Last week I shared that spending time clearly defining a problem before brainstorming solutions is necessary.
Why?
The problem could be more complicated than you think or it can be a symptom instead of the underlying concern.
Once you’ve invested this time upfront, the next steps can happen quickly. It starts with brainstorming solutions. You know brainstorming; the tool that gets people thinking quickly from the creative part of their brain. However, honoring the rules of brainstorming; no right or wrong answers, anything goes, quantity over quality and NO evaluating is essential for getting to the best solutions. I suggest you, or someone from your team act as the facilitator of this process. Stand up, snag a flipchart or whiteboard – something everyone can see instead of a piece of paper. Grab a pen, write the problem at the top of the page and tell your team to “Go for it and throw out as main possible solutions as you can in 5 – 7 minutes.” Then hold the staff accountable for NOT breaking the rules even if it means you interrupt and redirect them back to the task. Then move on.
The steps of problem-solving are evaluating and integrating ideas and making a decision on solutions. Notice I said solutions with an “s.” Your team needs to pick their top 2-3 results. Why? What if one doesn’t work out? What if two could be implemented at once to save time? The best three answers are likely the best opportunities for success. Keep these agreed upon solutions close . . . just in case.
However, there is more work to do. Come back next week and discover the final three steps.
Click below to register for my FREE webinar on March 1st when I bring it all together through the 10 Step Guide to Problem-solving.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR
Anyone who has ever had a problem should attend so tell your friends, co-workers, and bosses.
Until we meet again, remember success is yours
Karin Naslund