5 Effective Steps to Develop a Solutions Mindset
By Studiowide
“Start to think of problems as being much less about complexity and difficulty and much more as opportunities for success.”
Have you ever noticed how some people love to learn through the use of checklists, step by step instructions, crib sheets, ‘how-to’ guides or work instructions?
The reason people like using these methods so much is because they make problems less difficult. They give you a framework – a roadmap to a solution. Problems are difficult to solve when there’s a low level of belief that we have the skills necessary to solve the perceived complexity in front of us. They’re difficult when the problem is unknown. So when we don’t have the tools to solve problems, or when we don’t have the frameworks in mind, it makes the barriers to success exceptionally high.
Most if not all plant managers, unit supervisors and department leads will be confronted every day with new and unusual challenges and depending on the situation there may be little or no guidance in place. Humans are born with linear-thinking brains and when it comes to navigating problems we naturally crave structure or a framework. Therefore, the question we must ask of our junior leaders is when they identify a problem, how do they go about solving it?
The Brilliant Basics recognises that the answer to that question starts with being Solution-Minded. In other words, it’s adopting a mindset that there’s a solution to every problem and that we have a way of getting there.
To develop a solutions mindset, you need to adopt the following 5 components:
1. Mindset
‘Mindset’ means that you have to believe you are ‘Solutions-Minded’. You have to know that there is a solution out there to every problem. You have to know that you have the opportunity in front of you to realise that success. You need to have a high level of belief that you can lower the barriers to success and that you have the tools in your toolbox needed for the job.
2. Structure
‘Structure’ means following a process that has a start and a finish and being clear on the steps in between. The process is important because it provides the evidence that supports our findings.
Occasionally, problem solvers may come up against a ‘no’ to their solutions or a ‘what are you talking about?’ type of question or maybe a concern around ‘how do we do this ?’. This is when we can show the structure and framework to help answer those questions and then pivot where needed. Problems will come up regardless of whichever structure we use. Good problem solvers learn how to pivot where they can and do what they need to do to move forward.
3. Questions
‘Questions’ are great because they clarify the problem that you’re actually trying to solve. If you don’t fully understand the problem, the solution won’t match. It’s important to ask all of the questions first in order to get all of the answers.
One of the toughest aspects of good problem-solving for most people is asking for help. Good problem-solving practice insists that when you first start to look at a problem, you ask questions and you ask for help. You ask colleagues, you ask experts and, of course, you ask the boss.
4. Practice
‘Practice’ is a skill. Being solution-minded isn’t something that you’re born with or inherit. It is a skill that you work on and develop over time. Everyone has the capacity to be solution-minded; so everyone needs to practice this skill.
Whenever you come across a problem or a challenge, implement your process, work through your steps and make sure you’re using it well. Don’t forget that it’s OK to change what you need to do along the way should you need to make your approach more specific for a particular job or function.
5. Patience
‘Patience’ means having patience for both yourself and everyone around you. When people work through something new, they need to make sure that they are aware and are patient; giving themselves the gravity to work through the process. That also means being patient with colleagues, managers and anyone else that you may be working with.
You’ll be working through a new structure and idea, which will also be true of those working with you. So, be patient with yourself and everybody else… you’ll get a better outcome that way!
In conclusion, being solution minded is a skill that we can all have. If we can start to think of problems as being much less about complexity and difficulty and more as opportunities for success, we’ll really be able to flex our creative and innovative muscles and showcase what we have to offer.
Problems are everywhere in our world but you have the opportunity to solve them, and if you have read this article you will certainly have solved your share of problems. The good news is that there’s already a very convincing argument that most if not all of us already have a solution-minded framework that we’re working with already; however, we’re probably not calling it that.
Nevertheless, when we do the operational basics brilliantly we add a little more solution-minded ‘pep in our step’ and start to greet challenges as old friends and see them as opportunities for success.
Don’t forget, having a solutions mindset is just one practice part of a bigger mechanism we call ‘Brilliant Basics’.
As part of the ‘Brilliant Basics’ programme, we enable managers, team leaders and colleagues to adopt the essential practices required to achieve world-class levels of safety, quality, delivery, cost and people performance. The practices we teach are interdependent and when done well and done habitually, combine to create this results mechanism. Find out more here.
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