The Art of Solving Problems
If I knew the secret of solving every problem efficiently and effectively I would be significantly more wealthy and more famous. But I can say with confidence that my years of advising clients in some of their darkest hours have given me a few helpful perspectives.
As trite as they may sound, these precepts are not as commonly used as one might hope, but in no particular order, here they are:
1. You can’t solve a problem you can’t articulate.
2. The more clearly you can state your desired outcome, the better you will see the line between the problem and the solution.
3. Two or more persons working together can’t solve a problem unless they are in substantial agreement as to the problem and the solution.
4. Procrastination, distraction, and wishful thinking are the primary enemies of problem solving.
5. Most of us can solve most of our own problems most of the time, but it’s often much more time and cost efficient to bring in an expert.
6. It’s often helpful to parse the problem on paper, that is, to lay it out in such a fashion that its components and their relationships are more evident. This frequently helps you detect missing pieces, or at least their probable shapes.
7. Don’t be surprised if it is your subconscious which solves your puzzle. This is especially true where you have wrestled so much with your problem that you know its every intimate detail, but can’t seem to crack the code. Often the solution, entire and elegant, will simply materialize into your consciousness at the most unexpected moment. Cultivate this gift.
8. Understand when “good enough” is good enough, but also be able to judge when a more elegant solution is required.
9. The old question “How do you eat an elephant?” and its answer “One bite at a time” are actually true.