give two (2) examples of barriers to problem solving

6 Common Problem Solving Barriers and How Can Managers Beat them?

What is the meaning of barriers to problem solving, what are the 6 barriers to problem solving, examples of barriers to problem solving, how to overcome problem solving barriers at work tips for managers, problem solving barriers faqs.

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Lack of motivation

Lack of knowledge, lack of resources, emotional barriers, cultural and societal barriers, fear of failure.

Lack of motivation: A person who lacks motivation may struggle to complete tasks on time or produce quality work. For example, an employee who is disengaged from their job may procrastinate on essential tasks or show up late to work.
Lack of knowledge : Employees who lack knowledge or training may be unable to perform their duties effectively. For example, a new employee unfamiliar with the company’s software systems may struggle to complete tasks on their computer.
Lack of resources: Employees may be unable to complete their work due to a lack of resources, such as equipment or technology. For example, a graphic designer who doesn’t have access to the latest design software may struggle to produce high-quality designs.
Emotional barriers: Emotional barriers can affect an employee’s ability to perform their job effectively. For example, an employee dealing with a personal issue, such as a divorce, may have trouble focusing on their work and meeting deadlines.
Cultural and societal barriers: Cultural and societal barriers can affect an employee’s ability to work effectively. For example, an employee from a different culture may struggle to communicate effectively with colleagues or may feel uncomfortable in a work environment that is not inclusive.
Fear of failure : Employees who fear failure may avoid taking on new challenges or may not take risks that could benefit the company. For example, an employee afraid of making mistakes may not take on a leadership role or hesitate to make decisions that could impact the company’s bottom line.
Identify and Define the Problem: Define the problem and understand its root cause. This will help you identify the obstacles that are preventing effective problem solving.
C ollaborate and Communicate: Work with others to gather information, generate new ideas, and share perspectives. Effective communication can help overcome misunderstandings and promote creative problem solving.
Use Creative Problem Solving Techniques: Consider using creative problem solving techniques such as brainstorming, mind mapping, or SWOT analysis to explore new ideas and generate innovative solutions.
Embrace Flexibility: Be open to new ideas and approaches. Embracing flexibility can help you overcome fixed mindsets and encourage creativity in problem solving.
Invest in Resources: Ensure that you have access to the necessary resources, such as time, money, or personnel, to effectively solve complex problems.
Emphasize Continuous Learning: Encourage continuous learning and improvement by seeking feedback, evaluating outcomes, and reflecting on the problem solving process. This can help you identify improvement areas and promote a continuous improvement culture.

How good are you in jumping over problem-solving barriers?

Find out now with the free problem-solving assessment for managers and leaders.

What are the factors affecting problem solving?

What are the five key obstacles to problem solving, can habits be a barrier to problem solving, how do you overcome barriers in problem solving.

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The six main barriers against problem-solving and how to overcome them.

Challenges. Disputes. Dilemmas. Obstacles. Troubles. Issues. Headaches.

The uniqueness of every different issue makes the need for an also adapted and individualized solution.
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There are more than thirty different ways to call all those unpleasant and stressful situations which prevent us from directly achieving what we want to achieve. Life is full of them. This is why the ability to solve problems in an effective and timely manner without any impediments is considered to be one of the most key and critical skill for resolutive and successful leaders. But is not just leaders or top managers facing the way forward. According to a Harvard Bussiness Review survey , people's skills depends on their level on the organization and their particular job and activities. However, when coming to problem-solving, there is a remarkable consistency about the importance of it within all the different measured organization levels.

There are small problems and big problems. Those ones that we laugh about and those that take our sleep away. Problems that affect just us or our whole company. Issues that need to be resolved proactively and others that require us to wait and observe. There is a special kind of problem for every day of our lives, but all of them responds to a common denominator: addressing them adequately. It is our ability to do so what makes the difference between success and failure.

Problems manifest themselves in many different ways. As inconsistent results or performance. As a failure toward standards. As discrepancies between expectations and reality. The uniqueness of every different issue makes the need for an also adapted and individualized solution. This is why finding the way forward can be sometimes tricky. There are many reasons why it is difficult to find a solution to a problem, but you can find the six more common causes and the way to overcome them!

1. Difficulty to recognize that there is a problem

Nobody likes to be wrong. “Cognitive dissonance is what we feel when the self-concept — I’m smart, I’m kind, I’m convinced this belief is true — is threatened by evidence that we did something that wasn’t smart, that we did something that hurt another person, that the belief isn’t true,” explains Carol Tavris.

Problems and mistakes are not easy to digest. To reduce this cognitive dissonance, we need to modify our self-concept or well deny the evidence. Many times is just easier to simply turn our back to an issue and blindly keep going. But the only way to end it up to satisfactory is to make an effort to recognize and accept the evidence. Being wrong is human and until the problem is not acknowledged solutions will never materialize. To fully accept that something is not going the way it should, the easiest way is to focus on the benefits of new approaches and always remain non-judgemental about the causes. Sometimes we may be are afraid of the costs in terms of resources, time and physical or mental efforts that working for the solution may eventually bring. We may need then to project ourselves in all the fatalistic consequences that we will finally encounter in case we continue sunk in the problem. Sometimes we really need to visualize the disaster before accepting a need for change.

2. Huge size problem

Yes! We clearly know that something is going wrong. But the issue is so big that there is no way we can try to solve it without blowing our life into pieces. Fair enough. Some problems are so big that it is not possible to find at once a solution for them. But we can always break them into smaller pieces and visualize the different steps and actions that we could eventually undertake to get to our final goal. Make sure you do not lose sight of the original problem!

3. Poorly framed problem

Without the proper framing, there is no certainty about the appropriate focus on the right problem. Asking the relevant questions is a crucial aspect to it. Does your frame of the problem capture its real essence? Do you have all the background information needed? Can you rephrase the problem and it is still understandable? Have you explored it from different perspectives? Are different people able to understand your frame for the problem correctly? Answering to the right problem in the right way depends 95% on the correct framing of it!

'If I have an hour to solve a problem, I'd spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about the solution' (Albert Einstein)

4. Lack of respect for rhythms

There is always a right time for preparation, a right time for action and a right time for patience. Respecting the rhythms of a problem is directly link to the success of the solution. Acting too quickly or waiting too long can have real counterproductive effects. There is a need for enough time to gather information and understand all the different upshots of a planned solution. A balance of action is crucial to avoid both eagerness and laxity. Waiting for the proper time to take action is sometimes the most complicated part of it.

5. Lack of problem'roots identification

It is quite often that we feel something is not going the way it should without clearly identifying what the exact problematic issue is. We are able to frame all the negative effects and consequences, but we do not really get to appropriately verbalized what the problem is all together. Consequently, we tend to fix the symptoms without getting to the real causes. It is as common as dangerous and not sustainable for problem-solving.

Make sure that you have a clear picture of what are the roots of the problem and what are just the manifestations or ramifications of it. Double loop always to make sure that you are not patching over the symptoms but getting to the heart of the matter.

6. Failure to identify the involved parts

Take time to figure out and consult every simple part involved in the problem as well as affected by the possible solution. Problems and solutions always have at the core human needs and impacts. Failing to identify and take into consideration the human factor in the problem-solving process will prevent the whole mechanism from reaching the desired final goal.

'We always hope for the easy fix: the one simple change that will erase a problem in a stroke. But few things in life work this way. Instead, success requires making a hundred small steps go right - one after the other, no slipups, no goofs, everyone pitching in.' ( Atul Gawande)

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10 BARRIERS TO PROBLEM SOLVING : OVERCOMING OBSTACLES FOR EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS

Problem-solving is an essential skill for leaders and managers in both personal and professional life. , whether it’s tackling complex issues or finding solutions to everyday challenges, the ability to overcome obstacles and think critically is crucial. , however, there are common barriers that can hinder the problem-solving process, making it difficult to find effective solutions. , in this comprehensive post, we will explore ten barriers to problem-solving and provide strategies for overcoming them so that you can hone your problem solving skills and solve problems more effectively in your workplace., table of contents, introduction, lack of clarity in problem definition, limited perspective and narrow thinking, confirmation bias: the danger of preconceived notions, communication barriers: breaking down silos, solution bias: avoiding the one-size-fits-all approach, cognitive bias: overcoming jumping to conclusions, lack of empathy: understanding the human element, fear of failure: embracing a growth mindset, insufficient resources and time constraints, lack of collaboration and teamwork, overcoming barriers: strategies for effective problem solving, do you want to solve problems like a pro , get the free problem solving work book here .

Introduction

Problem-solving is an integral part of our daily lives, whether it’s resolving personal conflicts or finding innovative solutions in the workplace., however, there are common barriers that can impede the problem-solving process, making it challenging to reach effective solutions. , by understanding these barriers and implementing strategies to overcome them,, leaders and managers can enhance their problem-solving skills and achieve better outcomes., 1. lack of clarity in problem definition, one of the primary barriers to effective problem-solving is a lack of clarity in problem definition. , without a clear understanding of the problem at hand, it becomes challenging to devise appropriate solutions. , to overcome this barrier, it is crucial to take the time to define the problem accurately. , this involves gathering relevant information, identifying key stakeholders, and clarifying the desired outcome. , by investing time in problem definition, individuals and teams can lay a solid foundation for the problem-solving process., 2. limited perspective and narrow thinking, another common barrier to problem-solving is limited perspective and narrow thinking., when individuals approach problems with a rigid mindset, they may overlook creative solutions or fail to consider alternative viewpoints., overcoming this barrier requires cultivating a mindset of open-mindedness and embracing diverse perspectives. , encouraging brainstorming sessions, seeking input from different team members, or conducting external research can help broaden perspectives and stimulate innovative thinking., 3. confirmation bias: the danger of preconceived notions, confirmation bias is a cognitive barrier that can hinder problem-solving efforts., it refers to the tendency to search for or interpret information in a way that confirms preexisting beliefs or assumptions., when individuals succumb to confirmation bias, they may overlook contradictory evidence or dismiss alternative solutions., overcoming this barrier requires a conscious effort to challenge one’s own biases and actively seek out diverse viewpoints and information. , encouraging a culture of open debate and critical thinking can help mitigate the effects of confirmation bias., 4. communication barriers: breaking down silos, effective communication is essential for successful problem-solving. , however, communication barriers can impede the flow of information and hinder collaboration. , silos within organisations, where departments or teams operate in isolation, can lead to a lack of shared knowledge and insights. , breaking down these silos and fostering cross-functional collaboration is crucial for overcoming communication barriers. , encouraging open communication channels, promoting knowledge sharing, and facilitating regular team meetings can help ensure that information flows freely and ideas are exchanged effectively., 5. solution bias: avoiding the one-size-fits-all approach, solution bias is a common barrier where individuals tend to rely on previously successful solutions without considering the unique aspects of the current problem. , this one-size-fits-all approach may not be suitable for every situation and can hinder creative problem-solving., overcoming solution bias requires a willingness to explore new approaches and think outside the box. , encouraging experimentation, embracing failure as a learning opportunity, and fostering a culture that values innovation can help individuals and teams overcome solution bias and discover more effective solutions., 6. cognitive bias: overcoming jumping to conclusions, cognitive biases, such as jumping to conclusions, can hinder effective problem-solving., when individuals rely on heuristics or mental shortcuts, they may overlook critical information or make hasty judgments. , overcoming cognitive biases requires a deliberate effort to slow down and engage in critical thinking. , taking the time to gather and analyse relevant data, seeking multiple perspectives, and challenging assumptions can help mitigate the effects of cognitive biases and lead to more informed decision-making., 7. lack of empathy: understanding the human element, problem-solving often involves addressing human concerns and emotions. , failing to consider the human element can hinder the effectiveness of solutions. , developing empathy and understanding the perspectives and needs of others is crucial for overcoming this barrier., actively listening to stakeholders, seeking their input, and considering the impact of solutions on individuals can help ensure that problem-solving efforts are human-centric and yield sustainable outcomes., 8. fear of failure: embracing a growth mindset, fear of failure can paralyse problem-solving efforts and prevent individuals from taking risks or exploring innovative solutions. , overcoming this barrier requires cultivating a growth mindset and embracing failure as an opportunity for learning and growth. , encouraging a safe and supportive environment where mistakes are seen as valuable learning experiences can help individuals overcome their fear of failure and approach problem-solving with confidence and resilience., 9. insufficient resources and time constraints, limited resources and time constraints can pose significant barriers to problem-solving., when individuals are constrained by tight deadlines or lack the necessary resources, finding optimal solutions becomes challenging., overcoming this barrier requires effective resource management and prioritisation., identifying critical resources, delegating tasks, and leveraging available tools and technologies can help individuals maximise their problem-solving capabilities within the given constraints., 10. lack of collaboration and teamwork, collaboration and teamwork are essential for effective problem-solving. , when individuals work in isolation or fail to leverage the collective knowledge and skills of their team members, problem-solving efforts can suffer. , overcoming this barrier requires fostering a collaborative culture and providing opportunities for teamwork. , encouraging open communication, promoting knowledge sharing, and assigning diverse team members to problem-solving tasks can help harness the collective intelligence of the team and lead to more innovative solutions., to overcome the barriers to problem-solving, individuals and teams can adopt several strategies:, develop a problem-solving mindset : cultivate a mindset that embraces challenges and sees them as opportunities for growth and learning., practise active listening : actively listen to stakeholders, seek their input, and consider diverse perspectives to gain a comprehensive understanding of the problem., encourage diverse viewpoints: foster an environment where individuals feel comfortable expressing their opinions and ideas, promoting diverse thinking and avoiding groupthink., embrace creativity and innovatio n: encourage out-of-the-box thinking, experimentation, and the exploration of unconventional solutions., foster collaboration and teamwork: create opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and interdisciplinary problem-solving., promote continuous learning: encourage ongoing learning and skill development to enhance problem-solving abilities., seek feedback and reflection: regularly solicit feedback from stakeholders and engage in self-reflection to identify areas for improvement., effective problem-solving requires the ability to overcome barriers and think critically. , by recognizing and addressing common barriers such as lack of clarity in problem definition, limited perspective, confirmation bias, communication barriers, solution bias, cognitive bias, lack of empathy, fear of failure, resource constraints, and lack of collaboration, leaders and managers can enhance their problem-solving skills and achieve more effective solutions. , by adopting strategies such as developing a problem-solving mindset, embracing creativity and innovation, and fostering collaboration and continuous learning, individuals can navigate the complexities of problem-solving and drive positive change in their personal and professional lives., problem solving barriers can be overcome by mastering these 13 problem solving skills., read the post -the 13 essential skills of problems solving , i hope you have found the post helpful. , what is your barrier to problem solving please share your thoughts below ., have an awesome day, babita sharma , leadership coach , www.leadwithpassion.co.in, p.s-please share the post and help someone today , related posts:.

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Barriers to Effective Problem Solving

Learning how to effectively solve problems is difficult and takes time and continual adaptation. There are several common barriers to successful CPS, including:

Confirmation Bias: The tendency to only search for or interpret information that confirms a person’s existing ideas. People misinterpret or disregard data that doesn’t align with their beliefs.
Mental Set: People’s inclination to solve problems using the same tactics they have used to solve problems in the past. While this can sometimes be a useful strategy (see Analogical Thinking in a later section), it often limits inventiveness and creativity.
Functional Fixedness: This is another form of narrow thinking, where people become “stuck” thinking in a certain way and are unable to be flexible or change perspective.
Unnecessary Constraints: When people are overwhelmed with a problem, they can invent and impose additional limits on solution avenues. To avoid doing this, maintain a structured, level-headed approach to evaluating causes, effects, and potential solutions.
Groupthink: Be wary of the tendency for group members to agree with each other — this might be out of conflict avoidance, path of least resistance, or fear of speaking up. While this agreeableness might make meetings run smoothly, it can actually stunt creativity and idea generation, therefore limiting the success of your chosen solution.
Irrelevant Information: The tendency to pile on multiple problems and factors that may not even be related to the challenge at hand. This can cloud the team’s ability to find direct, targeted solutions.
Paradigm Blindness : This is found in people who are unwilling to adapt or change their worldview, outlook on a particular problem, or typical way of processing information. This can erode the effectiveness of problem solving techniques because they are not aware of the narrowness of their thinking, and therefore cannot think or act outside of their comfort zone.

According to Jaffa, the primary barrier of effective problem solving is rigidity. “The most common things people say are, ‘We’ve never done it before,’ or ‘We’ve always done it this way.’” While these feelings are natural, Jaffa explains that this rigid thinking actually precludes teams from identifying creative, inventive solutions that result in the greatest benefit. “The biggest barrier to creative problem solving is a lack of awareness – and commitment to – training employees in state-of-the-art creative problem-solving techniques,” Mattimore explains. “We teach our clients how to use ideation techniques (as many as two-dozen different creative thinking techniques) to help them generate more and better ideas. Ideation techniques use specific and customized stimuli, or ‘thought triggers’ to inspire new thinking and new ideas.” MacLeod adds that ineffective or rushed leadership is another common culprit. “We're always in a rush to fix quickly,” she says. “Sometimes leaders just solve problems themselves, making unilateral decisions to save time. But the investment is well worth it — leaders will have less on their plates if they can teach and eventually trust the team to resolve. Teams feel empowered and engagement and investment increases.”

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Barriers To Problem-Solving

Problems are inevitable at work. They could be big problems. Or they could be small problems. Either way, the trick…

Problems are inevitable at work. They could be big problems. Or they could be small problems.

Either way, the trick is to develop strong problem-solving skills. But it isn’t always easy to find a solution to a problem. You often face many unexpected obstacles on the way.

Imagine a client rejects a proposal for a marketing pitch you and your team worked hard on. In such a situation, you might come up with a quick and easy alternative to retain the client, but in the scramble, you may forget to assess its long-term potential.

Such barriers to problem-solving abound at the workplace. You need to be prepared for potential pitfalls that could trip you up. ( Phentermine )

Effective problem-solving in such situations is a handy skill that’ll help you navigate your way through the professional landscape.

You will find some useful tips on how to deal with some common barriers to effective problem-solving in Harappa Education’s Defining Problems course. The course introduces ways in which you can define, identify and deal with problems in a solution-oriented manner.

Contrary to popular belief, problem-solving takes time and patience. This is something we tend to overlook because quick solutions are often rewarded at the workplace where everyone is busy and pressed for time.

When you stop for a moment to think about what went wrong, you’re more likely to come up with a lasting solution. Here are the most common barriers to problem-solving and decision-making in the workplace:

Misdiagnosis

Common barriers to problem-solving include an incorrect diagnosis of the problem. This could be due to preconceived ideas, biases, or judgments. Defining a problem is the hardest step in the process of problem-solving because this is the foundation on which your entire strategy is built. If you’re not careful, you may end up spending all your time, resources and effort on the wrong problem and, eventually, the wrong solution.

Communication Barriers

Thinking that you know better than anyone else or miscommunicating the problem is another one of the barriers to problem-solving. Everyone defines or understands the problem differently. It’s important to communicate with your teammates so that everyone’s on the same page. If you’re unclear about something, acknowledge your limited understanding of the problem. This will save you both time and energy.

Solution Bias

Another common challenge is a solution bias or thinking that one solution is universal and can be applied to multiple problems. If you catch yourself thinking about a problem that you solved in a particular way, you’re already going in the wrong direction. It’s more important for you to focus on the problem at hand than to force-fit a solution from the past that, in all probability, won’t work.

Cognitive Bias

Barriers to problem solving psychology often involve a cognitive bias or the tendency to jump to conclusions. To find a solution as quickly as possible, you might end up with a solution that’s irrelevant to the situation. You have to learn to listen before making a judgment. If you miss a step, for instance, there’s a chance that you’ll end up in an even bigger mess.

Lack Of Empathy

Every problem is in one way or another associated with human emotions, abilities or feelings. If you’re not able to recognize the people who are affected by the problem, you won’t be able to come up with a solution that serves everyone.

How To Circumvent Barriers To Problem-Solving

Some of the ways in which you can tackle common barriers to problem-solving are:

Be open to suggestions and different points of view
Accept that you may not know everything
Be patient and take your time before coming to a conclusion
Approach the owner of the problem and ask the right questions
Avoid shortcuts and ‘cut and dry’ formulas

Navigating your way through the complexities of work-life can be daunting, but it’s not impossible. Harappa’s Defining Problems course equips you with the tools you need to recognize a problem for what it is. Learn more about barriers to effective problem-solving and how to identify or define problems to become a skilled problem-solver. With frameworks such as the Problem Definition Framework, you’ll be able to define problems effectively and find constructive solutions.

Explore topics such as Problem Solving & the 5 Whys Analysis from our Harappa Diaries blog section and develop your skills.

What Prevents Us from Being Effective Problem Solvers?

Feb. 8, 2018 / Strategy

We have a tendency to get in our own way when solving problems, which is why effective strategy requires a formalized approach.

We’ll walk through the barriers we have to solving problems and start to touch on how you can create a problem-solving strategy to overcome them.

There are plenty of reasons why stakeholders act hastily and handle problems ineffectively. The stakeholder might evaluate before investigating, failing to inquire and fully understand the situation. They might struggle with comparing new and old experiences, searching for the familiar rather than the unique in a new problem. They also might confuse symptoms and problems, leading the stakeholders to concentrate on simple concerns, respond automatically, or refuse to explore deeply before acting as mentioned in the book Behavioral Decisions in Organizations by Alvar Elbing. We also know that there are attitudinal and cognitive reasons. These reasons make it difficult to eliminate waste in designing solutions that drive business results or demonstrate outcomes that impact the business.

We have outlined a few reasons below that explain the barriers we commonly face without even realizing it.

Your Early Warning System

Do you ever wonder why we are attracted to the negative or gravitate towards problems, issues and challenges?

The news, Twitter, Facebook, reality shows, and other data channels bombard us with negative stories that put us on high alert. The reason for that is the part of the brain called the amygdala. This is the almond-shaped mass of nuclei located deep within the temporal lobe of the brain. It is a limbic system structure that is involved in many of our emotions and motivations, particularly those that are related to survival.

This early warning system is used as a danger detector in a crisis, wartime skirmishes or when escaping a charging T-Rex. In business, we don’t have to use the same survival skills, but the brain still responds in an instinctive way to negativity and puts us on high alert.

This alertness and our response to negativity create a hyperactive response to protect, explain, and rationalize incredibly complicated situations. We avoid pain and gravitate to pleasure.

Your Biases

There is another phenomenon that we consider when thinking through business and learning challenges, our biases.

These biases occur naturally as a part of working as leaders, sales managers, training managers, and other individuals who are actively identifying issues or challenges in organizations. The two that resonate with us most are confirmation bias and negativity bias.

In confirmation bias, we focus on information that affirms our beliefs and ideas. In our world, this leads to unveiling problems or challenges that aren’t defined well, inaccurate, built on faulty assumptions, or information based on individual or group biases instead of based on real fact.

The second, and more likely bias, is negativity bias. As I noted above, our brain becomes ultra-focused on negativity, and it ultimately impacts our judgment and how we perceive the world. This type of bias can alter how we think through a situation and how we draw conclusions based on the data we have extracted or analyzed.

How to Offset these Barriers

These days we are under so much pressure to perform and do it quickly.

The Nature of Managerial Work by H. Mintzberg, points out that problem-solving techniques aren’t even used as managers (and others) have a propensity to act in haste to correct situations rather than taking the time to think through them.

This provides context for what we face as a performance partner when we begin to carefully unpack different challenges and opportunities our clients are experiencing. With these challenges in mind, we examine each situation through a lens of many factors, knowing that we are looking for simplicity on the other side of complexity.

The problem-solving methodology we use is a combination of logic, sequencing, and imagination that ultimately creates a systematic thinking process to overcome these human characteristics.

These are the types of considerations that go into analyzing client needs. We explore their needs with a mind for both the positive and the negative problems. Being careful, not to focus simply on those findings that scratch the surface of a situation, but exploring them with a mind for discovery, exploration, and accuracy through the root of the problem(s).

There are some other ways we offset the ill effects of biases and our focus on negativity. We begin each discovery with a working session and stakeholder interviews. These sessions allow us to raise awareness of these biases, explore in collaboration sessions that reveal them, and allow us to discuss in more detail through objective probing and exploration. Lastly, we also conduct “magic wand exercises” to generate options and explore alternatives without limits.

After reviewing these barriers, it probably doesn’t come as a shock that everyone is influenced by our warning system and personal biases. In fact, you could probably think of examples in your own life of a time when you were influenced and how that impacted your problem solving approach. Part of the battle is being aware that these are barriers we will encounter and setting ourselves up to combat that with the right structure and exercises.

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Problem-Solving Strategies and Obstacles

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From deciding what to eat for dinner to considering whether it's the right time to buy a house, problem-solving is a large part of our daily lives. Learn some of the problem-solving strategies that exist and how to use them in real life, along with ways to overcome obstacles that are making it harder to resolve the issues you face.

What Is Problem-Solving?

In cognitive psychology , the term 'problem-solving' refers to the mental process that people go through to discover, analyze, and solve problems.

A problem exists when there is a goal that we want to achieve but the process by which we will achieve it is not obvious to us. Put another way, there is something that we want to occur in our life, yet we are not immediately certain how to make it happen.

Maybe you want a better relationship with your spouse or another family member but you're not sure how to improve it. Or you want to start a business but are unsure what steps to take. Problem-solving helps you figure out how to achieve these desires.

The problem-solving process involves:

Discovery of the problem
Deciding to tackle the issue
Seeking to understand the problem more fully
Researching available options or solutions
Taking action to resolve the issue

Before problem-solving can occur, it is important to first understand the exact nature of the problem itself. If your understanding of the issue is faulty, your attempts to resolve it will also be incorrect or flawed.

Problem-Solving Mental Processes

Several mental processes are at work during problem-solving. Among them are:

Perceptually recognizing the problem
Representing the problem in memory
Considering relevant information that applies to the problem
Identifying different aspects of the problem
Labeling and describing the problem

Problem-Solving Strategies

There are many ways to go about solving a problem. Some of these strategies might be used on their own, or you may decide to employ multiple approaches when working to figure out and fix a problem.

An algorithm is a step-by-step procedure that, by following certain "rules" produces a solution. Algorithms are commonly used in mathematics to solve division or multiplication problems. But they can be used in other fields as well.

In psychology, algorithms can be used to help identify individuals with a greater risk of mental health issues. For instance, research suggests that certain algorithms might help us recognize children with an elevated risk of suicide or self-harm.

One benefit of algorithms is that they guarantee an accurate answer. However, they aren't always the best approach to problem-solving, in part because detecting patterns can be incredibly time-consuming.

There are also concerns when machine learning is involved—also known as artificial intelligence (AI)—such as whether they can accurately predict human behaviors.

Heuristics are shortcut strategies that people can use to solve a problem at hand. These "rule of thumb" approaches allow you to simplify complex problems, reducing the total number of possible solutions to a more manageable set.

If you find yourself sitting in a traffic jam, for example, you may quickly consider other routes, taking one to get moving once again. When shopping for a new car, you might think back to a prior experience when negotiating got you a lower price, then employ the same tactics.

While heuristics may be helpful when facing smaller issues, major decisions shouldn't necessarily be made using a shortcut approach. Heuristics also don't guarantee an effective solution, such as when trying to drive around a traffic jam only to find yourself on an equally crowded route.

Trial and Error

A trial-and-error approach to problem-solving involves trying a number of potential solutions to a particular issue, then ruling out those that do not work. If you're not sure whether to buy a shirt in blue or green, for instance, you may try on each before deciding which one to purchase.

This can be a good strategy to use if you have a limited number of solutions available. But if there are many different choices available, narrowing down the possible options using another problem-solving technique can be helpful before attempting trial and error.

In some cases, the solution to a problem can appear as a sudden insight. You are facing an issue in a relationship or your career when, out of nowhere, the solution appears in your mind and you know exactly what to do.

Insight can occur when the problem in front of you is similar to an issue that you've dealt with in the past. Although, you may not recognize what is occurring since the underlying mental processes that lead to insight often happen outside of conscious awareness .

Research indicates that insight is most likely to occur during times when you are alone—such as when going on a walk by yourself, when you're in the shower, or when lying in bed after waking up.

How to Apply Problem-Solving Strategies in Real Life

If you're facing a problem, you can implement one or more of these strategies to find a potential solution. Here's how to use them in real life:

Create a flow chart . If you have time, you can take advantage of the algorithm approach to problem-solving by sitting down and making a flow chart of each potential solution, its consequences, and what happens next.
Recall your past experiences . When a problem needs to be solved fairly quickly, heuristics may be a better approach. Think back to when you faced a similar issue, then use your knowledge and experience to choose the best option possible.
Start trying potential solutions . If your options are limited, start trying them one by one to see which solution is best for achieving your desired goal. If a particular solution doesn't work, move on to the next.
Take some time alone . Since insight is often achieved when you're alone, carve out time to be by yourself for a while. The answer to your problem may come to you, seemingly out of the blue, if you spend some time away from others.

Obstacles to Problem-Solving

Problem-solving is not a flawless process as there are a number of obstacles that can interfere with our ability to solve a problem quickly and efficiently. These obstacles include:

Assumptions: When dealing with a problem, people can make assumptions about the constraints and obstacles that prevent certain solutions. Thus, they may not even try some potential options.
Functional fixedness : This term refers to the tendency to view problems only in their customary manner. Functional fixedness prevents people from fully seeing all of the different options that might be available to find a solution.
Irrelevant or misleading information: When trying to solve a problem, it's important to distinguish between information that is relevant to the issue and irrelevant data that can lead to faulty solutions. The more complex the problem, the easier it is to focus on misleading or irrelevant information.
Mental set: A mental set is a tendency to only use solutions that have worked in the past rather than looking for alternative ideas. A mental set can work as a heuristic, making it a useful problem-solving tool. However, mental sets can also lead to inflexibility, making it more difficult to find effective solutions.

How to Improve Your Problem-Solving Skills

In the end, if your goal is to become a better problem-solver, it's helpful to remember that this is a process. Thus, if you want to improve your problem-solving skills, following these steps can help lead you to your solution:

Recognize that a problem exists . If you are facing a problem, there are generally signs. For instance, if you have a mental illness , you may experience excessive fear or sadness, mood changes, and changes in sleeping or eating habits. Recognizing these signs can help you realize that an issue exists.
Decide to solve the problem . Make a conscious decision to solve the issue at hand. Commit to yourself that you will go through the steps necessary to find a solution.
Seek to fully understand the issue . Analyze the problem you face, looking at it from all sides. If your problem is relationship-related, for instance, ask yourself how the other person may be interpreting the issue. You might also consider how your actions might be contributing to the situation.
Research potential options . Using the problem-solving strategies mentioned, research potential solutions. Make a list of options, then consider each one individually. What are some pros and cons of taking the available routes? What would you need to do to make them happen?
Take action . Select the best solution possible and take action. Action is one of the steps required for change . So, go through the motions needed to resolve the issue.
Try another option, if needed . If the solution you chose didn't work, don't give up. Either go through the problem-solving process again or simply try another option.

You can find a way to solve your problems as long as you keep working toward this goal—even if the best solution is simply to let go because no other good solution exists.

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By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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