Problem Solving Techniques

We are all faced with problems everyday. Learning how to effectively deal with them is what will mean the difference between success and failure. While there are no universally accepted methods that can be used to help you solve problems, there are a number of useful techniques which can make the problem solving process easier.

One of the most important techniques involved with problem solving is understanding the problem. While this may seem like common sense, it is the primary mistake made by people who encounter a problem.

 

If you don't understand a problem, you will not be able to solve it. If you are having trouble solving a problem, this means that you probably don't understand it, or you are looking at it from the wrong angle. If you are a math student, changing the way you approach a problem will likely allow you to solve it correctly.

 

For other areas of life, solving a problem can be considerably more difficult. With mathematics, you will be given a list of strategies which will allow you to solve any problem you encounter. With other areas of life, the strategies may not be so well defined. To successfully solve problems, you will need to be able to deal with failure.

 

There is nothing wrong with making mistakes. The way you handle mistakes is the thing which must be taken into consideration. If you give up after making mistakes, you will not solve the problem. If you keep trying, you will eventually find a solution which can allow you to overcome any problem you run into. People who are good at solving problems aren't afraid of making mistakes. They will continue making mistakes until they find a solution. However, the most important part of making a mistake is learning from it. Mistakes can give you a foundation which will allow you to solve a problem that you may encounter in the future.

 

For example, if you've made a number of mistakes when trying to solve a problem, but eventually found a solution, if you encounter the problem again, there is no need to make the same mistakes over again. Past experience should tell you what works and what doesn't. The second thing that you will need to overcome is frustration. This is easier said than done. When people run into a problem which is difficult to solve, they will often become frustrated. This is especially true if the solutions they've come up with have failed. Allowing frustration to take over will cause you to lose focus.

 

Frustration will hinder you from solving problems. Because of this, you want to be as calm as possible when you attempt to overcome a problem that is challenging. After you've solved a problem, it is also important to make a note of how you solved it. This can be a mental or physical note. It is best to write it down, as you could forget it. One thing you can purchase to help you with this is a short hand note book. This is a small notebook that can fit in your pocket. When you successfully solve a problem, you can make a record of it. This will allow you to chart your progress, and can also help you deal with the problem if you encounter it again.

 

Another technique that can successfully help you solve problems is starting with the easiest part of the problem before attempting to deal with the parts that are more difficult. This technique is especially useful in areas such as math, but can be applied to any area of your life. Even if a problem is complicated, it is important to remember that complexity is only compound simplicity. By breaking a complex problem into simple parts, this will allow you to solve each part individually.

When you are attempting to solve a problem, using sketches or models will make things easier. A model is a symbol which can be used to represent either a problem or an idea. The use of a model can make a difficult concept easier to understand, and it can also help you see connections between ideas that you would normally miss. By using the techniques in this article, you will enhance your problem solving skills.