How to Be A Creative Problem Solver on Demand

Creative problem solving is a different strain of problem-solving that involves coming up with as many solutions as possible before testing their effectiveness. You can learn to become a better creative problem solver while you study your passions at TAFE or university. In this article, we’re exploring the key aspects of problem-solving and what makes it an employable skill.

Why Is Creative Problem Solving Important?

As society changes, there is a higher demand for creative problem-solving skills. Creative problem solving is the process of redefining problems as opportunities, coming up with innovative solutions and responses and then taking appropriate action. Today’s students need skills like independent learning, learning through success or failure, and working with diverse teams in order to succeed.

A Step-by-Step Approach to Problem Solving

You don’t need to be born a natural problem solver when you can put a series of steps into place to find solutions. Following the guide below will help you to hone your problem-solving skills.

1. Take a Step Back and Identify the Problem

First, we need to work out what needs to be fixed. Take the time to review your current situation and separate the symptoms from the cause. Diagnosing a problem involves discovering the “what” and the “why” so you can establish any underlying issues.

2. Understand the Cause of the Problem

After defining the issue, ask yourself the following questions:

• What is behind this problem?
• What are the causes?
• Can we quantify the problem?
• How did we get to this problem?

This is vitally important because simply dealing with the symptoms of a problem leaves room for the issue to arise again in the future. Identify the cause by collecting information, analysing your findings and redefining your diagnosis.

3. Find Many Possible Solutions

This is the step where we implement creativity. Good problem-solvers know how to think outside of the box and push further than the first solution they find. Find as many alternative solutions as you possibly can, and then keep looking for more. Talk to different people, keep an open mind, and be receptive to new ideas or perspectives. Every solution is up for analysis.

4. Decide Which Solution Will Work for You

It may seem complicated, but finding a solution is simple when you go about it logically. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Is this solution viable?
• Can it be scaled to work in larger matters?
• Do we have the resources?
• Are there any risks involved? Can these risks be managed?
• How many people will benefit from this solution?
• How can we measure its success?

5. Implement Your Solution

Create a thorough plan for implementing and executing your solution. Follow the old guide of “who, what, when, where and how” in order to cover all bases. Then put your solution in place and make sure every person involved is completely aware of the plan.

6. Measure How Successful Your Solution Was

This step is often neglected although it is, arguably, the most important. You need to work out if you have met your objectives, stayed within budget, and resulted in a desirable outcome. If you haven’t, you may need to go back to step one and try again. There’s no harm in learning from your mistakes.

Study TAFE Courses that Teach Problem Solving

Although there is an aspect of creative problem solving that goes into every qualification, you can hone your skills and apply them directly to your workplace with a diploma from TAFE Gippsland. We recommend either the Diploma of Leadership and Management or the Diploma of Business to get you started.