Six Problem-Solving Techniques in Business

Small business owners are constantly putting out fires. We often head multiple departments, so acquiring problem-solving techniques is crucial.

Let’s look at Steve Jobs’ techniques.

Steve Jobs was a game changer in the technology industry. He led Apple to develop groundbreaking products, including the iPod, iPhone, and iPad.

But if we look closer, Steve Jobs did much more than create products.

He ignited the personal computer revolution, revolutionised the sale of music, and shepherded the age of computer animation.

In 1985, Jobs – a cofounder of Apple – was forced out of the business after a long power struggle. However, the then-CEO could not turn the company’s finances around. By 1997 Apple requested Steve Jobs to lead the company again.

Taking on the challenge, Jobs quickly did two things; simplified Apple’s product line and allied with the Microsoft Corporation. 

He engineered an award-winning advertising campaign, urging customers to “think different”, steering them to buy Macs.

Within no time, Jobs rebuilt Apple’s brand and made history –  in 2018, they became the first publicly traded U.S. company valued at US$1 trillion.

Steve Jobs was successful because he mastered problem-solving techniques.

He rebuilt Apple, not around money but around improving people’s lives.

When the first Apple store opened in 2001, Jobs told the watching world that the store’s function wasn’t to “sell computers” but to “enrich lives.”

Steve Jobs’ Problem-Solving Strategy

Steve’s problem-solving techniques were simple: zoom out, focus in, and disconnect.

Zoom Out

When you zoom out, you look at the bigger picture. You stop to look beyond the immediate details and think about the larger context and long-term vision.

How do you zoom out? Start by identifying the root causes of the problem. This helps you to form a longer-term strategy.

Then, look for innovative solutions for those root problems. You need to be open-minded and consider your options without preconceived notions.

Lastly, align your actions with your long-term goals.

Zooming out is simply about putting yourself outside the realm of what is currently possible and instead thinking about what could be possible.

Focus In

After you zoom out, the second problem-solving skill is to focus in so you see the problem within the context of your organisation.

Focussing is about paying attention to detail and thinking innovatively to solve complex challenges and deliver remarkable solutions.

Steve strongly believed that an intense and obsessive focus may be the answer to discovering breakthroughs. Put away all possible distractions and keep your eyes on the prize – the solution.

To do so, you have to understand the user’s needs. Set your sights on what you want to achieve and work relentlessly towards the goal – something Jobs was an expert at.

Disconnect to Problem Solve

Lastly, disconnect. 

Have you ever found yourself going around in circles about the same thing? You’re unable to find a solution because every possible solution leads to yet another problem…

Then you decide to take a break, and magically, the solution comes to you and seems almost obvious.

Whenever you’re unable to find a solution, take a breather. Go for a walk and get some sun, even a holiday if the problem is that large. 

Time out helps you to think critically and develop solutions.

Six Business Problem-Solving Techniques

Since every business owner will face difficulties at some point, we must acquire some problem-solving skills.

Problem-solving techniques get us ahead of the challenge, so we tackle it as best as possible.

Here are six problem-solving steps for your business:

1. Transparent Communication
2. Open-Mindedness
3. Remain Calm
4. Develop a Problem-Solving Strategy.
5. Focus on the Bigger Picture.
6. Become a Preemptive Leader.

1. Transparent Communication

To solve a problem, you must first understand the cause through open, transparent communication. Fix problems from the ground up.

For a leader to be open with their team, they must be courageous and understand the benefits of honesty. 

We are at a disadvantage when we keep problems to ourselves. Have you heard the saying a problem shared is a problem halved? Trust your team enough to share challenges with them.

Here are two techniques essential to building problem-solving communication skills:

Active Listening

To be heard, first, listen. Give your team members a chance to voice their opinions.

At this point, it helps if you limit your responses so that you can listen keenly. Only ask clarifying questions when needed.

It’s essential to listen to each member’s concerns and points of view. Otherwise, parts will be missing, and half a problem will be solved.

Feedback

Once you have listened to your team and understood what they have to say, it’s time to give feedback. A good leader speaks their mind but presents their points respectfully and professionally. 

Provide constructive feedback to show that you understand the person’s message and appreciate their input. Acknowledge their effort and provide guidance or support where necessary.

After all points of view are accounted for, the leader and the team can map a path toward a viable and sustainable solution.

2. Open-Mindedness

Open-minded people see beyond the obvious details before them, says an article in Forbes  – The 4 Most Effective Ways Leaders Solve Problems.

Leaders who are open-minded view risk as their best friend. They tackle problems head-on and get on with driving growth and innovation.

That’s why being open-minded is a crucial problem-solving step:

Here are two ways to become a more open-minded leader:

Recognise Your Biases

First, recognise your biases. We are all different, and that is the beauty of humanity. You and I won’t always see things the same way or experience the same things. We all have unique backgrounds and, therefore, unique paths in life.

To become more open-minded, try to acknowledge your thoughts and behaviour. Your experiences, culture, and upbringing shape your personality – and much of this can be moulded if you are prepared to do the work. 

Recognising your biases helps you to make better-informed decisions, foster inclusivity and cultivate a fair, objective environment at work. Through this, the efficiency and productivity of work become a hundred times better.

Knowing yourself is the first step to overcoming biases and egos that we form. It allows us first to acknowledge the existence of those biases and then make conscious efforts to challenge them and their influence in our lives.

Seek Different Perspectives

Second, seek different perspectives. As humans, we tend to believe that everything we’ve learnt is gospel truth unless we consume information to challenge our thought processes.

Become more open-minded by exposing yourself to different cultures, ideas, and perspectives. 

Talk to people from different backgrounds or with different cognitive, or read books that challenge your beliefs.

3. Remain Calm

Obstacles and setbacks arise within the workplace; that’s a fact. How you handle problems will help prevent them from escalating.

My favourite problem-solving technique is simple; remain calm. Easier said than done, which is why, as leaders, we work on our personalities. 

Try to tackle any challenge in panic mode, and I guarantee you’ll make it worse.

Staying calm gives you the clarity to think and develop easy, practical solutions. You’ll be able to think logically and make decisions accordingly.

Instead of reacting automatically, pause, take a breath and think.

To remain calm in a tricky situation, read the following tips.

Pause 

Remember, your team looks to you for guidance and stability; pausing will stop you from reacting impulsively (with rage).

There are ways you can manage emotions and feelings – one is to acknowledge them, even name them.

When you find yourself in a situation where things are consistently going wrong, take time out. 

Go for a walk, a cycle or sit peacefully for a moment to find clarity and creativity.

Assess the Situation

Once you’ve taken a step back, you can evaluate the crisis differently. 

Identify the key challenges, risks, and opportunities it presents. Maintain a clear perspective to make rational decisions rather than succumbing to panic or stress.

Seek Support

Everyone needs support, even the most influential leaders – stop facing your challenges alone. 

Seek help from trusted colleagues, mentors, or friends who can provide guidance and a fresh perspective.

You will find that you can alleviate stress and discover new insights through discussion in a Mastermind9 group.

4. Develop a Problem-Solving Strategy

To solve problems, you’ll need a solid strategy. 

Strategy guides the team through the solution rather than doing things haphazardly. 

Have the strategy mapped out on paper and make it known to your team. Write down all roles and responsibilities to keep everyone accountable.

Influential leaders know how to gather the right people, resources, budget and knowledge from past experiences.

Anticipate the unexpected and utilise the team’s strengths to ensure the strategy leads to a sustainable solution.

With a properly laid out plan, it’s much easier to avoid guesswork and eventually solve the issue.

What do you need in your strategy?

Generate the Best Possible Solutions

Once you clearly understand the problem, develop a list of solutions. 

Do this with your team to ensure you’ve exhausted all the answers. 

At this stage, you need to encourage creativity and avoid judgement.

Evaluate the Best Solution

Narrow your solutions down now that you have several possibilities.

Review each solution and evaluate its feasibility, effectiveness, and potential consequences.

Consider the resources required, the risks involved, and the potential impact on stakeholders. 

Compare the solutions against each other and select the one that seems most suitable.

Develop an Action Plan

With the chosen solution, break it down into smaller tasks and delegate them to team members. 

Set deadlines for each and communicate cut-off points to everyone.

5. Focus on the Bigger Picture

Small business owners don’t have the time, energy and resources to solve EVERY SINGLE PROBLEM.

So what do you do about it? You let some things slide. 

Stop obsessing over small things, which, in the grand scheme of things, won’t matter.

It’s vital to remember that small things can significantly affect your business, so face up to what needs to be done quickly. 

Don’t be quick to brush off problems; instead, take a moment to think about how the situation will affect you and your business in the long term.

Use the 80/20 Rule to Improve Your Productivity – as a general rule of thumb, resolve 20% of the issues that lead to 80% of your problems.

How can you tell when a problem does not require your urgent attention?

Consider the Consequences

Not every problem requires your urgent and immediate attention.

Assess the potential consequences of addressing the problem later. 

If unresolved, will it escalate into a more significant issue or cause further damage?

Analyse the Urgency

Sometimes, when we rush into solving a problem, we may make even more mistakes.

Certain times call us to sit back and assess the situation before rushing into it. 

Some problems are time-bound; if they aren’t solved quickly, they lead to other issues.

Does the problem require immediate action, or can it be addressed later without causing significant harm?

6. Be Preemptive

“The wise warrior avoids the battle.” — Sun Tzu.

A crucial problem-solving skill is to be preemptive and ‘avoid the battle’ in the first place.

How? Try to foresee the possible issues and deal with them immediately.

We’ve all been in situations where we anticipate a minor problem but procrastinate and don’t fix it. That’s when something little turns into a huge issue.

Be prepared and prevent bad things from happening. Encourage organisation, and good things will come.

A true leader solves problems preemptively and rarely makes the same mistake twice.

Being pre-emptive involves:

Staying Informed

Keep informed and current to foresee challenges in your industry.

One of the most essential problem-solving techniques is to avoid the problem in the first place.

Engage in continuous learning and seek information from various sources such as industry publications, conferences, and networking events. 

Knowledge enables you to anticipate challenges and opportunities.

Lead by Example

When you focus on the problem, the problem continues to get bigger.

A good leader avoids pointing fingers; a problem isn’t solved by blame. Blame makes people resentful and defensive.

Even if it’s crystal clear who caused the problem, there’s a way to teach them to do better without coming down hard on their faults.

Lead by example – take responsibility for your actions, and encourage this among your team. 

Our Problem-Solving Techniques Summarised

Solving problems is an art. 

It requires a leader to pause, step back, and think clearly. 

A problem can be a bonding experience within an organisation if handled correctly. It can lead to opportunities and blessings.

There will always be problems within the workplace; it’s how you deal with them that counts.

In conclusion, here are the six best problem-solving skills as a leader:

1. Transparent communication.
2. Open-mindedness.
3. Remain calm.
4. Develop a Problem-Solving Strategy.
5. Focus on the Bigger Picture.
6. Be Preemptive.

If you could use some support in growing your business, get in touch. We’re on a mission to help people and businesses grow.

Onwards and upwards, my friend.

X P