Dr. Engr. Md. Sakawat Ali
E-mail: sakawat_ali@yahoo.com
Problem solving skills refers to our ability to solve problems in an effective and timely manner without any impediments. It involves being able to identify and define the problem, generating alternative solutions, evaluating and selecting the best alternative, and implementing the selected solution. Problem-solving skills help you determine the source of a problem and find an effective solution. Problem-solving is important both to individuals and organizations because it enables us to exert control over our environment.
Problem- Solving Soft Skills
- Analysis
- Artistic Sense
- Brainstorming
- Design
- Design Sense
- Divergent Thinking
- Experimenting
- Imagination
- Innovation
- Insight
- Inspiration
- Lateral Thinking
- Logical Reasoning
- Mind Mapping
- Observation
- Persistence
- Questioning
- Reframing
- Troubleshooting
1. Analysis
Being analytical means you can break down large problems into smaller problems, gather and evaluate data, manage information effectively, understand complex reading materials, and create alternatives and solutions. Any data that is relevant to your job is essentially useless if no one knows how to analyze it.
2. Artistic Sense
With an artistic sense, you have the ability to appreciate creativity in work, and explore and break conventional bounds. This can help you pursue a long-term vision that others may not be able to see, and it increases your innovative abilities because you are able to look at things in new ways.
3. Brainstorming
Being able to work with other people to bounce ideas off of each other to create something collective that is worth more than any of its individual parts is very valuable to an organization. Learning about brainstorming and how to maximize your brainstorming sessions helps maximize your productivity at work.
Brainstorming requires teamwork, creativity, and critical thinking. This is an important skill to have because most innovative ideas and products start with a brainstorming session.
4. Design
Design is a holistic skill that encompasses aesthetic, analytical, and functional properties. With this skill, you can figure out how many small parts fit together to create a working product.
5. Design Sense
In organizations, having a sense of design means you can match a consumer's needs to something that is feasible to create. However, while design sense as a skill is mainly valued in developing new products, businesses can also use employee's design skills to improve their current products, processes, or business models.
6. Divergent Thinking
Divergent thinking involves developing innovative and unique solutions to a simple problem. It requires making decisions that have been thoroughly explored to meet a need of your organization.
With this skill, you can have “thought experiments” and think outside of the box to sort through possible solutions to problems and come up with new ideas that have not yet been explored.
7. Experimenting
With experimentation, you can be creative in your quest for a solution to a problem. This means you are willing to try new things and be flexible in your work until you find the answer you have been looking for.
8. Imagination
Imagination encourages creativity and innovation. People with strong imaginations have the amazing gift of allowing their thoughts to grow and evolve, which has led to products that have altered the way we live today. Simply put, a sense of imagination is the principle ingredient in the advancement of society.
9. Innovation
Innovation has become a critical skill for success in developed economies. It involves creative problem solving that addresses problems that need unique insights to find suitable solutions. There is no innovation without creativity. Often, the most cost-effective business solutions come from innovation.
10. Insight
Insight refers to the moment of clarity when you think of a solution or make a connection between new information and existing knowledge and you know right away that it is correct. Complex problems have more variables than our memory can grasp at one time, but having insight and discussing your thoughts with other people in the workplace can lead to fresh ideas.
11. Inspiration
Studies have found that people who have a high rating on the inspiration scale (meaning that they are easily inspired) also have high characteristics of evocation, transcendence, and motivation. They are often open to new experiences, and have more creative skills than those who rarely feel inspired.
12. Lateral Thinking
With lateral thinking, you are able to be creative on demand, and therefore develop new ideas. One uses lateral thinking to make a move from a known idea to a new idea by changing direction. Often, thinking more in the same direction is not as effective as changing directions entirely.
13. Logical Reasoning
Problems that require logical reasoning demand the ability to identify the relationships between facts and recognize patterns that make sense. With logical reasoning, you can quickly reject wrong answers and build upon the knowledge that you have on your own without requiring incremental guidance.
14. Mind Mapping
Mind mapping helps improve your memory through the use of imagery and color, and it encourages creativity and helps you generate new ideas. Those who know how to use this skill can make visual connections between thoughts and ideas, and organize their thinking before deciding on the best way to do things.
15. Observation
Improving your observation skills helps you notice details that will improve your decision-making skills. It also improves your ability to work with other people because not only do you listen well when you have good observation skills, but you are also aware of what is happening around you.
16. Persistence
In order to be truly successful, you have to be willing to stick with something, even when times get tough. Hard work and long hours will allow you to get what you want and accomplish whatever you set out to do. If you are persistent, your greatest success may come right after your greatest failures.
17. Questioning
Gathering information is something basic that people do to solve problems, learn, and help with decision making. Proper questioning is key when you want to learn new information. Without it, communications can fail. Questioning skills are a fundamental part of successful communication.
18. Reframing
Leaders need to have the ability to view situations from different perspectives to fully understand what is really going on and therefore be able to deal with it effectively. Reframing expands your thinking by using a variety of mental models to figure out what’s going on and what you need to do in a complex situation.
19. Troubleshooting
With troubleshooting skills, you can better understand how systems work and what improvements can be made. Troubleshooting requires a balance of creativity and logic. When troubleshooting, you must compare all possible alternatives and analyze what is necessary for each approach. With this skill, you are more likely to be able to solve complex problems.
Key Words: Skills