The “Course Topics” series from Manage Train Learn and Slide Topics is a collection of over 4000 slides that will help you master a wide range of management and personal development skills. The 202 PowerPoints in this series offer you a complete and in-depth study of each topic. This presentation is on "Problem-Solving".

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Problem-Solving
Thinking Skills
MTL Course Topics
Problem-Solving
THINKING SKILLS

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Problem-Solving
Thinking Skills
MTL Course Topics
The Course Topics series from Manage Train Learn is a large collection of topics that will help you as a learner
to quickly and easily master a range of skills in your everyday working life and life outside work. If you are a
trainer, they are perfect for adding to your classroom courses and online learning plans.
COURSE TOPICS FROM MTL
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Copyright Manage Train Learn 2020
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Commons license.

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Problem-Solving
Thinking Skills
MTL Course Topics
ARE YOU READY?
OK, LET’S START!

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Problem-Solving
Thinking Skills
MTL Course Topics
INTRODUCTION
Problem-solving is the most widely-known and widely-used
application of thinking skills. Problems can be any situation
where we are prevented from moving forward or reaching
our goals. They may be little niggles or major stumbling
blocks which stop us dead in our tracks. Problems are
caused by lack of information, lack of insight or lack of ideas.
For many, a problem is a reason to give up. But for those
with thinking skills, a problem is a challenge to be
overcome.

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Thinking Skills
MTL Course Topics
DEALING WITH PROBLEMS
Your attitude towards the existence of a problem can go
some way in helping to resolve it.
1. do you seek out problems or pretend none exist?
2. do you stare a problem in the face or look for easy
answers?
3. do you relish dealing with problems or get frustrated
and give up?
4. It is a uniquely Western trait to see a difficulty as a
threat, and consequently panic or become angry when
a problem arises. In Eastern cultures, problems are
equated with opportunities to move forward. In
Chinese, the symbol for a crisis is the same symbol as
that for "crossroads".
"There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in
its hand." (Richard Bach)

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Thinking Skills
MTL Course Topics
THE PROBLEM WITH PROBLEMS
People usually respond to a problem in one of 3 ways:
1. they get uncomfortable and wish it would go away
2. they feel they have to come up with an immediate, and
correct, answer
3. they look for someone to blame.
Most of us find facing a problem a problem. We think
something bad is going to happen. The goal of any problem-
solving process is to make us competent to handle conflict.
"How you look at a situation is very important, for how you
think about a problem may defeat you before you ever do
anything about it. When you get discouraged or depressed,
try changing your attitude from negative to positive and see
how life can change for you. Remember, your attitude
toward a situation can help you change it. You create the
very atmosphere for defeat or victory." (Franco Harris)

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Thinking Skills
MTL Course Topics
THE CLASSICAL APPROACH
The classical approach to problem-solving is a step-by-step
approach which makes use of the analytical style of left-
brain thinking and the synthesis style of right-brain thinking.
1. Become aware of the problem.
2. Define the problem and define the criteria for a solution.
3. Survey what you know (the clues).
4. Advance possible solutions using different approaches to
thinking.
5. Test them, either in your head, on paper or in practice.
6. Identify the best solution and do it.
Without doubt, the most important factor in problem-
solving - whatever the nature or size of the problem - is your
steadfast and calm belief that an answer is "out there"
waiting for you to discover it.

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Thinking Skills
MTL Course Topics
SOLVING A PROBLEM
There are no straightforward formulae to solving every
problem that we are likely to come across.
There are, however, a range of approaches which we can try
out, in succession if necessary, to find a solution. Here are
nine:
1. do nothing and see what happens
2. sleep on it in the hope of gaining fresh insight
3. attack the problem vigorously
4. use both sides of your brain
5. take soundings from others
6. re-formulate the problem into different words
7. reduce the problem to its bare bones
8. use the technique of focusing
9. use the technique of dialoguing.
"A problem well stated is a problem half solved." (Charles
Kettering)

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Thinking Skills
MTL Course Topics
DO NOTHING
The psychologist Carl Jung suggested that we sometimes go
looking for problems when none exist. Certainly some
solutions to problems can cause more pain than the original
problems.
When a new situation arises that you think is a problem, ask
yourself:
1. is this a problem or just a new situation that we hadn't
expected?
2. is this a problem or an opportunity in disguise?
3. if it is a problem, could I change my goals and plans to
stop it being a problem?
"For every problem under the sun,
There is a remedy or there's none.
If there is, try and find it;
If there isn't, never mind it."

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Thinking Skills
MTL Course Topics
TAKE YOUR TIME
Tim Hicks, founder of mediation business consultants
Connexus, says that people are born problem-solvers but
don't realise it. Our fear of conflict means we rush into
solving problems when it is infinitely better to take our time.
By being patient, we are willing to put the solution at the
end of the process rather than at the beginning. It also
means being willing to live with "life unresolved", not always
a comfortable thing to do.
Hicks says a problem is like a curve in the road where we
can't see the straight road ahead. Take the bend too fast and
you'll come a cropper. Slow down and you'll make it fine.

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Thinking Skills
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SLEEP ON IT
We don't understand the full workings of the mind but we
do know that forcing solutions can sometimes block
creativity. This can sometimes happen when we are under
time pressure or working with limited resources. The
possibility of seeing our plans and goals ruined presses on
us and, instead of freeing up our creativity, freezes it
instead.
By relaxing, going away and doing something else, or
sleeping on it, the subconscious mind can work on the
problem by itself and come up with an answer.
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote about: "the little people...my
Brownies...who do one half of my work for me while I am
fast asleep and in all human likelihood do the rest for me as
well when I am wide awake and I fondly suppose I do it for
myself."

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Thinking Skills
MTL Course Topics
ATTACK THE PROBLEM
Attacking a problem is a way to tell yourself that you are not
going to let a problem beat you. It is a good way to deal with
people problems which are often ignored or dealt with only
half-heartedly because we fear upsetting someone.
If we battle fair and square with a problem and gather all
our resources to defeat it, we are sure to beat it. One way to
do this is to use more than one approach, for example, first
sleeping on it and then, if that doesn't work, analysing it,
and then, if that doesn't work, using a creative approach.
Norman Vincent Peale described a friend of his: "Of Amos
Parrish it was said: "if he had a problem he would first go
around it, then he would try to go under it, or over it, and if
that didn't work, he would simply plough straight through
it.""

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Thinking Skills
MTL Course Topics
USE YOUR BRAINS
We can use both left-brain logic or right-brain creativity to
solve a problem; or we can use the two together.
Left-brain logic
1. put the problem into clear words
2. draw a flow chart
3. analyse interests, needs and positions
4. write the problem down
5. rank issues in order of importance
6. list the facts.
Right-brain creativity
1. see the problem from a different viewpoint
2. dream about your ideal solution
3. look at the big picture
4. ask yourself what the problem is like.

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MTL Course Topics
BREATHING IN
Creative problem-solving comes from an open mind.
Inspiration, literally meaning "breathing in", is the way to do
it. Yoga teaches that the air we breathe is full of prana or life
spirit, what the Chinese call "chi".
Holding your breath raises the level of carbon dioxide and
nitrogen in the brain. This can be very refreshing. Slow deep
breathing promotes alpha waves and relaxes body and
mind.
The great Japanese inventor, Yoshiro Nakamats, who is
credited with more inventions than Thomas Edison,
attributes much of his creativity to underwater swimming.
He actually takes a pen and pad and sits at the bottom of a
swimming pool for as long as he can.
Another technique which balances both hemispheres of the
brain is to breathe alternately through each nostril. This will
slow down your brain waves from beta to alpha and
improve your mental clarity.

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Thinking Skills
MTL Course Topics
THE CROW & THE PITCHER
Aesop relates the following fable.
A crow almost dying of thirst came across a pitcher which
had a little water in the bottom. Unable to put his neck
inside, he tried to tip the vessel over but did not have the
strength.
At last, he noticed a number of little pebbles lying on the
ground nearby. After much trouble and effort, he gathered
these together and dropped them one by one into the
pitcher. Gradually the pebbles displaced the water which
rose to the top of the pitcher until the crow was able to
drink and quench his thirst.
All problems are soluble if you have patience, a creative
approach and are prepared to work at it.

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TAKE SOUNDINGS
Most people like to help others with problems and there is
usually a benefit in two heads being better than one. A
synectic, or problem-solving, group following good
groupworking guidelines can offer you quantities of ideas.
Use the following four questions to get the group going:
1. How would others solve this problem?
2. How did we solve this problem in the past?
3. How would we solve it if we had a magic wand?
4. What other situations is this like?
If you work in an organisation where ideas and innovations
are shared, you will almost certainly find someone who has
faced a similar problem to yours and who can give you
invaluable advice on what worked for them and what didn't.

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RE-FORMULATE IT
A problem often seems impossible to deal with because of
the way it is worded or the angle that we take. Changing the
words or the way we see it is how we can re-formulate it.
When asked for "an improved door design", engineers will
change the handle and the hinges. But when you ask them
for "an improved entrance way", all manner of slides, chutes
and shapes become possible.
In response to the problem: how do we deal with the
spiralling divorce rate? we could re-formulate the problem
as:
1. how can we make marriage easier?
2. how can we make marriage harder?
3. how can we educate couples better?
4. how can we improve the communication skills of
couples?
5. and so on.

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Thinking Skills
MTL Course Topics
REDUCE THE PROBLEM
Dissecting a problem into its barest essentials, razor-like,
was a method advocated as far back as the 14th century by
the scholar William of Occam. Hence, reducing a problem to
its essence is known as Occam's razor.
An example of Occam's razor is that, if you see four hoof-
prints in the dust, you should start with the assumption they
were made by one horse, rather than two standing on their
hind legs.
A similar approach is used in modern Japanese industry.
When looking at quality defects, they ask at least five
consecutive "why?" questions to get to the real cause.
"Everything should be made as simple as possible but not
any simpler." (Albert Einstein)

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MTL Course Topics
THE FIVE WHY?s
The asking of 5 why's gets to the root of any problem. For
example, customer Smith is getting the wrong product.
Why 1: Why is customer Smith getting the wrong product?
Because manufacturing are working on a special spec for
customer Smith.
Why 2: Why?
Because the Sales Director spoke to the Production Director
and by-passed the office.
Why 3: Why?
Because it was a rushed order and would have taken too
long to go through the office.
Why 4: Why?
Because all orders are dealt with in order not by priority.
Why 5: Why?
Because the previous Production Director made this ruling
and it has never been challenged.

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Thinking Skills
MTL Course Topics
AN ESCALATING PROBLEM
Jack Foster tells the following story about getting back to
basics in his book "How To Get Ideas".
An old office building with just two elevators now had too
many workers who spent a lot of their time having to wait
for the elevators to arrive on their floor.
There were several options the managers considered. Extra
elevators. A new stairwell. Staggered starting and finishing
times to reduce the crowds. What did she actually do?
Well, first she realised that people were irritated mostly by
not having anything to do while they waited. So she
installed ceiling-to-floor mirrors.
Result? People were quite happy to wait as they didn't mind
taking a peak at themselves and the others waiting with
them.

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MTL Course Topics
FOCUSING
The technique of Focusing was introduced by Eugene
Gendlin, a University of Chicago psychologist in his book
"Focusing".
This is how it might work:
1. Sit somewhere comfortable where you won't be
disturbed. Close your eyes and think about the problem. Let
the issue clarify itself, eg "Me and my boss."
2. Discover what the issue feels like.
3. Now give your feeling a handle. Keep looking for phrases
or words until the right one comes up. "Cornered", "stuck",
"frightened rabbit".
4. Let the chosen handle resonate with the feeling back and
forth until the right one fits.
5. Sense your feeling again and ask why the handle is so
right. "Ah, yes, it's because she's frightened herself..." Test
this answer until it seems just right.
When you get the right answer, you'll feel there's been a
release.

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Thinking Skills
MTL Course Topics
DIALOGUING
Dialoguing is an interesting way to talk through a problem
with ourselves. This is the dialogue of someone who feels
like giving up on their dreams:
Me: Hello, dream. How are you today?
Dream: Hi, I'm fine. Where've you been lately?
Me: Oh, bogged down in routine, I'm afraid.
Dream: Feel like giving up on me, eh?
Me: Yeh, that about sums it up.
Dream: What's brought all this on?
Me: Everything seems so hard.
Dream: Everything?
Me: Well, perhaps not everything. But progress is so slow.
Dream: Perhaps it only feels like that and you're much
nearer than you think. Why not take a day off and come
back later?
Me: Sounds like a good idea to me. OK. See you later.

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Thinking Skills
MTL Course Topics
THAT’S
IT!
WELL DONE!

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Thinking Skills
MTL Course Topics
THANK YOU
This has been a Slide Topic from Manage Train Learn