be better on steemit:
@tojukaka
@samstickkz
@horpey