How to Solve a Problem

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Problem solving is one of the most essential skills in life. Regardless of who you are or what you do, you will face obstacles. How you deal with such challenges will often be a determining factor in how successful you are at life. While problems come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, this article can give you a rough idea of how to solve one in a general sense.

Steps

1. Approach the issue with clarity. This is the first and most important component to problem solving. While action and energy can often assist you in overcoming challenges, this effort is a waste if misguided or misplaced. The first step is always to approach any issue in a clear and logical manner, even if under time constraints or pressure.
   
2. Understand the issue. Once you're appropriately focused, you need to run through the problem. What are the components of the issue? What aspects are vital to a solution and which are extraneous? Once you've broken down a problem into its vital aspects, sort through any cause and effect relationships or patterns and cycles at work. Basically, you want have a good grasp of what is going on.
   
3. Plan a strategy. After you have a good grasp of the problem, begin to plan out a solution. In most cases this is a simple relationship of cause and effect. In dealing with a problem, you desire to achieve a particular result. Consider what steps must be taken to achieve said result, given the parameters posed by the problem.
   
4. Execute your strategy. Once you've outlined logical steps toward your desired result, execute! If you are dealing with an issue such that conditions change upon execution, don't be afraid to reevaluate your strategy. Is something going vastly awry? Approach any new developments in the same logical manner that your approached the original problem. This is important. You must make a critical decision as to whether or not your plan warrants alteration. Remember, changes in parameters of the issue do not necessarily mean the steps you've outlined will fail! In addition, it is sometimes necessary to execute your original plan fully to gain more insight into the problem. Unless this is a one shot deal, trial-and-error are often an excellent approach.
   
5. Evaluate the results. Upon seeing your plan through, consider the result. Optimally, you successfully tackled the dilemma. However, if the results you expect were not achieved, consider your approach. Was there an error in planing or execution? Did new parameters present themselves? Reevaluate in light of these discovers and approach the problem again. Sometimes you can repeat your original plan if the error was in execution. However, if the parameters have changed then a new strategy is often necessary.
   
6. Continue to evaluate and execute. Several attempts may be necessary to solve the issue. Each time, however, keep in mind logic, clarity, and focus. These are the elements that ultimately lead to resolution. Even if you are checked by failure, clear thinking usually leads to a successful resolution.
   

Tips

• Always try to remain calm and logical when approaching a problem, resolution ultimately lies in this approach.
  
• Keep in mind the role others can play in problem solving. Although this article does not deal with group problem solving, team work often plays a vital role in such issues. The threat of personal tension in such situations merely underscores the importance of promoting clarity and logic within the group.
  
• Consider problem solving books related specifically to your issue. Polya's book "How to Solve It", is an example of an excellent book for general problem solving.
  
• Attitude is the key. The more problems you solve greater is your experience with problem solving. You can apply a solution from one area to another only by gaining experience. Be open to new problems.
  
• Be brave.
  

Warnings

• Naturally, common sense (which is derived from logic) is vital to solving any problem. Do not follow any procedure that results in endangerment, unless such hazards are unavoidable.
  
• Don't turn away to your Problems. It will come back sooner or later and it will be more difficult to solve.
  

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