Problem Solving 101 (Section 1)

3 Early Questions to ask when you have a problem...

We are all natural problem solvers. Pretty much as soon as we are born, we begin the long road to problem solving mastery. Of course, often (especially at that age) we solve problems without much (or any) conscious thought. Pretty much at birth we come out swinging to get things done; that is, we are biologically programmed to seek solutions to upsetting problems. Hungry, just cry. Angry at not getting our way, throw a temper-tantrum. Don’t like our mushy carrots, throw them on the floor. See something interesting, crawl over and get it. Rudimentary solutions, yes indeed. But most definitely babies/toddlers/children exhibit early signs of the ability to rectify situations that bother them. And don’t kid yourself, these are problems being solved. Hopefully, the seeds of this early behavior will act as a template for future problem-solving success. Ah, but later the problems become more challenging, more complex, less easily solvable. What does one do then?

There are ways to reduce any problem to a more easily understandable one. This reflection may not make the problem any less challenging, but will lend clarity. Questions about the very nature of a problem can help decipher its confusion; these questions will also let you get some bearings on where you are at and where you need to go. These questions are not trivial; they can serve as the initial foundation towards a solution.

1. What’s the real problem?

Surprising though it may seem, this basic questions often gets overlooked or unasked. Without clarity as to what is wrong, where exactly we want to be, what we really need or want, how can we even get started towards moving to a satisfactory goal state, that is, a solution? And when I say “real problem” I mean just that. Don’t just look at symptomatic problems, or more specifically, symptoms of the real problem. Problems will often appear that are not the real underlying problem. Think of car maintenance issues. By the way, a book that influences my thinking on procedural problem solving is Robert Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (1974). Please check it out, because it’s a fantastic book on philosophy, among other things.

2. Why is this a problem?

Not all problems need to be solved, or even can be. For a fascinating glimpse at how mathematicians ran up against logical limits to math, read about the work of Kurt Gödel, specifically Gödel's incompleteness theorems. Sometimes we just have to work around sad, inconvenient facts. Some problems have ugly solutions, or require undesirable actions to achieve a solution, a cost too high. Moreover, the solution to a particular problem may create many other problems. There are also times to table a problem for future consideration.

However, when a problem does need to be immediately solved, a clear understanding of why exactly the problem is a problem is necessary. What’s the basic underlying issue?

3. How did the problem become so?

If you don’t understand how the problem developed in the first place, or what pre-existing conditions limit your ability to progress unimpeded, you are like a runner who will keep falling over obstacles (think high hurdlers) they don’t see or acknowledge. Knowing where you are at with a problem, in relation to its origin, is invaluable information that is often overlooked in the hunt for easy solutions.

Like a ship lost at sea, you need to get your bearings first before you can even hope to move forward towards your destination. Think of a solution to a problem as a point on a map, a destination, and the problem-solving process as a journey of potential discovery. Navigating necessitates a clear conception of the conditions around you. What conditions exist that keep you from being where you want to be? What constitutes the failure in being able to move forward?

The above questions are just the beginning of many others that will help you chart you path from problem to solution.

Regrettably, the world is burdened with too many problems. We need productive, workable solutions. Therefore, we need more expert problem solvers. Our world requires a dedicated community of people from all walks of life to contribute. We may not always agree on the best ways to solve critical problems, but at least we can equip ourselves with the right tools of the trade.

As we move forward together on solving the problem of problem solving, I hope you enjoy the journey! Please comment below or leave a question, and thank you for reading!

Happy Problem Solving!

Evan