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26 Good Examples of Problem Solving (Interview Answers)

By Biron Clark

Published: November 15, 2023

Employers like to hire people who can solve problems and work well under pressure. A job rarely goes 100% according to plan, so hiring managers will be more likely to hire you if you seem like you can handle unexpected challenges while staying calm and logical in your approach.

But how do they measure this?

They’re going to ask you interview questions about these problem solving skills, and they might also look for examples of problem solving on your resume and cover letter. So coming up, I’m going to share a list of examples of problem solving, whether you’re an experienced job seeker or recent graduate.

Then I’ll share sample interview answers to, “Give an example of a time you used logic to solve a problem?”

Problem-Solving Defined

It is the ability to identify the problem, prioritize based on gravity and urgency, analyze the root cause, gather relevant information, develop and evaluate viable solutions, decide on the most effective and logical solution, and plan and execute implementation. 

Problem-solving also involves critical thinking, communication, listening, creativity, research, data gathering, risk assessment, continuous learning, decision-making, and other soft and technical skills.

Solving problems not only prevent losses or damages but also boosts self-confidence and reputation when you successfully execute it. The spotlight shines on you when people see you handle issues with ease and savvy despite the challenges. Your ability and potential to be a future leader that can take on more significant roles and tackle bigger setbacks shine through. Problem-solving is a skill you can master by learning from others and acquiring wisdom from their and your own experiences. 

It takes a village to come up with solutions, but a good problem solver can steer the team towards the best choice and implement it to achieve the desired result.

Watch: 26 Good Examples of Problem Solving

Examples of problem solving scenarios in the workplace.

• Correcting a mistake at work, whether it was made by you or someone else
• Overcoming a delay at work through problem solving and communication
• Resolving an issue with a difficult or upset customer
• Overcoming issues related to a limited budget, and still delivering good work through the use of creative problem solving
• Overcoming a scheduling/staffing shortage in the department to still deliver excellent work
• Troubleshooting and resolving technical issues
• Handling and resolving a conflict with a coworker
• Solving any problems related to money, customer billing, accounting and bookkeeping, etc.
• Taking initiative when another team member overlooked or missed something important
• Taking initiative to meet with your superior to discuss a problem before it became potentially worse
• Solving a safety issue at work or reporting the issue to those who could solve it
• Using problem solving abilities to reduce/eliminate a company expense
• Finding a way to make the company more profitable through new service or product offerings, new pricing ideas, promotion and sale ideas, etc.
• Changing how a process, team, or task is organized to make it more efficient
• Using creative thinking to come up with a solution that the company hasn’t used before
• Performing research to collect data and information to find a new solution to a problem
• Boosting a company or team’s performance by improving some aspect of communication among employees
• Finding a new piece of data that can guide a company’s decisions or strategy better in a certain area

Problem Solving Examples for Recent Grads/Entry Level Job Seekers

• Coordinating work between team members in a class project
• Reassigning a missing team member’s work to other group members in a class project
• Adjusting your workflow on a project to accommodate a tight deadline
• Speaking to your professor to get help when you were struggling or unsure about a project
• Asking classmates, peers, or professors for help in an area of struggle
• Talking to your academic advisor to brainstorm solutions to a problem you were facing
• Researching solutions to an academic problem online, via Google or other methods
• Using problem solving and creative thinking to obtain an internship or other work opportunity during school after struggling at first

You can share all of the examples above when you’re asked questions about problem solving in your interview. As you can see, even if you have no professional work experience, it’s possible to think back to problems and unexpected challenges that you faced in your studies and discuss how you solved them.

Interview Answers to “Give an Example of an Occasion When You Used Logic to Solve a Problem”

Now, let’s look at some sample interview answers to, “Give me an example of a time you used logic to solve a problem,” since you’re likely to hear this interview question in all sorts of industries.

Example Answer 1:

At my current job, I recently solved a problem where a client was upset about our software pricing. They had misunderstood the sales representative who explained pricing originally, and when their package renewed for its second month, they called to complain about the invoice. I apologized for the confusion and then spoke to our billing team to see what type of solution we could come up with. We decided that the best course of action was to offer a long-term pricing package that would provide a discount. This not only solved the problem but got the customer to agree to a longer-term contract, which means we’ll keep their business for at least one year now, and they’re happy with the pricing. I feel I got the best possible outcome and the way I chose to solve the problem was effective.

Example Answer 2:

In my last job, I had to do quite a bit of problem solving related to our shift scheduling. We had four people quit within a week and the department was severely understaffed. I coordinated a ramp-up of our hiring efforts, I got approval from the department head to offer bonuses for overtime work, and then I found eight employees who were willing to do overtime this month. I think the key problem solving skills here were taking initiative, communicating clearly, and reacting quickly to solve this problem before it became an even bigger issue.

Example Answer 3:

In my current marketing role, my manager asked me to come up with a solution to our declining social media engagement. I assessed our current strategy and recent results, analyzed what some of our top competitors were doing, and then came up with an exact blueprint we could follow this year to emulate our best competitors but also stand out and develop a unique voice as a brand. I feel this is a good example of using logic to solve a problem because it was based on analysis and observation of competitors, rather than guessing or quickly reacting to the situation without reliable data. I always use logic and data to solve problems when possible. The project turned out to be a success and we increased our social media engagement by an average of 82% by the end of the year.

Answering Questions About Problem Solving with the STAR Method

When you answer interview questions about problem solving scenarios, or if you decide to demonstrate your problem solving skills in a cover letter (which is a good idea any time the job description mention problem solving as a necessary skill), I recommend using the STAR method to tell your story.

STAR stands for:

It’s a simple way of walking the listener or reader through the story in a way that will make sense to them. So before jumping in and talking about the problem that needed solving, make sure to describe the general situation. What job/company were you working at? When was this? Then, you can describe the task at hand and the problem that needed solving. After this, describe the course of action you chose and why. Ideally, show that you evaluated all the information you could given the time you had, and made a decision based on logic and fact.

Finally, describe a positive result you got.

Whether you’re answering interview questions about problem solving or writing a cover letter, you should only choose examples where you got a positive result and successfully solved the issue.

Example answer:

Situation : We had an irate client who was a social media influencer and had impossible delivery time demands we could not meet. She spoke negatively about us in her vlog and asked her followers to boycott our products. (Task : To develop an official statement to explain our company’s side, clarify the issue, and prevent it from getting out of hand). Action : I drafted a statement that balanced empathy, understanding, and utmost customer service with facts, logic, and fairness. It was direct, simple, succinct, and phrased to highlight our brand values while addressing the issue in a logical yet sensitive way.   We also tapped our influencer partners to subtly and indirectly share their positive experiences with our brand so we could counter the negative content being shared online.  Result : We got the results we worked for through proper communication and a positive and strategic campaign. The irate client agreed to have a dialogue with us. She apologized to us, and we reaffirmed our commitment to delivering quality service to all. We assured her that she can reach out to us anytime regarding her purchases and that we’d gladly accommodate her requests whenever possible. She also retracted her negative statements in her vlog and urged her followers to keep supporting our brand.

What Are Good Outcomes of Problem Solving?

Whenever you answer interview questions about problem solving or share examples of problem solving in a cover letter, you want to be sure you’re sharing a positive outcome.

Below are good outcomes of problem solving:

• Saving the company time or money
• Making the company money
• Pleasing/keeping a customer
• Obtaining new customers
• Solving a safety issue
• Solving a staffing/scheduling issue
• Solving a logistical issue
• Solving a company hiring issue
• Solving a technical/software issue
• Making a process more efficient and faster for the company
• Creating a new business process to make the company more profitable
• Improving the company’s brand/image/reputation
• Getting the company positive reviews from customers/clients

Every employer wants to make more money, save money, and save time. If you can assess your problem solving experience and think about how you’ve helped past employers in those three areas, then that’s a great start. That’s where I recommend you begin looking for stories of times you had to solve problems.

Tips to Improve Your Problem Solving Skills

Throughout your career, you’re going to get hired for better jobs and earn more money if you can show employers that you’re a problem solver. So to improve your problem solving skills, I recommend always analyzing a problem and situation before acting. When discussing problem solving with employers, you never want to sound like you rush or make impulsive decisions. They want to see fact-based or data-based decisions when you solve problems.

Next, to get better at solving problems, analyze the outcomes of past solutions you came up with. You can recognize what works and what doesn’t. Think about how you can get better at researching and analyzing a situation, but also how you can get better at communicating, deciding the right people in the organization to talk to and “pull in” to help you if needed, etc.

Finally, practice staying calm even in stressful situations. Take a few minutes to walk outside if needed. Step away from your phone and computer to clear your head. A work problem is rarely so urgent that you cannot take five minutes to think (with the possible exception of safety problems), and you’ll get better outcomes if you solve problems by acting logically instead of rushing to react in a panic.

You can use all of the ideas above to describe your problem solving skills when asked interview questions about the topic. If you say that you do the things above, employers will be impressed when they assess your problem solving ability.

If you practice the tips above, you’ll be ready to share detailed, impressive stories and problem solving examples that will make hiring managers want to offer you the job. Every employer appreciates a problem solver, whether solving problems is a requirement listed on the job description or not. And you never know which hiring manager or interviewer will ask you about a time you solved a problem, so you should always be ready to discuss this when applying for a job.

Related interview questions & answers:

• How do you handle stress?
• How do you handle conflict?
• Tell me about a time when you failed

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

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7 Problem Solving Skills That Aren’t Just Buzzwords (+ Resume Example)

• Julia Mlcuchova , 
• Updated April 8, 2024 9 min read

Problem-solving skills are something everybody should include on their resume, yet only a few seem to understand what these skills actually are. If you've always felt that the term "problem-solving skills" is rather vague and wanted to know more, you've come to the right place.

In this article, we're going to explain what problem-solving skills really mean. We'll talk about what makes up good problem-solving skills and give you tips on how to get better at them. You'll also find out how to make your problem-solving abilities look more impressive to those who might want to hire you.

Sounds good, right? Curious to learn more? 

In this article we’ll show you:

• What are problem solving skills;
• Why are they important; 
• Specific problem solving skills examples;
• How to develop your problem solving skills;
• And, how to showcase them on your resume.

Table of Contents

Click on a section to skip

What are problem solving skills?

Why are problem solving skills important, the best 7 problem solving skills examples, how to develop problem solving skills, problem solving skills resume example, key takeaways: problem solving skills.

First of all, they're more than just a buzzword!

Problem-solving skills are a set of specific abilities that allow you to deal with unexpected situations in the workplace, whether it be job related or team related. 

It's a complex process that involves several “sub skills” or “sub steps,” namely:

• Recognizing and identifying the issue at hand.
• Breaking the problem down into smaller parts and analyzing how they relate to one another. 
• Creating potential solutions to the problem, evaluating them and picking the best one.  
• Applying the chosen solution and assessing its outcome. 
• Learning from the whole process to deal with future problems more effectively. 

As you can see, it's not just about solving problems that are right in front of us, but also about predicting potential issues and being prepared to deal with them before they arise.  

Despite what you may believe, problem-solving skills aren't just for managers . 

Think about it this way: Why do employers hire employees in the first place? To solve problems for them!

And, as we all know, problems don't discriminate. In other words, it doesn't matter whether you're just an intern, an entry-level professional, or a seasoned veteran, you'll constantly face some kind of challenges. And the only difference is in how complex they will get.

This is also reflected in the way employers assess suitability of potential job candidates. 

In fact, research shows that the ability to deal with unexpected complications is prioritized by an overwhelming 60% of employers across all industries, making it one of the most compelling skills on your resume.

So, regardless of your job description or your career level, you're always expected to find solutions for problems, either independently or as a part of a team. 

And that's precisely what makes problem-solving skills so invaluable and universal ! 

Wondering how good is your resume?

Find out with our AI Resume Checker! Just upload your resume and see what can be improved.

As we've said before, problem-solving isn't really just one single skill. 

Instead, your ability to handle workplace issues with composure depends on several different “sub-skills”. 

So, which specific skills make an employee desirable even for the most demanding of recruiters? 

In no particular order, you should focus on these 7 skills : 

• Analytical skills
• Research skills
• Critical thinking 
• Decision-making
• Collaboration
• Having a growth mindset

Let's have a look at each of them in greater detail!

#1 Analytical skills

Firstly, to truly understand complex problems, you need to break them down into more manageable parts . Then, you observe them closely and ask yourself: “ Which parts work and which don't,” How do these parts contribute to the problem as a whole,” and "What exactly needs to be fixed?” In other words, you gather data , you study it, and compare it - all to pinpoint the cause of the issue as closely as possible.

#2 Research skills

Another priceless tool is your research skills (sometimes relying on just one source of information isn't enough). Besides, to make a truly informed decision , you'll have to dig a little deeper. Being a good researcher means looking for potential solutions to a problem in a wider context. For example: going through team reports, customer feedback, quarterly sales or current market trends.  

#3 Critical thinking

Every employer wants to hire people who can think critically. Yet, the ability to evaluate situations objectively and from different perspectives , is actually pretty hard to come by. But as long as you stay open-minded, inquisitive, and with a healthy dose of skepticism, you'll be able to assess situations based on facts and evidence more successfully. Plus, critical thinking comes in especially handy when you need to examine your own actions and processes. 

 #4 Creativity

Instead of following the old established processes that don't work anymore, you should feel comfortable thinking outside the box. The thing is, problems have a nasty habit of popping up unexpectedly and rapidly. And sometimes, you have to get creative in order to solve them fast. Especially those that have no precedence. But this requires a blend of intuition, industry knowledge, and quick thinking - a truly rare combination. 

#5 Decision-making

The analysis, research, and brainstorming are done. Now, you need to look at the possible solutions, and make the final decision (informed, of course). And not only that, you also have to stand by it ! Because once the train gets moving, there's no room for second guessing. Also, keep in mind that you need to be prepared to take responsibility for all decisions you make. That's no small feat! 

#6 Collaboration

Not every problem you encounter can be solved by yourself alone. And this is especially true when it comes to complex projects. So, being able to actively listen to your colleagues, take their ideas into account, and being respectful of their opinions enables you to solve problems together. Because every individual can offer a unique perspective and skill set. Yes, democracy is hard, but at the end of the day, it's teamwork that makes the corporate world go round. 

#7 Having a growth mindset

Let's be honest, no one wants their work to be riddled with problems. But facing constant challenges and changes is inevitable. And that can be scary! However, when you're able to see these situations as opportunities to grow instead of issues that hold you back, your problem solving skills reach new heights. And the employers know that too!

Now that we've shown you the value problem-solving skills can add to your resume, let's ask the all-important question: “How can I learn them?”

Well…you can't. At least not in the traditional sense of the word. 

Let us explain: Since problem-solving skills fall under the umbrella of soft skills , they can't be taught through formal education, unlike computer skills for example. There's no university course that you can take and graduate as a professional problem solver. 

But, just like other interpersonal skills, they can be nurtured and refined over time through practice and experience. 

Unfortunately, there's no one-size-fits-all approach, but the following tips can offer you inspiration on how to improve your problem solving skills:

• Cultivate a growth mindset. Remember what we've said before? Your attitude towards obstacles is the first step to unlocking your problem-solving potential. 
• Gain further knowledge in your specialized field. Secondly, it's a good idea to delve a little deeper into your chosen profession. Because the more you read on a subject, the easier it becomes to spot certain patterns and relations.  
• Start with small steps. Don't attack the big questions straight away — you'll only set yourself up for failure. Instead, start with more straightforward tasks and work your way up to more complex problems. 
• Break problems down into more digestible pieces. Complex issues are made up of smaller problems. And those can be further divided into even smaller problems, and so on. Until you're left with only the basics. 
• Don't settle for a single solution. Instead, keep on exploring other possible answers.
• Accept failure as a part of the learning process. Finally, don't let your failures discourage you. After all, you're bound to misstep a couple of times before you find your footing. Just keep on practicing. 

How to improve problem solving skills with online courses

While it’s true that formal education won’t turn you into a master problem solver, you can still hone your skills with courses and certifications offered by online learning platforms :

• Analytical skills. You can sharpen your analytical skills with Data Analytics Basics for Everyone from IBM provided by edX (Free); or Decision Making and Analytical Thinking: Fortune 500 provided by Udemy (＄21,74).
• Creativity. And, to unlock your inner creative mind, you can try Creative Thinking: Techniques and Tools for Success from the Imperial College London provided by Coursera (Free).
• Critical thinking. Try Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking Specialization from Duke University provided by Coursera (Free); or Logical and Critical Thinking offered by The University of Auckland via FutureLearn.  
• Decision-making. Or, you can learn how to become more confident when it's time to make a decision with Decision-Making Strategies and Executive Decision-Making both offered by LinkedIn Learning (1 month free trial).
• Communication skills . Lastly, to improve your collaborative skills, check out Communicating for Influence and Impact online at University of Cambridge. 

The fact that everybody and their grandmothers put “ problem-solving skills ” on their CVs has turned the phrase into a cliche. 

But there's a way to incorporate these skills into your resume without sounding pretentious and empty. Below, we've prepared a mock-up resume that manages to do just that.

FYI, if you like this design, you can use the template to create your very own resume. Just click the red button and fill in your information (or let the AI do it for you).

Problem solving skills on resume example

This resume was written by our experienced resume writers specifically for this profession.

Why this example works?

• Firstly, the job description itself is neatly organized into bullet points .  
• Instead of simply listing soft skills in a skills section , you can incorporate them into the description of your work experience entry.  
• Also, the language here isn't vague . This resume puts each problem-solving skill into a real-life context by detailing specific situations and obstacles. 
• And, to highlight the impact of each skill on your previous job position, we recommend quantifying your results whenever possible. 
• Finally, starting each bullet point with an action verb (in bold) makes you look more dynamic and proactive.

To sum it all up, problem-solving skills continue gaining popularity among employers and employees alike. And for a good reason!

Because of them, you can overcome any obstacles that stand in the way of your professional life more efficiently and systematically. 

In essence, problem-solving skills refer to the ability to recognize a challenge, identify its root cause, think of possible solutions , and then implement the most effective one. 

Believing that these skills are all the same would be a serious misconception. In reality, this term encompasses a variety of different abilities , including:

In short, understanding, developing, and showcasing these skills, can greatly boost your chances at getting noticed by the hiring managers. So, don't hesitate and start working on your problem-solving skills right now!

Julia has recently joined Kickresume as a career writer. From helping people with their English to get admitted to the uni of their dreams to advising them on how to succeed in the job market. It would seem that her career is on a steadfast trajectory. Julia holds a degree in Anglophone studies from Metropolitan University in Prague, where she also resides. Apart from creative writing and languages, she takes a keen interest in literature and theatre.

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50 Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking Examples

Critical thinking and problem solving are essential skills for success in the 21st century. Critical thinking is the ability to analyze information, evaluate evidence, and draw logical conclusions. Problem solving is the ability to apply critical thinking to find effective solutions to various challenges. Both skills require creativity, curiosity, and persistence. Developing critical thinking and problem solving skills can help students improve their academic performance, enhance their career prospects, and become more informed and engaged citizens.

Sanju Pradeepa

In today’s complex and fast-paced world, the ability to think critically and solve problems effectively has become a vital skill for success in all areas of life. Whether it’s navigating professional challenges, making sound decisions, or finding innovative solutions, critical thinking and problem-solving are key to overcoming obstacles and achieving desired outcomes. In this blog post, we will explore problem-solving and critical thinking examples.

Table of Contents

Developing the skills needed for critical thinking and problem solving.

It is not enough to simply recognize an issue; we must use the right tools and techniques to address it. To do this, we must learn how to define and identify the problem or task at hand, gather relevant information from reliable sources, analyze and compare data to draw conclusions, make logical connections between different ideas, generate a solution or action plan, and make a recommendation.

The first step in developing these skills is understanding what the problem or task is that needs to be addressed. This requires careful consideration of all available information in order to form an accurate picture of what needs to be done. Once the issue has been identified, gathering reliable sources of data can help further your understanding of it. Sources could include interviews with customers or stakeholders, surveys, industry reports, and analysis of customer feedback.

After collecting relevant information from reliable sources, it’s important to analyze and compare the data in order to draw meaningful conclusions about the situation at hand. This helps us better understand our options for addressing an issue by providing context for decision-making. Once you have analyzed the data you collected, making logical connections between different ideas can help you form a more complete picture of the situation and inform your potential solutions.

Once you have analyzed your options for addressing an issue based on all available data points, it’s time to generate a solution or action plan that takes into account considerations such as cost-effectiveness and feasibility. It’s also important to consider the risk factors associated with any proposed solutions in order to ensure that they are responsible before moving forward with implementation. Finally, once all the analysis has been completed, it is time to make a recommendation based on your findings, which should take into account any objectives set out by stakeholders at the beginning of this process as well as any other pertinent factors discovered throughout the analysis stage.

By following these steps carefully when faced with complex issues, one can effectively use critical thinking and problem-solving skills in order to achieve desired outcomes more efficiently than would otherwise be possible without them, while also taking responsibility for decisions made along the way.

What Does Critical Thinking Involve: 5 Essential Skill

Problem-solving and critical thinking examples.

Problem-solving and critical thinking are key skills that are highly valued in any professional setting. These skills enable individuals to analyze complex situations, make informed decisions, and find innovative solutions. Here, we present 25 examples of problem-solving and critical thinking. problem-solving scenarios to help you cultivate and enhance these skills.

Ethical dilemma: A company faces a situation where a client asks for a product that does not meet quality standards. The team must decide how to address the client’s request without compromising the company’s credibility or values.

Brainstorming session: A team needs to come up with new ideas for a marketing campaign targeting a specific demographic. Through an organized brainstorming session, they explore various approaches and analyze their potential impact.

Troubleshooting technical issues : An IT professional receives a ticket indicating a network outage. They analyze the issue, assess potential causes (hardware, software, or connectivity), and solve the problem efficiently.

Negotiation : During contract negotiations, representatives from two companies must find common ground to strike a mutually beneficial agreement, considering the needs and limitations of both parties.

Project management: A project manager identifies potential risks and develops contingency plans to address unforeseen obstacles, ensuring the project stays on track.

Decision-making under pressure: In a high-stakes situation, a medical professional must make a critical decision regarding a patient’s treatment, weighing all available information and considering potential risks.

Conflict resolution: A team encounters conflicts due to differing opinions or approaches. The team leader facilitates a discussion to reach a consensus while considering everyone’s perspectives.

Data analysis: A data scientist is presented with a large dataset and is tasked with extracting valuable insights. They apply analytical techniques to identify trends, correlations, and patterns that can inform decision-making.

Customer service: A customer service representative encounters a challenging customer complaint and must employ active listening and problem-solving skills to address the issue and provide a satisfactory resolution.

Market research : A business seeks to expand into a new market. They conduct thorough market research, analyzing consumer behavior, competitor strategies, and economic factors to make informed market-entry decisions.

Creative problem-solvin g: An engineer faces a design challenge and must think outside the box to come up with a unique and innovative solution that meets project requirements.

Change management: During a company-wide transition, managers must effectively communicate the change, address employees’ concerns, and facilitate a smooth transition process.

Crisis management: When a company faces a public relations crisis, effective critical thinking is necessary to analyze the situation, develop a response strategy, and minimize potential damage to the company’s reputation.

Cost optimization : A financial analyst identifies areas where expenses can be reduced while maintaining operational efficiency, presenting recommendations for cost savings.

Time management : An employee has multiple deadlines to meet. They assess the priority of each task, develop a plan, and allocate time accordingly to achieve optimal productivity.

Quality control: A production manager detects an increase in product defects and investigates the root causes, implementing corrective actions to enhance product quality.

Strategic planning: An executive team engages in strategic planning to define long-term goals, assess market trends, and identify growth opportunities.

Cross-functional collaboration: Multiple teams with different areas of expertise must collaborate to develop a comprehensive solution, combining their knowledge and skills.

Training and development : A manager identifies skill gaps in their team and designs training programs to enhance critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.

Risk assessment : A risk management professional evaluates potential risks associated with a new business venture, weighing their potential impact and developing strategies to mitigate them.

Continuous improvement: An operations manager analyzes existing processes, identifies inefficiencies, and introduces improvements to enhance productivity and customer satisfaction.

Customer needs analysis: A product development team conducts extensive research to understand customer needs and preferences, ensuring that the resulting product meets those requirements.

Crisis decision-making: A team dealing with a crisis must think quickly, assess the situation, and make timely decisions with limited information.

Marketing campaign analysis : A marketing team evaluates the success of a recent campaign, analyzing key performance indicators to understand its impact on sales and customer engagement.

Constructive feedback: A supervisor provides feedback to an employee, highlighting areas for improvement and offering constructive suggestions for growth.

Conflict resolution in a team project: Team members engaged in a project have conflicting ideas on the approach. They must engage in open dialogue, actively listen to each other’s perspectives, and reach a compromise that aligns with the project’s goals.

Crisis response in a natural disaster: Emergency responders must think critically and swiftly in responding to a natural disaster, coordinating rescue efforts, allocating resources effectively, and prioritizing the needs of affected individuals.

Product innovation : A product development team conducts market research, studies consumer trends, and uses critical thinking to create innovative products that address unmet customer needs.

Supply chain optimization: A logistics manager analyzes the supply chain to identify areas for efficiency improvement, such as reducing transportation costs, improving inventory management, or streamlining order fulfillment processes.

Business strategy formulation: A business executive assesses market dynamics, the competitive landscape, and internal capabilities to develop a robust business strategy that ensures sustainable growth and competitiveness.

Crisis communication: In the face of a public relations crisis, an organization’s spokesperson must think critically to develop and deliver a transparent, authentic, and effective communication strategy to rebuild trust and manage reputation.

Social problem-solving: A group of volunteers addresses a specific social issue, such as poverty or homelessness, by critically examining its root causes, collaborating with stakeholders, and implementing sustainable solutions for the affected population.

Problem-Solving Mindset: How to Achieve It (15 Ways)

Risk assessment in investment decision-making: An investment analyst evaluates various investment opportunities, conducting risk assessments based on market trends, financial indicators, and potential regulatory changes to make informed investment recommendations.

Environmental sustainability: An environmental scientist analyzes the impact of industrial processes on the environment, develops strategies to mitigate risks, and promotes sustainable practices within organizations and communities.

Adaptation to technological advancements : In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, professionals need critical thinking skills to adapt to new tools, software, and systems, ensuring they can effectively leverage these advancements to enhance productivity and efficiency.

Productivity improvement: An operations manager leverages critical thinking to identify productivity bottlenecks within a workflow and implement process improvements to optimize resource utilization, minimize waste, and increase overall efficiency.

Cost-benefit analysis: An organization considering a major investment or expansion opportunity conducts a thorough cost-benefit analysis, weighing potential costs against expected benefits to make an informed decision.

Human resources management : HR professionals utilize critical thinking to assess job applicants, identify skill gaps within the organization, and design training and development programs to enhance the workforce’s capabilities.

Root cause analysis: In response to a recurring problem or inefficiency, professionals apply critical thinking to identify the root cause of the issue, develop remedial actions, and prevent future occurrences.

Leadership development: Aspiring leaders undergo critical thinking exercises to enhance their decision-making abilities, develop strategic thinking skills, and foster a culture of innovation within their teams.

Brand positioning : Marketers conduct comprehensive market research and consumer behavior analysis to strategically position a brand, differentiating it from competitors and appealing to target audiences effectively.

Resource allocation: Non-profit organizations distribute limited resources efficiently, critically evaluating project proposals, considering social impact, and allocating resources to initiatives that align with their mission.

Innovating in a mature market: A company operating in a mature market seeks to innovate to maintain a competitive edge. They cultivate critical thinking skills to identify gaps, anticipate changing customer needs, and develop new strategies, products, or services accordingly.

Analyzing financial statements : Financial analysts critically assess financial statements, analyze key performance indicators, and derive insights to support financial decision-making, such as investment evaluations or budget planning.

Crisis intervention : Mental health professionals employ critical thinking and problem-solving to assess crises faced by individuals or communities, develop intervention plans, and provide support during challenging times.

Data privacy and cybersecurity : IT professionals critically evaluate existing cybersecurity measures, identify vulnerabilities, and develop strategies to protect sensitive data from threats, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations.

Process improvement : Professionals in manufacturing or service industries critically evaluate existing processes, identify inefficiencies, and implement improvements to optimize efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction.

Multi-channel marketing strategy : Marketers employ critical thinking to design and execute effective marketing campaigns across various channels such as social media, web, print, and television, ensuring a cohesive brand experience for customers.

Peer review: Researchers critically analyze and review the work of their peers, providing constructive feedback and ensuring the accuracy, validity, and reliability of scientific studies.

Project coordination : A project manager must coordinate multiple teams and resources to ensure seamless collaboration, identify potential bottlenecks, and find solutions to keep the project on schedule.  

These examples highlight the various contexts in which problem-solving and critical-thinking skills are necessary for success. By understanding and practicing these skills, individuals can enhance their ability to navigate challenges and make sound decisions in both personal and professional endeavors.

Conclusion:

Critical thinking and problem-solving are indispensable skills that empower individuals to overcome challenges, make sound decisions, and find innovative solutions. By honing these skills, one can navigate through the complexities of modern life and achieve success in both personal and professional endeavors. Embrace the power of critical thinking and problem-solving, and unlock the door to endless possibilities and growth.

• Problem solving From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• Critical thinking From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• The Importance of Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills for Students (5 Minutes)

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What Are Problem-Solving Skills? (Examples Included)

Mike Simpson 0 Comments

By Mike Simpson

Problem-solving skills are important not just for work. In the words of Karl Popper , “All life is problem-solving.”

What on earth does that mean? Simply that being alive means facing challenges. With problem-solving skills, you can navigate issues with greater ease, making hard times, well, less hard.

But what are problem-solving skills? How do you know if you have them or not? Why do they matter to your job search? And what should you do if you don’t feel yours are up to snuff? Luckily, we’re about to get into all of that.

If you’re curious about the world of problem-solving skills, here’s what you need to know.

What Are Problem-Solving Skills?

Before we dig into any examples, let’s focus first on an important question: what are problem-solving skills.

To answer that question, let’s start with the barebones basics. According to Merriam-Webster , problem-solving is “the process or act of finding a solution to a problem.” Why does that matter? Well, because it gives you insight into what problem-solving skills are.

Any skill that helps you find solutions to problems can qualify. And that means problem-solving skills aren’t just one capability, but a toolbox filled with soft skills and hard skills that come together during your time of need.

The ability to solve problems is relevant to any part of your life. Whether your writing a grocery list or dealing with a car that won’t start, you’re actually problem-solving.

The same is true at work, too. Most tasks actually involve a degree of problem-solving. Really? Really.

Think about it this way; when you’re given an assignment, you’re being asked, “Can you do this thing?” Doing that thing is the problem.

Then, you have to find a path that lets you accomplish what you need to do. That is problem-solving.

Yes, sometimes what you need to handle isn’t “challenging” in the difficulty sense. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t count.

Besides, some of what you need to do will legitimately be hard. Maybe you’re given a new responsibility, or something goes wrong during a project. When that happens, you’ll have to navigate unfamiliar territory, gather new information, and think outside of the box. That’s problem-solving, too.

That’s why hiring managers favor candidates with problem-solving skills. They make you more effective in your role, increasing the odds that you can find solutions whenever the need arises.

How Are Problem-Solving Skills Relevant to a Job Search?

Alright, you probably have a good idea of what problem-solving skills are. Now, it’s time to talk about why they matter to your job search.

We’ve already touched on one major point: hiring managers prefer candidates with strong problem-solving skills. That alone makes these capabilities a relevant part of the equation. If you don’t show the hiring manager you’ve got what it takes to excel, you may struggle to land a position.

But that isn’t the only reason these skills matter. Problem-solving skills can help you during the entire job search process. After all, what’s a job search but a problem – or a series of problems – that needs an answer.

You need a new job; that’s the core problem you’re solving. But every step is its own unique challenge. Finding an opening that matches your skills, creating a resume that resonates with the hiring manager, nailing the interview, and negotiating a salary … those are all smaller problems that are part of the bigger one.

So, problem-solving skills really are at the core of the job search experience. By having strong capabilities in this area, you may find a new position faster than you’d expect.

Okay, you may be thinking, “If hiring managers prefer candidates with problem-solving skills, which ones are they after? Are certain problem-solving capabilities more important today? Is there something I should be going out of my way to showcase?”

While any related skills are worth highlighting, some may get you further than others. Analysis, research, creativity, collaboration , organization, and decision-making are all biggies. With those skills, you can work through the entire problem-solving process, making them worthwhile additions to your resume.

But that doesn’t mean you have to focus there solely. Don’t shy away from showcasing everything you bring to the table. That way, if a particular hiring manager is looking for a certain capability, you’re more likely to tap on what they’re after.

How to Highlight Problem-Solving Skills for Job Search

At this point, it’s ridiculously clear that problem-solving skills are valuable in the eyes of hiring managers. So, how do you show them that you’ve got all of the capabilities they are after? By using the right approach.

When you’re writing your resume or cover letter , your best bet is to highlight achievements that let you put your problem-solving skills to work. That way, you can “show” the hiring manager you have what it takes.

Showing is always better than telling. Anyone can write down, “I have awesome problem-solving skills.” The thing is, that doesn’t really prove that you do. With a great example, you offer up some context, and that makes a difference.

How do you decide on which skills to highlight on your resume or cover letter? By having a great strategy. With the Tailoring Method , it’s all about relevancy. The technique helps you identify skills that matter to that particular hiring manager, allowing you to speak directly to their needs.

Plus, you can use the Tailoring Method when you answer job interview questions . With that approach, you’re making sure those responses are on-point, too.

But when do you talk about your problem-solving capabilities during an interview? Well, there’s a good chance you’ll get asked problem-solving interview questions during your meeting. Take a look at those to see the kinds of questions that are perfect for mentioning these skills.

However, you don’t have to stop there. If you’re asked about your greatest achievement or your strengths, those could be opportunities, too. Nearly any open-ended question could be the right time to discuss those skills, so keep that in mind as you practice for your interview.

How to Develop Problem-Solving Skills If You Don’t Have Them

Developing problem-solving skills may seem a bit tricky on the surface, especially if you think you don’t have them. The thing is, it doesn’t actually have to be hard. You simply need to use the right strategy.

First, understand that you probably do have problem-solving skills; you simply may not have realized it. After all, life is full of challenges that you have to tackle, so there’s a good chance you’ve developed some abilities along the way.

Now, let’s reframe the question and focus on how to improve your problem-solving skills. Here’s how to go about it.

Understand the Problem-Solving Process

In many cases, problem-solving is all about the process. You:

• Identify the problem
• Analyze the key elements
• Look for potential solutions
• Examine the options for viability and risk
• Decide on an approach
• Review the outcome for lessons

By understanding the core process, you can apply it more effectively. That way, when you encounter an issue, you’ll know how to approach it, increasing the odds you’ll handle the situation effectively.

Try Puzzles and Games

Any activity that lets you take the steps listed above could help you hone your problem-solving skills. For example, brainteasers, puzzles, and logic-based games can be great places to start.

Whether it’s something as straightforward – but nonetheless challenging – as Sudoku or a Rubik’s Cube, or something as complex as Settlers of Catan, it puts your problem-solving skills to work. Plus, if you enjoy the activity, it makes skill-building fun, making it a win-win.

Look for Daily Opportunities

If you’re looking for a practical approach, you’re in luck. You can also look at the various challenges you face during the day and think about how to overcome them.

For example, if you always experience a mid-day energy slump that hurts your productivity, take a deep dive into that problem. Define what’s happening, think about why it occurs, consider various solutions, pick one to try, and analyze the results.

By using the problem-solving approach more often in your life, you’ll develop those skills further and make using these capabilities a habit. Plus, you may find ways to improve your day-to-day living, which is a nice bonus.

Volunteer for “Stretch” Projects

If you’re currently employed, volunteering for projects that push you slightly outside of your comfort zone can help you develop problem-solving skills, too. You’ll encounter the unknown and have to think outside of the box, both of which can boost critical problem-solving-related skills.

Plus, you may gain other capabilities along the way, like experience with new technologies or tools. That makes the project an even bigger career booster, which is pretty awesome.

List of Problem-Solving Skills

Alright, we’ve taken a pretty deep dive into what problem-solving skills are. Now, it’s time for some problem-solving skills examples.

As we mentioned above, there are a ton of capabilities and traits that can support better problem-solving. By understanding what they are, you can showcase the right abilities during your job search.

So, without further ado, here is a quick list of problem-solving skill examples:

• Collaboration
• Organization
• Decision-Making
• Troubleshooting
• Self-Reliance
• Self-Motivation
• Communication
• Attention to Detail
• Brainstorming
• Forecasting
• Active Listening
• Accountability
• Open-Mindedness
• Critical Thinking
• Flexibility

Do you have to showcase all of those skills during your job search individually? No, not necessarily. Instead, you want to highlight a range of capabilities based on what the hiring manager is after. If you’re using the Tailoring Method, you’ll know which ones need to make their way into your resume, cover letter, and interview answers.

Now, are there other skills that support problem-solving? Yes, there certainly can be.

Essentially any skill that helps you go from the problem to the solution can, in its own right, be a problem-solving skill.

All of the skills above can be part of the equation. But, if you have another capability that helps you flourish when you encounter an obstacle, it can count, too.

Reflect on your past experience and consider how you’ve navigated challenges in the past. If a particular skill helped you do that, then it’s worth highlighting during a job search.

If you would like to find out more about skills to put on a resume , we’ve taken a close look at the topic before. Along with problem-solving skills, we dig into a variety of other areas, helping you choose what to highlight so that you can increase your odds of landing your perfect job.

Putting It All Together

Ultimately, problem-solving skills are essential for professionals in any kind of field. By honing your capabilities and showcasing them during your job search, you can become a stronger candidate and employee. In the end, that’s all good stuff, making it easier for you to keep your career on track today, tomorrow, and well into the future.

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com.

His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes , Entrepreneur , CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan , Penn State , Northeastern and others.

Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

About The Author

Mike simpson.

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com. His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes , Entrepreneur , CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan , Penn State , Northeastern and others. Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

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6 Steps To Develop A Problem-Solving Mindset That Boosts Productivity

Problem-controlled approach vs. problem-solving approach, benefits of a problem-solving mindset, 6 steps to develop a problem-solving mindset, characteristics of a manager with a problem-solving mindset, problem-solving mindset examples for managers, frequently asked questions.

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What is a problem-solving mindset?

• Better decision-making:  A problem-solving mindset helps managers analyze problems more effectively and generate various possible solutions. This leads to more informed decision-making , which is critical for effective leadership.
• Improved productivity:  By addressing problems proactively, managers can prevent potential obstacles from becoming major issues that impact productivity . A problem-solving mindset can help managers to anticipate and prevent problems before they occur, leading to smoother operations and higher productivity.
• Enhanced teamwork:  Encouraging a problem-solving mindset among team members fosters a culture of collaboration and encourages open communication. This can lead to stronger teamwork , as team members are more likely to work together to identify and solve problems.
• Improved morale:  When managers take a proactive approach to problem-solving, they demonstrate their commitment to their team’s success. This can improve morale and build trust and respect between managers and team members.
• Better outcomes:  Ultimately, a problem solving mindset leads to better outcomes. By effectively identifying and addressing problems, managers can improve processes, reduce costs, and enhance overall performance.
• Acknowledge the issue:   Instead of avoiding or dismissing the problem, the first step in adopting a problem-solving mindset is to embrace it. Accept the problem and commit to trying to find a solution.
• Focus on the solutions:  Shift your attention from the problem to the solution by concentrating on it. Then, work towards the result by visualizing it.
• Come up with all possible solutions:  Create a list of all potential answers, even those that appear unusual or out of the ordinary. Avoid dismissing ideas prematurely and encourage creative thinking.
• Analyze the root cause:  After coming up with a list of viable solutions. Finding the fundamental reason enables you to solve the problem and stop it from happening again.
• Take on a new perspective:  Sometimes, a new viewpoint might result in game-breakthrough solutions.  Consider looking at the problem differently, considering other people’s perspectives, or questioning your presumptions.
• Implement solutions and monitor them:    Choose the best course of action, then implement it. Keep an eye on the findings and make changes as needed. Use what you learn from the process to sharpen your problem-solving skills.

• Positive attitude:  A problem-solving manager approaches challenges with a positive and proactive mindset, focused on solutions rather than problems.
• Analytical thinking:  A problem-solving manager breaks down complex challenges into smaller, more manageable pieces and identifies the underlying causes of difficulties because of their strong analytical skills .
• Creativity:  A manager with a problem solving mindset think outside the box to solve difficulties and problems.
• Flexibility:  A manager with a problem-solving mindset can change their problem-solving strategy depending on the circumstances. They are receptive to new ideas and other viewpoints.
• Collaboration:  A manager who prioritizes problem-solving understands the value of collaboration and teamwork. They value team members’ feedback and are skilled at bringing diverse perspectives together to develop creative solutions.
• Strategic thinking:  A problem-solving manager thinks strategically , considering the long-term consequences of their decisions and solutions. They can balance short-term fixes with long-term objectives.
• Continuous improvement:  A problem-solving manager is dedicated to continuous improvement, always looking for new ways to learn and improve their problem-solving skills. They use feedback and analysis to improve their approach and achieve better results.
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• A manager listens actively to a team member’s concerns and identifies the root cause of a problem before brainstorming potential solutions.
• A manager encourages team members to collaborate and share ideas to solve a challenging problem.
• A manager takes a proactive approach to address potential obstacles, anticipating challenges and taking steps to prevent them from becoming major issues.
• A manager analyzes data and feedback to identify patterns and insights that can inform more effective problem-solving.
• A manager uses various tools and techniques, such as brainstorming , SWOT analysis, or root cause analysis, to identify and address problems.
• To inform about problem-solving, a manager seeks input and feedback from various sources, including team members, stakeholders, and subject matter experts.
• A manager encourages experimentation and risk-taking, fostering a culture of innovation and creativity.
• A manager takes ownership of problems rather than blaming others or deflecting responsibility.
• A manager is willing to admit mistakes and learn from failures rather than become defensive or dismissive.
• A manager focuses on finding solutions rather than dwelling on problems or obstacles.
• A manager can adapt and pivot as needed, being flexible and responsive to changing circumstances or new information.

Suprabha Sharma

Suprabha, a versatile professional who blends expertise in human resources and psychology, bridges the divide between people management and personal growth with her novel perspectives at Risely. Her experience as a human resource professional has empowered her to visualize practical solutions for frequent managerial challenges that form the pivot of her writings.

Are your problem solving skills sharp enough to help you succeed?

Find out now with the help of Risely’s problem-solving assessment for managers and team leaders.

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Developing a problem solving mindset

By   Carthage

August 22, 2014

Whether you are trying to improve your productivity, improve the quality of your relationships or, resolve conflict; there is one critical factor which is often overlooked – a problem solving mindset. A problem solving mindset is essential in almost every area of life. Even with the best planning and preparation, things will go wrong for you. When this happens, your problem solving mindset will enable you to find the best path forward. You will be able to achieve your objectives quicker, help others to find solutions to their problems and, reduce conflict and stress. When you have an effective problem solving mindset, you become a valuable resource for friends, family and colleagues. Even in the most pressurised of situations, you will be seen as an ally rather than a threat.

Critical aspects of a problem solving mindset

The following skills are critical aspects of a problem solving mindset. As you start to implement these skills, and improve your ability with them, you will see large improvements in the results that you achieve.

1. Responsibility

Responsibility is both a skill and an attitude. When you encounter a problem in your life, you can either bury your head in the sand or, you can choose to do something proactive about the situation. Sadly, many choose the first option but avoidance is not an effective problem solving skill . When you choose to ignore a problem; it doesn’t go away. Instead, it builds up in the background until eventually; you are forced to deal with it.

With a problem solving mindset, you know that if you do not attempt to deal with the problem; you are creating a bigger problem which, when you are eventually forced to deal with it; it will be more difficult to resolve successfully. Therefore, when you see a problem, you are eager and willing to step up and attempt to resolve the situation.

2. Emotional intelligence

When things go wrong, it is easy to lose control of your emotions. You may become angry or distraught due to things not going as expected. It is important that you feel and experience your emotions but it is just as important that you do not choose your next action based on these emotions. Your emotions are so powerful that they can influence you to take decisions and actions that you would not otherwise consider. An essential component of an effective problem solving mindset is the ability to take ownership of your emotions and then, centre yourself and regain your composure, prior to choosing your response to the situation.

Dr. Steve Peter’s excellent book ‘The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Program to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence, and Happiness’, will give you an excellent overview of this.

3. Goal identification

You would be amazed at how many people I have met over the years who, when faced with a problem, rush straight in to trying to solve the problem before they have decided on the outcome they desire. When you are trying to solve a problem, you must first understand the true nature of the problem . Then, you must decide what solution you would like to achieve i.e. what is the end goal of the problem solving process. If you have no idea of the outcome you are trying to achieve; you will not solve the problem, you will merely change the problem.

Once you have developed a problem solving mindset, you will realise that you need to stand back and analyse a problem before you rush in to solve it. You will then enter the problem solving phase with a clear understanding of what is wrong, what it is costing you and, what you would like to achieve as a result of your efforts. With this approach, your chances of success are greatly elevated.

You can learn more about idenitifying and setting effective goals with the Ultimate Guide to Goal Setting .

4. Descriptive and objective detail

One of the biggest obstacles to problem solving is the apportioning of blame. When you use the language of blame, others take offence and go on the defensive. They are then less likely to engage in any attempts to resolve the situation. To prevent this from happening, it is imperative that you be able to give an accurate, detailed account of what has occurred. If you are unsure of some of the details, say so. Do not try to fill the gap with assumptions as somebody is likely to offer a contrary view, thus leading to an unnecessary argument.

5. Active listening

When I first entered the working world, the term ‘active listening ’ was really taking off. However, the teaching on this area seemed to focus on the need to let the other person know that you are listening; with verbal and physical gestures e.g. nodding your head. However, I have always found that there is a simpler way to practice active listening – listen.

When you genuinely listen to people, and take an interest in what they say, this communicates itself to the person speaking. You will naturally begin to do verbal and physical gestures. You will also find that you are inclined to ask questions and reflect. When you listen actively, the speaker feels valued and appreciated thus encouraging them to be more open, trustworthy and helpful as you try to resolve the problem.

6. Probe and reflect

So, active listening is not just listening. It is listening and, supporting that listening with questions and reflections, with the purpose of gathering as much information about the problem as possible. When you are listening, you may be confused about something that you have heard or, you may wish to learn a little more about something which was mentioned. This is the ideal time to ask a question or two, so that you may probe a little further.

When you develop a problem solving mindset, you realise that there is thinking that you understand and, ensuring that you understand. You don’t settle for thinking that you understand. Instead, you use reflection to tell the speaker your understanding of what they have told you. This is important because it provides them with the opportunity to correct any misunderstandings. This ensures that you can pursue a solution based on facts rather than miscommunications.

7. Desire to find the most appropriate solution

Too often, when trying to solve a problem, people jump at the first solution that comes into their head. In my experience, the first solution is rarely the best or most appropriate solution. It is best to take a period of time to generate as many potential solutions as possible. Invite all of the relevant stakeholders to offer their thoughts. Then, together, you can evaluate each potential solution to determine which one is most likely to bring about the conclusion that you are seeking.

Effective communication skills are an essential part of a problem solving mindset. You can learn more with How To Talk So Others Will Listen .

A problem solving mindset is crucial in every walk of life. When you have a problem solving mindset you understand the difference between actually solving the problem and, merely changing the nature of the problem. When you have a problem solving mindset you have a range of skills and attributes which enable you to find the most appropriate solution to implement, in order to bring about the desired change. As you implement these skills and gain confidence in your ability to use them, you will deal with any problems that may arise, quicker and more effectively. As a consequence, you will improve the quality of the results that you achieve in all areas of your life.

People with a 'growth mindset' are better problem-solving — here are 4 ways to develop one, according to experts

• People with healthy growth mindsets are often more curious and motivated to learn new things.
• Researchers from Yale-NUS College say this mindset can be developed with practice.
• Instead of expecting to simply "find" your passions, make an effort to nurture and develop them.

Problem-solving may be among the more underrated skills. Research from Yale-NUS College suggests we can improve our problem-solving skills with something called a "growth mindset."

What are growth mindsets?

People with growth mindsets see interest or a spark of curiosity as something that can be developed, explains Paul O'Keefe, an assistant professor of psychology at Yale-NUS College.

"By understanding interest is [a] thing that develops over time, maybe with interaction with getting involved with commitment, [growth mindsets] build over time and grow and become interests," O'Keefe said.

O'Keefe's team's 2021 study builds on earlier work. Its research thus far suggests that the benefits of cultivating growth mindsets are plentiful, including adaptability, innovative thinking, and problem-solving.

How to develop a growth mindset

If you went to a liberal-arts school, you may already be further along than you think, since liberal-arts education focuses on broadening students' knowledge with a foundation in a variety of disciplines. This supports the growth theory of interest from an educational standpoint.

In contrast, O'Keefe's research indicates students who believe their interests lie in limited areas are "not as inclined to see how outside areas of knowledge can be connected and integrated with their existing interests." 

1. Feed your curiosity

People with growth mindsets are often more curious and motivated to learn. When you don't know something and absolutely have to know it, chances are you consult Google. In " The Science of Interest ," O'Keefe and Judith Harackiewicz say "interest" can be sparked by a desire to fill gaps in our knowledge.

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Whether you're looking up why clouds are shaped a certain way or watching YouTube tutorials on how to play the harmonica, you're doing it because you don't know and you want to know.

2. Rethink 'finding your passion'

Have you ever noticed how influential figures talk about "finding your calling"? Well, it turns out the idea that your passion is just there, waiting for you to find it if you look hard enough, may just not be true. 

O'Keefe's research calls this idea (of a passion waiting to be found) a "fixed mindset of interests." People with fixed mindsets of interest believe their interests are already there, inherent within them, and just need to be revealed. 

Erik Weisz didn't wake up and realize he was a magician overnight; he spent years practicing and developing tricks before he became Harry Houdini. In reality, instead of finding our passions, we need to take the time and effort to nurture them.

3. Become a 't-shaped' person

Though great things can come from developing one expertise, O'Keefe stresses that the potential for innovation when you color outside the lines is tremendous.

"Once we start to expand our focus outside of our silo of say, interests, we start to understand the value of other information," O'Keefe said. "And we begin to see connections between what we know already from our own interests, and connecting it to new interests."

"One of the things they do at their organization is that they hire people who they call 'T-shaped' people." T-shaped people have a singular pillar of expertise or interest with broader interests. "They might not be experts in another area, but they certainly have some basic knowledge, some interests that are far-reaching."

4. Look at your work environment

At an organizational level, growth mindsets can be underestimated. Think of the old-school finance giant that hired the best of the best in marketing, sales, finance, etc. Those hires went on to compose tighter groups of highly specialized professionals. 

But when you hire diverse teams, "you don't get people who are all just thinking from one discipline," O'Keefe explained. "You're getting people who have been exposed to different ideas."

What's more, you can't be the "logical" person of the team who looks down on the "artsy" person in the group. People with growth mindsets value being around people they can learn from. So, the next time you're at a conference or networking event, rather than seek out the people you'd have the most in common with, branch out and talk to the person you'd never ordinarily cross paths with. Maybe you'll learn a thing or two.

Correction: September 8, 2023 — An earlier version of this story misstated the name of the college where Paul O'Keefe works. It's Yale-NUS College, not Yale-National University of Singapore.

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8 ways to demonstrate that you have a growth mindset

27 May 2020

Preparing for a job interview and wondering how you can showcase your growth mindset? Hays’ Chris Dottie shares his tips.

I think we’d all agree that the one thing that’s constant in today’s rapidly evolving world of work is change. And working with this backdrop of constant change means that in order to be successful, we must try and approach every task – no matter how challenging – with a mindset of growth.

Why? Because all this change means that we’re ultimately going to be operating out of our comfort zones more often. Employers are also recognising that if their employees are fixed in their mindsets, then there is an innate risk that their organisations will be fixed too – fixed in a stitch in time, without the necessary ingredients to innovate and drive forward. That’s a scary place to be.

So, how can you prove in a job interview that, more often than not, your default mindset is one of growth? Below I’ve plotted out eight key ways I think you can do this.

1. Prepare fully for the interview beforehand

Those with a growth mindset will see a job interview as an opportunity to learn more about a business and the industry it operates in. They’ll see it as a challenge that they need to overcome in a proactive and positive way, instead of something to feel daunted or intimidated by.

One way you can really show your interviewer that you have the growth mindset they’re looking for is to not scrimp on your pre-interview research. See your interview preparation as a project in itself – be thorough and don’t leave any stone unturned.

Research the company in full, your interviewer, recent industry news or product launches – everything. Doing so will demonstrate to your interviewer that you’re proactive, engaged and have embraced the challenge of preparing for the interview wholeheartedly.

2. Demonstrate your strong problem-solving skills

Those with a growth mindset try to approach any problems they face head-on. They aren’t afraid to make mistakes as part of that process and, instead, tend to see problems as an opportunity to learn and develop. They have an unwavering belief in their ability to solve them even if, admittedly, the problem might be in an area they aren’t an expert in.

So, prior to your next interview, try to think back to when you’ve had to solve a problem – ideally a problem that was a little out of your comfort zone. Be prepared to talk your interviewer through how you approached solving that problem from start to finish, explaining how you proactively handled any hurdles along the way and, importantly, what you learnt during that process.

And don’t worry if you didn’t actually manage to solve the problem – what matters in the interviewer’s mind is that you have a proactive approach to problem solving and tackle them head on.

3. Highlight your commitment to continuous upskilling

Those with a growth mindset love learning – and not just in those areas in which they feel the most comfortable with or are even the most naturally interested in – but in a broad range of topics. They have a zest for self-improvement. So, reading, listening to podcasts, working towards qualifications or attending industry events are all habits, or even rituals, for them.

They also understand that the mind is a muscle – it needs challenges to grow – and that learning a new skill isn’t just going to happen overnight. They know that to really master a new skill it takes practise, effort and time. Lastly, they try to see those who they may find intimidating as people they can learn from. Essentially, those with a growth mindset have an unwavering commitment to their own learning – and try to see everything and everyone they come into contact with as an opportunity to get better.

So, in your next job interview, voice your commitment to continuous upskilling and lifelong learning. If you’ve learned any new skills or attended any training courses, then weave these into your answers. It’s also a good idea to ask the interviewer about the organisation’s commitment to supporting the learning and development of their employees.

4. Admit your failures and explain what you’ve learned from them

Those with a growth mindset appreciate and understand that failure is a key aspect of learning and growth. That awkward interview question, ‘can you tell me about a time you’ve failed?’ isn’t one to shy away from.

So, before the interview, plan out which failure you will talk about and make it genuine – perhaps an oversight or error that caused a slight ripple in the ocean. In the interview, don’t make excuses or blame others. Instead, explain how it happened and, importantly, explain what you learned and what you would do differently next time.

5. Showcase how you set goals and are motivated to reach them

People with a growth mindset are well versed in, wherever possible, taking a proactive approach to any task, no matter now challenging or difficult they may perceive it to be. A common tactic is setting SMART (specific, manageable, assignable, relevant, timely) goals or targets – breaking down each project into manageable and realistic tasks, with the completion of each of these acting as an innate boost or a motivator.

So, in your next interview, explain how you like to set yourself personal SMART goals or work towards set milestones in order to motivate yourself to get even the most difficult or challenging of project done on time, and to a high quality.

6. Show that you are comfortable being out your comfort zone

As the world of work continues to change and evolve at an unprecedented rate, it’s likely that we’re all going to be working outside of our comfort zones more often.

So, you need to prove that you are able to step beyond the boundaries of your normal day-to-day routine and explore new territory with zeal, confidence and proactivity. An example of which could be learning to use a new piece of technology or tool which you’ve had no prior experience with and then training other members of your team on its use.

7. Ask well-prepared questions to prove your inquisitiveness

Being perceived as a curious and interested candidate in the mind of the interviewer will help them see you as somebody who has an innate mindset of growth. So, ask positive questions of them and the company which you have prepared beforehand. This will demonstrate that you see others as invaluable sources of learning and growth.

For instance, you could ask about the interviewer’s career to date, what they’ve learned and their experience of the workplace culture.

8. The hard work doesn’t just stop once the interview has ended

Those with a growth mindset understand that the interview experience doesn’t stop once you’ve walked out the door. So, be proactive in sending a follow-up email via your recruiter to the interviewer, thanking them for their time and reiterating your interest in the role. This will serve as another example of proactivity and a tendency to go above and beyond.

If you’re faced with rejection, use your growth mindset to help you see this as an opportunity to learn and improve your performance for next time. Above all, don’t give up or feel defeated. This is just another learning experience which can help you develop and grow.

On the flipside, if you’re offered the role, continue to showcase your mindset of growth in the way that you prepare for your first day and how you behave in those first few weeks, months and years.

By Chris Dottie

Chris Dottie is managing director of Hays Spain. A version of this article previously appeared on the Hays Viewpoint blog.

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8 of the best ways to demonstrate your growth mindset in a job interview

Chris Dottie MBE

“You try something, it doesn’t work, and maybe people even criticise you. In a fixed mindset, you say, ‘I tried this, it’s over.’ In a growth mindset, you look for what you’ve learned.” Carol Dweck, Stanford University Psychologist

W hy adopting a growth mindset is more important than ever before

At Hays Spain, we review the performance of new colleagues after their first three and six months in the company. My colleagues conducting these performance reviews will testify that my continual catchphrase in these meetings is “I don’t care how good they are, I care how much they are improving”.

To be honest, for many jobs, the degree to which an employee matches the skills profile of a role one hundred percent is not a critical success factor. Yes, a better skills match can reduce training investment slightly, or produce results slightly quicker, but the impact on long-term success in the role is usually marginal. What is critical, however, is the degree to which employees have a mindset of growth, which I’ll go on to shortly, and strong metacognition skills – i.e. knowing how to learn, improve and grow.

As our CEO, Alistair Cox explained in his LinkedIn Influencer blog , according to Carol Dweck many people have a mostly fixed mindset, believing that their skills abilities are relatively unchangeable. On the other hand, “a growth mindset is all about believing that you can develop your existing skills and abilities with practice and effort. In short, if you have a growth mindset, you believe that no matter what level of capability you possess right now, there’s always something new you can learn and become better at.” Or, to quote a slightly different analyst of human behaviour, Muhammed Ali “The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life”.

I think we’d all agree that the one thing that’s constant in today’s rapidly evolving world of work is change. And working with this backdrop of constant change means that in order to be successful, we must try and approach every task – no matter how challenging, with a mindset of growth. Why? Because all this change means that we’re ultimately going to need to be operating out of our comfort zones more often, as Alistair explains: “For most, this means operating outside of our comfort zones more often. It means a shift from working in set spheres in which we know we can perform well, spheres in which there’s no perceived risk of failure or of looking stupid. A move to dealing with different departments and external partners and suppliers more regularly, to interacting with people who we may deem more knowledgeable than us, people we are more likely to see as a threat.”

How to prove to your interviewer that your default mindset is one of growth

Employers are also recognising that if their employees are fixed in their mindsets, then there is an innate risk that their organisations will be fixed too – fixed in a stitch in time, without the necessary ingredients to innovate and drive forward. That’s a scary place to be.

So, how can you prove to your interviewer, that, more often than not, your default mindset is one of growth? Below I’ve plotted out eight key ways I think you can do this:

1. Prepare fully for the interview beforehand

Those with a growth mindset will see a job interview as an opportunity to learn more about a business and the industry it operates in. They’ll see it as a challenge that they need to overcome – and overcome in a proactive and positive way, instead of something to feel daunted or intimidated by.

One way you can really show your interviewer that you have the growth mindset they’re looking for is to not scrimp on your pre-interview research. See your interview preparation as a project in itself – be thorough and don’t leave any stone unturned. Research the company in full, your interviewer, recent industry news or product launches – everything. Doing so will demonstrate to your interviewer that you’re proactive, engaged, and have embraced the challenge of preparing for the interview wholeheartedly.

2. Demonstrate your strong problem-solving skills

Those with a growth mindset try to approach any problems they face head-on. They aren’t afraid to make mistakes as part of that process, and, instead, tend to see problems as an opportunity to learn and develop. They don’t let the voices in their head, voices like ‘I’m not good with numbers’, take over and knock their confidence or approach to solving a given problem. They have an unwavering belief in their ability to solve them, even if, admittedly, the problem might be in an area they aren’t an expert in. They see problems and the process of solving them as an opportunity to learn, develop and get better.

So, prior to your next interview, try to think back to when you’ve had to solve a problem – ideally a problem that was a little out of your comfort zone. Be prepared to talk your interviewer through how you approached solving that problem from start to finish, explaining how you proactively handled any hurdles along the way and importantly, what you learnt during that process. And don’t worry if you didn’t actually manage to solve the problem – what matters in the interviewer’s mind is that you have a proactive approach to problem solving, and tackle them head on.

3. Highlight your commitment to continuous upskilling and lifelong learning

Those with a growth mindset love learning – and not just in those areas in which they feel the most comfortable with or are even the most naturally interested in – but in a broad range of topics. They have a zest for self-improvement – so, reading, listening to podcasts, working towards qualifications or attending industry events are all habits, or even rituals for them – they don’t even think twice about doing them.

They also understand that the mind is a muscle – it needs challenges to grow, and that learning a new skill isn’t just going to happen overnight. They know that to really master a new skill it takes practice, effort and time. Lastly, they try to see those who they may find intimidating as people they can learn from. Essentially, those with a growth mindset have an unwavering commitment to their own learning – and try to see everything and everyone they come into contact with as an opportunity to get better.

So, in your next job interview, voice your commitment to continuous upskilling and lifelong learning. If you’ve learnt any new skills or attended any training courses then weave these into your answers. It’s also a good idea to ask the interviewer about the organisation’s commitment to supporting the learning and development of their employees.

4. Admit to your failures and explain what you’ve learnt from them

Those with a growth mindset appreciate and understand that failure is a key aspect of learning and growth. So, that awkward interview question: “ Can you tell me about a time you’ve failed? ” isn’t one to shy away from.

So, before the interview, plan out which failure you plan to talk about – and make it genuine – perhaps an oversight or error that caused a slight ripple in the ocean. In the interview, don’t make excuses or blame others, instead, explain how it happened, and, importantly, explain what you learnt and what you would do differently next time.

5. Showcase how you set yourself goals and are motivated to reach them

People with a growth mindset are well versed in, wherever possible, taking a proactive approach to any task, no matter now challenging or difficult they may perceive it to be. A common tactic is setting SMART goals or targets – breaking down each project into manageable and realistic tasks or goals, with the completion of each of these acting as an innate boost or a motivator.

So, in your next interview, explain how you like to set yourself personal SMART goals or work towards set milestones in order to motivate yourself to get even the most difficult or challenging of project done on time, and to a high quality.

6. Show that you are comfortable with being out of your comfort zone

As the world of work continues to change and evolve at an unprecedented rate, it’s likely that we’re all going to be working outside of our comfort zones more often.

So, you need to prove that you are able to step beyond the boundaries of your normal day-to-day routine and explore new territory with zeal, confidence and proactivity. An example of which could be learning to use a new piece of technology or tool which you’ve had no prior experience of and then training other members of your team on its use. Essentially, you need to prove to the interviewer that you belief in yourself and your ability to operate outside of your comfort zone, whilst driving the business forward and delivering results.

7. Ask well-prepared questions to prove your inquisitiveness

Being perceived as a curious and interested candidate in the mind of the interviewer will help them see you as somebody who has an innate mindset of growth. So, ask positive questions of them and the company which you have prepared beforehand – this will demonstrate that you see others as invaluable sources of learning and growth. For instance, you could ask about the interviewer’s career to date, what they’ve learned, their experience of the workplace culture, and other questions that prove your interest in learning from others. I’ve plotted out a few questions you could ask your interviewer in this blog .

8. The hard work doesn’t just stop once the interview has ended

Those with a growth mindset understand that the interview experience doesn’t stop once you’ve walked out of the interview door. So, be proactive in sending up a follow up email via your recruiter to the interviewer, thanking them for their time and reiterating your interest in the role. This will serve as another example of proactivity and tendency to go above and beyond.

If you’re faced with rejection, use your growth mindset to help you see this as an opportunity to learn and improve your performance for next time. Above all, don’t give up or feel defeated. This is just another learning experience which can help you develop and grow.

On the flipside, if you’re offered the role, continue to showcase your mindset of growth in the way that you prepare for your first day, and how you behave in those first few weeks, months and years.

There’s no doubt about it, to succeed in today and tomorrow’s world of work, we all need to adopt a growth mindset more often in order to ensure our success. Hopefully these tips will help you position yourself in the interviewer’s mind as someone who can help them take their business forward, innovate and relish change.

Did you find this advice useful? You may enjoy some of the related content below:

• How to interview confidently against the competition
• The secret to giving strong interview answers
• This important mindset will make you more successful
• Work is changing – can your mindset keep up?

A native of Liverpool, Chris joined Hays in 1996, working in the UK and Portugal before arriving in Spain in 2002. As Managing Director for the Hays Group in Spain he led the growth of the company from start-up to 300 consultants across 6 regional locations. In 2022 he was appointed Regional Managing Director for Southern Europe, a subregion that serves customers and changes thousands of lives across Portugal, Italy, and Spain.

He has a degree in International Business and Modern Languages from Aston University, including a year’s study at l’École Supérieure de Sciences Commerciales d’Angers and has since completed executive education courses at Ashridge Business School and IMD. He is a regular public commentator on the world of work and international trade.

Until 2020, Chris served as President of the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain and currently serves as Vice Chair of the British Chamber of Commerce and acts as NED of the British Embassy in Spain. Chris was awarded an MBE, Member of the Order of the British Empire, in the 2020 New Year Honours List for services to British business.

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Solutions Oriented: How To Cultivate A Results-Driven Mindset

• September 18, 2023
• HR Management

Table of Contents

Ah, the thrill of facing a problem head-on and emerging victorious! Every problem-solver, from a novice to a seasoned expert, knows this feeling. And if you’ve ever found yourself drowning in an issue, wondering why others seem to navigate it effortlessly, you might have noticed a common trait among them – they’re solutions oriented.

What does it mean to be “solutions or solution oriented person”? Is it just a modern-day jargon, or is there more to it? Picture this: Two people are stuck in a dense forest. The first one panics, thinking of all the wild animals, the cold night, and the uncertainty of getting out. The second one, while acknowledging these threats, starts thinking, “How can I climb a tree to see a way out?” or “Can I use the sun’s position to determine the direction?” The second person is a solutions oriented leader or solution oriented leader.

This mindset isn’t about denying problems or being unrealistically optimistic. It’s about focusing energy on: finding solutions, the right answers, learning, and adapting. It’s the difference between seeing a dead-end versus a detour. Being solutions oriented means constantly looking for avenues, even in seemingly impossible situations. It’s about resilience, innovation, and tenacity.

Solutions oriented means focusing on results, finding answers, no risks and relentlessly pursuing the best possible outcomes. Dive in to learn how to cultivate this mindset and succeed in any challenge.

In this guide, we’ll embark on an enlightening journey into the solution oriented mindset and other solution oriented approaches. We’ll delve deep into what it means to be solutions oriented, how you can cultivate this mindset, and the multifaceted benefits it brings to your personal and professional life. Whether you’re a young professional grappling with the challenges of the corporate world or a stay-at-home parent figuring out daily household conundrums, the solutions oriented mindset is your ally.

The world doesn’t stop throwing curveballs. What matters is how we catch them, or better yet, how we hit them back. So, tighten your belts, fellow traveler. By the end of this exploration, you’ll be armed with the tools, insights, and mindset to tackle any challenge that comes your way. Onward and upward!

Understanding A Solutions Oriented Approach

The term “solutions oriented organization” often pops up in corporate jargon, self-help books, and even casual conversations with business leader. But what does it truly encompass? Let’s dive deep into its essence and understand the fundamentals of this approach.

Defining “Solutions Oriented”:

Being solutions or solution oriented team goes beyond the simple act of solving problems. It’s an ingrained mindset, a holistic approach to challenges. Imagine life’s hurdles as a labyrinth. A solutions or solution oriented person doesn’t merely wander aimlessly, hoping for an exit. Instead, they meticulously study the maze, anticipate dead ends, and strategize their route.

Shift From Problem Focus To Solution Focus:

It’s easy for leaders to get trapped in a whirlwind of problems. They’re daunting, often overwhelming, and can cloud our judgment. However, the essence of a problem focused, solutions oriented approach is a steadfast, focused focus on the ‘how’ rather than the ‘why’. While understanding the root of the organization or problem is crucial, dwelling on it without forward momentum serves no purpose. The energy spent lamenting on a problem is better used crafting solutions.

Embrace The Learning Curve:

Every challenge you face is cloaked in lessons. When adopting a solutions oriented mindset, one understands that no challenge is void of value. It’s not about how many times you fall but how you rise after every fall, absorbing the lessons and ensuring the stumbles refine, not define you.

The Proactive vs. Reactive Dichotomy:

A reactive mindset waits for problems to arise and then scrambles to address them. It’s often associated with panic, hasty decisions, and short-term fixes. On the other hand, a proactive, solutions oriented mindset anticipates challenges and prepares for them. It doesn’t merely put out fires; it prevents them.

Continuous Evolution:

The world is in perpetual motion. What worked yesterday may be obsolete today. Being a solutions oriented leader means constantly updating your leadership toolkit, learning, unlearning, and relearning. It’s a commitment to evolution, ensuring you’re always equipped with the best strategies to tackle contemporary leadership challenges.

Key Points:

“Solutions Oriented” is a holistic, proactive approach to challenges.

Focus energy on crafting solutions rather than dwelling on problems.

Every challenge presents opportunities to learn and grow.

Anticipate and prepare for challenges instead of merely reacting to them.

Commit to continuous evolution to remain adept at handling new challenges.

Cultivating A Solutions Oriented Mindset

It’s crucial to recognize that a solutions oriented mindset isn’t a switch you can simply flip on. It’s a garden you cultivate, nurturing it with the right habits, perspectives, and environment. As you grow this solution oriented mindset, not only do you become adept at addressing challenges, but you also evolve as an individual. Let’s uncover the steps and practices to cultivate this empowering mindset.

Stay Curious – The Power of ‘Why’ and ‘How’:

Remember as a child, when every discovery was accompanied by a barrage of ‘whys’ and ‘hows’? This innate curiosity is the foundation of a solutions oriented approach. Instead of accepting things at face value, delve deeper. Whether you’re facing a problem or learning something new, always question the status quo. The quest for understanding drives innovation.

Accept Failures Graciously – Lessons in Disguise:

We’ve been conditioned to view failures as setbacks. In truth, they are invaluable lessons. Every misstep brings with it insights that textbooks and tutorials often can’t offer. By embracing failures, analyzing what went wrong, and iterating based on those insights, you fine-tune your approach and inch closer to effective business solutions .

Surround Yourself With Like-Minded People – Environment Matters:

Your environment, both physical and social, plays a pivotal role in shaping your mindset. Surrounding yourself with solutions oriented individuals ensures that you’re continually inspired, challenged, and supported. Their constructive feedback, diverse perspectives, and shared drive for solutions can act as catalysts for your growth.

Setting Clear Goals – The North Star:

A solutions oriented mindset thrives on clarity. When you have clear goals, it becomes easier to chart a path to achieve them and find solutions aligned with those objectives. These goals act as your North Star, guiding you through challenges and helping you maintain focus on what truly matters.

Develop Resilience – The Art of Bouncing Back:

Resilience is the bedrock of a solutions oriented mindset. It’s not about avoiding failures, but about how quickly and effectively you can bounce back from them. Cultivating resilience involves embracing discomfort, practicing patience, and understanding that the path to solutions will often be riddled with obstacles. Instead of being disheartened, view them as parts of the journey, honing your skills and resolve.

Continuous Learning – Keeping the Toolbox Updated:

In a rapidly changing world, resting on one’s laurels is a recipe for obsolescence. Adopt a learner’s mindset. Attend workshops, read books, participate in discussions, and always seek to expand your horizons. The more tools (knowledge and skills) you have in your toolbox, the better equipped you are to devise innovative solutions.

Nurture innate curiosity; question and understand the ‘why’ and ‘how’.

Embrace failures as rich learning experiences.

Your environment, including the people around you, can either foster or hinder a solutions oriented approach.

Set clear , actionable goals to guide your problem-solving journey.

Build resilience; it’s the backbone of facing and overcoming challenges.

Dedicate yourself to continuous learning to stay adaptive and innovative.

Software Tools To Boost Your Solutions Oriented Approach

In today’s digital age, it’s not just about having the right mindset but also about harnessing the right tools. While a solutions oriented approach is about your mental and emotional faculties, certain software tools can amplify your capacity to solve problems and create impactful solutions. These tools can help streamline processes, organize thoughts, and drive collaboration. Let’s take a closer look at some of these indispensable tools.

Trello – Visualize and Organize Your Ideas:

Trello provides a visual way to organize tasks, ideas, and projects. It’s based on the Kanban methodology and allows users to create boards, lists, and cards to prioritize and categorize tasks. For someone aiming to adopt a solutions oriented mindset, it’s vital to have clarity, and Trello offers just that. By visually mapping out tasks, one can identify bottlenecks, streamline processes, and foster collaboration.

MindMeister – Mapping Your Thoughts:

MindMeister is a collaborative mind-mapping tool. It’s fantastic for brainstorming sessions, organizing thoughts, and visualizing complex concepts. Whether you’re tackling a personal project or a business challenge, this tool helps lay out all facets of a problem, enabling a comprehensive solutions oriented approach.

Evernote – Centralized Note-Taking:

With Evernote , you can keep all your ideas, research, and notes in one centralized place. Its robust search capabilities ensure that you never lose track of crucial information. Being solutions and solution oriented leader often means collating information from varied sources, and Evernote helps you manage this seamlessly.

Slack – Enhancing Collaboration:

Slack is more than just a messaging app; it’s a hub for teamwork. For solutions to truly shine, collaboration is key. Slack provides channels for different projects, ensuring that conversations are organized and accessible. Integrated file sharing, third-party app integrations, and the ability to quickly search across conversations make it a powerhouse for collaborative problem solving.

Coursera – Continuous Learning and Skill Development:

Knowledge is power, especially in a solutions oriented approach. Coursera offers a plethora of courses from universities and institutions around the world, covering diverse topics. From critical thinking to technical skills, continuous learning becomes effortless with such a platform.

Asana – Task and Project Management:

For larger projects, especially in team settings, Asana shines bright. With a clean interface and robust features, it’s perfect for tracking team progress, delegating tasks, and ensuring that every team member is aligned towards a solution.

Trello aids in visualizing tasks, thereby bringing clarity to the problem-solving process.

MindMeister is invaluable for brainstorming and dissecting complex challenges.

Evernote ensures all your notes and research are organized and easily accessible.

Slack fosters effective communication, making collaborative problem-solving a breeze.

Coursera empowers individuals with knowledge, a cornerstone of the solutions oriented approach.

Asana is perfect for managing larger projects, ensuring everyone is in sync and geared towards a solution.

The Perks Of Being Solutions Oriented

Opting for a solutions oriented approach isn’t just a productive move; it’s transformative. While it’s evident that this approach offers an effective way to navigate challenges, the perks of a solution oriented leader and team extend beyond just problem-solving. They permeate various aspects of personal and professional life, creating ripples of positive change. Let’s delve into the multifaceted benefits of being a solutions oriented leader.

Boosted Confidence & Self-Efficacy:

When you consistently focus on finding creative solutions and witness your strategies turning into successful business outcomes, it naturally boosts your confidence. You start believing in your abilities, cultivating a sense of self-efficacy. This isn’t just about feeling good; it’s about knowing that you possess the skills and mindset to tackle challenges head-on.

Enhanced Resilience & Adaptability:

Challenges are inevitable. However, a solutions oriented approach equips you with resilience. When faced with setbacks, instead of succumbing to frustration, you see them as temporary roadblocks. This mindset fosters adaptability, allowing you to pivot and modify your strategies based on evolving circumstances.

Strengthened Collaborative Skills:

A solutions oriented lead individual understands the value of collaboration. By seeking diverse perspectives, brainstorming, and pooling together collective expertise, a team and solutions become more robust and holistic. This collaborative approach to leadership not only resolves challenges but also fosters a culture of teamwork and mutual respect.

Increased Value in Professional Settings:

In the corporate world, problem solvers are invaluable. By consistently showcasing a solutions oriented approach, you position yourself as an asset. Leaders and peers recognize and appreciate individuals who can transform challenges into opportunities, leading to career advancements and growth opportunities.

Promotion of Continuous Learning:

Being solutions oriented often means you’re on the lookout for knowledge, resources and skills that can aid in crafting solutions. This inherent curiosity and drive promote a culture of continuous learning, ensuring you remain updated, relevant, and ever-evolving, both personally and professionally.

Reduction of Stress & Anxiety:

Dwelling on problems can be mentally taxing, leading to increased stress and anxiety. However, when you shift your focus to developing solutions yourself, it brings clarity and a sense of purpose. Knowing that you’re taking proactive steps to address challenges can significantly reduce feelings of overwhelm and helplessness.

Inspiration to Others:

Your approach to challenges doesn’t just benefit you; it serves as an inspiration to others. By modeling a solutions oriented mindset, you motivate those around you to adopt similar strategies, creating a ripple effect of positive problem-solving.

A solutions oriented approach cultivates confidence and a belief in one’s abilities.

It fosters resilience and the ability to adapt to changing scenarios.

Enhances teamwork and collaboration, making problem-solving a collective effort.

Positions you as a valuable asset in professional environments, paving the way for growth.

Champions continuous learning , ensuring personal and professional evolution.

Acts as a buffer against stress, promoting mental well-being.

Serves as an inspiration, motivating others to become solution seekers.

FAQ – Unraveling the Solutions Oriented Approach

Navigating the world with a solutions oriented mindset can be a rewarding journey, but like any paradigm shift, it comes with its own set of queries. Here are some frequently asked questions to provide deeper insights and clarity.

Isn’t focusing solely on solutions too simplistic?

No, it’s not about oversimplifying problems. A solutions oriented approach encourages diving deep into challenges to understand their intricacies. It’s about shifting focus from merely highlighting issues to actively brainstorm solutions more problems and seeking ways to resolve and solve whatever problem arises from them, ensuring a balanced perspective that acknowledges complexity while seeking resolution.

How can I differentiate between being solutions oriented and just being optimistic?

While both traits can overlap, they are distinct. Being optimistic means maintaining a positive outlook regardless of circumstances. A solutions oriented individual, on the other hand, couples this positive outlook with actionable strategies. They don’t just hope for the best; they actively work towards the best outcome.

Are there situations where this approach might not be ideal?

Every approach has its context. While a solutions oriented mindset is beneficial in many workplace scenarios, there are moments, especially in personal or emotional situations with clients, where simply listening and empathizing is more appropriate than immediately jumping to solutions.

How do I deal with individuals who are resistant to solutions?

Resistance can stem from fear, skepticism, or past experiences. It’s essential to communicate effectively with leaders, empathize with their concerns, provide feedback, and sometimes even showcase small wins or proofs of concept to build trust and demonstrate the viability of proposed solutions.

Can this approach be taught or is it innate?

While some individuals might naturally gravitate towards problem-solving, a solutions oriented approach can definitely be cultivated. Through practices like continuous learning, seeking feedback, and fostering resilience, anyone can develop and hone this mindset.

How does one avoid getting overwhelmed when seeking solutions?

It’s crucial to break challenges down into smaller, manageable parts. Tackling each aspect step by step not only makes the process less daunting but also allows for clearer, more targeted solutions.

Is it possible to be too solutions oriented?

Balance is key. While being proactive is commendable, hastily jumping to solutions without fully understanding a problem can be counterproductive. It’s essential to strike a balance between analysis and action.

How can I measure the effectiveness of my solutions oriented approach?

Feedback is invaluable. Regularly seek feedback from peers, superiors, or those affected by your solutions. Additionally, self-reflection and tracking the tangible outcomes of your strategies can provide insights into areas of improvement.

Can this mindset be applied to personal challenges as well?

Absolutely! From personal development goals to interpersonal relationships, a solutions oriented approach can offer clarity, direction, and constructive strategies to navigate challenges.

Are there any risks associated with this approach?

Like any approach, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution faster this. There might be instances where a proposed solution doesn’t pan out as expected. It’s essential to be adaptable, learn from such experiences, and iterate your solution accordingly.

The solutions oriented approach is not about oversimplification but rather a shift in focus towards actionable strategies.

It differs from mere optimism by coupling a positive outlook with actionable steps.

This mindset is flexible and can be applied in a variety of situations, both personal and professional.

It can be cultivated, and continuous feedback and reflection are vital to its effectiveness.

Balance is key; understanding problems thoroughly before proposing solutions is crucial.

As we’ve journeyed forward through the facets of a solutions oriented mindset, it’s evident that this is not merely a methodology but a transformative way of living. Embracing such an approach reshapes the way we perceive challenges, turning them into opportunities waiting to be unlocked.

Historically, humankind’s greatest advancements have stemmed from an innate desire to explore and find solutions. From the wheel to the World Wide Web, our legacy is paved with examples of transcending barriers through innovative solutions. And while the scale of these solutions varies, the underlying principle remains constant: a focused drive to better our circumstances.

But why does this solution oriented approach resonate so deeply? For one, it provides a sense of purpose. In a world inundated with challenges, both big and small, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, a solutions oriented mindset reframes these challenges, giving us a mission and a sense of direction. Instead of being bogged down by problems, we become architects of change, actively crafting strategies to improve our world.

Moreover, this mindset fosters personal growth. Every time we face a challenge with a solutions oriented approach, we grow — in skills, knowledge, and character. We learn the art of resilience, the power of collaboration, and the value of continuous learning. It’s a journey of self-improvement, where every challenge faced is a lesson learned.

Additionally, this approach transcends the personal sphere. By being solutions oriented, we inspire those around us. It’s contagious. Teams work more cohesively, communities come together, and positive change becomes a collaborative whole team effort.

In essence, adopting a solutions and solution oriented leadership mindset is akin to lighting a beacon in the face of adversity. It illuminates paths that might otherwise remain obscured. It offers hope, not just through hollow optimism, for example, but through actionable strategies that promise to lead to tangible change.

As you move forward, armed with this newfound understanding, remember: challenges are but puzzles waiting to be solved. And with a solutions oriented approach, you hold the pieces that can craft the future into a brighter, more promising picture for future you.

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Problem-Solving Strategies and Obstacles

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

Sean is a fact-checker and researcher with experience in sociology, field research, and data analytics.

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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.

Sarathy V. Real world problem-solving .  Front Hum Neurosci . 2018;12:261. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2018.00261

Dunbar K. Problem solving . A Companion to Cognitive Science . 2017. doi:10.1002/9781405164535.ch20

Stewart SL, Celebre A, Hirdes JP, Poss JW. Risk of suicide and self-harm in kids: The development of an algorithm to identify high-risk individuals within the children's mental health system . Child Psychiat Human Develop . 2020;51:913-924. doi:10.1007/s10578-020-00968-9

Rosenbusch H, Soldner F, Evans AM, Zeelenberg M. Supervised machine learning methods in psychology: A practical introduction with annotated R code . Soc Personal Psychol Compass . 2021;15(2):e12579. doi:10.1111/spc3.12579

Mishra S. Decision-making under risk: Integrating perspectives from biology, economics, and psychology . Personal Soc Psychol Rev . 2014;18(3):280-307. doi:10.1177/1088868314530517

Csikszentmihalyi M, Sawyer K. Creative insight: The social dimension of a solitary moment . In: The Systems Model of Creativity . 2015:73-98. doi:10.1007/978-94-017-9085-7_7

Chrysikou EG, Motyka K, Nigro C, Yang SI, Thompson-Schill SL. Functional fixedness in creative thinking tasks depends on stimulus modality .  Psychol Aesthet Creat Arts . 2016;10(4):425‐435. doi:10.1037/aca0000050

Huang F, Tang S, Hu Z. Unconditional perseveration of the short-term mental set in chunk decomposition .  Front Psychol . 2018;9:2568. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02568

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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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Problem-solving skills: What are they? + examples

Problem-solving skills are essential in all types of workplaces as well as in your wider life. This article takes you through the different types of problem-solving skills including how to improve them and demonstrate them in the job application process.

What are problem-solving skills?

Examples of problem-solving skills, how to improve problem-solving skills, how to include problem-solving skills in a cv, how to include problem-solving skills in a cover letter.

• Problem-solving interview questions

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Having great problem-solving skills allows you to handle situations you don’t expect or challenges you may face at work. Being able to utilise your problem-solving skills means you can assess complex problems well and form effective solutions. Not only is this great for your personal and professional lives; it makes you a valuable asset to any team.

These skills are crucial at all stages in your career, and strong problem-solving skills are important in a wide variety of jobs. Problem-solving skills are closely related to decision-making skills and communication skills. In order to effectively understand the problem and relay your solution, you need to communicate effectively with your team, plus be decisive in the approach you collectively take to the problem.

Since problem-solving skills are soft skills, you can easily improve them through practice. Learn how to solve problems creatively with the below Academy module.

CTA: Academy problem-solving module

Problem-solving can be split into various different skills which help build up your ability to effectively resolve an issue. Here are five potential sub-skills of problem-solving that you can use:

Research skills

This relates to your ability to find, draw out, organise and assess available information on a certain subject or situation. This includes data collection, time management, critical thinking and detail orientation, among other skills. Research skills are crucial when problem-solving so you have access to the correct information to solve the problem. 

Learn more about research skills and how you can develop yours.

Analytical skills      

Having great analytical skills means being able to effectively unpick a situation by effectively using the data available to you. Therefore, analytical skills are a combination of data analysis, critical thinking and visualisation among others. 

Decision-making skills

Whenever you choose to do something in your daily life, whether professional, academic or personal, you are demonstrating decision-making skills. Having effective decision-making skills means combining several aspects which you use to make the best decision in a given scenario, including logical reasoning, intuition, teamwork, conflict resolution, organisation and emotional intelligence.

Project management skills

In your professional life, there are likely to be projects or tasks that you’re assigned or you take on which you lead. This could be anything from minor tasks to shaking up a whole area of the business. Regardless of the size, if it’s your project to own, it requires project management skills. This involves communication, negotiation, time management and leadership to get your project done efficiently and within the agreed timeframe.

Want to learn more? Read this project management skills article.

Assessment skills

This is your ability to recognise how well something or someone has done. It might be reviewing the work a colleague has completed and addressing what needs to be improved upon and where the work is great, or it might be reflecting on an event, meeting, strategy session or other which you’ve been a part of or run recently and identifying the strengths and weaknesses. Assessment skills mean you can effectively assess the success of something and sometimes involve data analysis and interpretation skills to understand the full picture.

Learn how to develop your entire transferable skillset with this free online learning course. You'll also get a certificate once you complete the course that you can display on your CV and LinkedIn profile.

The level of your problem-solving skills is by no means fixed and you can take easy steps throughout your working day to improve upon them. Even if you have very strong problem-solving skills, it’s worth identifying if there are areas you could improve on. Follow these simple actions to improve your problem-solving skills:

Practice . The best way to improve on a skill is to take the time and practise it. This could include volunteering yourself to help when an issue arises at work or at home, identifying a long-standing issue and finding a solution for it or asking your friends, family or colleagues if there’s anything they’re stuck on that you can help with.

Be solution-focused . This may require a shift in mindset on your part. If you identify a problem or someone reaches out to you with a problem, instead of worrying about the issue itself, focus instead on the reasonable steps you can take to find a solution. Put the emphasis on finding an answer rather than over-assessing the problem.

Learn from others . A great way to learn is from others. If you can see a colleague or peer that is particularly good at solving problems, watch them! See what their process is and how they go about dealing with an issue. You can even ask them questions about how they came to a conclusion or practically solved the issue.

Improve your technical knowledge . Some problem-solving comes from having a greater understanding of the issue that you’re facing. For example, if you’re struggling to get a piece of software to do what you need it to, learn more about the software. You could watch videos, contact colleagues or peers who use the software more than you or even ask on a forum or the company’s helpline.

Use brainstorms to assess your ideas . Not all problem-solving needs to be done alone. A fantastic way to improve your skills is to learn from others. Try brainstorming with peers or colleagues around a problem and have each member of the group think up an idea on how you can resolve the issue. This way, you can bounce ideas off of each other and hopefully find a sensible solution collectively.

Simplify situations . Try not to over-complicate the issue. If you’re struggling to find the solution to the problem as a whole, break it down into a series of smaller issues to which you can find answers more easily. 

Seek feedback . Learn from experience. If you’ve recently worked on or solved a problem, ask the people you worked with, perhaps a colleague or a peer, to give you some feedback on how they think you did. Consider asking them some structured questions which would help you learn from the experience and their perspective of how you’ve performed so you can improve for next time.

Your CV is the ideal place to highlight all the great skills you’ve acquired to demonstrate why you’d be a fantastic employee in any role. Since problem-solving is such a widely sought-after skill, including it in your CV is a great way to make yourself noticed and prove you have the skill set the employer is looking for.

We recommend having a specific section in your CV dedicated to your skills under your employment history. In this section, you can name the skill, for example, problem-solving, project management and analytical skills. After you’ve named the skills, we recommend including a very brief one-line description of when you either acquired the skill or demonstrated it in your working, personal or academic life. This way, you’re proving you have the skill rather than just naming it.

Need some help making sure your CV is ready for applications? Read our guide on  how to write a CV including some great templates for you to download and customise.

Much like including your problem-solving skills in your CV, demonstrating them in your cover letter is another great way to get noticed by employers. This is your opportunity to expand on what you’ve written in your CV, so make sure to include practical examples on when you’ve shown the skills you’re claiming to have.

There are many ways that you can do this, and it depends on the structure you’re using for your cover letter. If you have lots of work experience, you can structure your cover letter around the different jobs you’ve had. Alternatively, if you don’t have a great deal of experience, you can structure your cover letter around the skills you’ve acquired throughout your professional, academic and personal life. Here are examples of how you can do this:

In my role as a customer service advisor, I demonstrated clear problem-solving skills. One of my tasks included helping make sure the shop was tidy and had no safety hazards for customers or staff. I recognised that customers were repeatedly leaving large items out of the shelves that they were meant to be stored in which blocked a fire door and therefore was a safety hazard. After identifying this issue, I reviewed the aisle and located a position away from the fire door which had smaller items being stored there. With the permission of my manager, I swapped over the items, preventing the hazard from reoccurring.

I have demonstrated my problem-solving skills in my prior experience. When I was social secretary for the History Society at my university, I was involved in organising the annual ball for our members. The first venue I booked for the event was cancelled just a week before the ball was supposed to take place. Instead of cancelling, I assessed the situation and researched local venues which would accommodate us. I found two possible options and managed to negotiate a reduction in price compared to the original quote. As such, we were able to secure a bigger venue allowing for more attendees to the event and saving money.

Need some help making sure your cover letter is perfect for your applications? Read our guides on  how to structure a cover letter and  how to write a good cover letter

Problem-solving interview questions and answers

Since problem-solving is such a key skill employers look for, it’s not uncommon for employers to ask you questions about it during an interview. In most cases, they’re trying to fully understand how you have dealt with a situation in the past, so they have an idea of how you would perform and behave if you were to solve a problem as their employee. Here are 10 interview questions about problem-solving that you might be asked at your next interview and examples of how you could respond:

What process do you follow when you identify a problem?

In general, I identify the problem, recognise all the factors influencing the problem I can, consult with someone else to make sure I’m not neglecting any factors, provide several solutions, assess the impact of each solution and select the solution which best solves the problem with minimal negative impact and maximum positive impact. One example of this was when I was part of a university society working to get sponsorship for our events. One local company approached us and suggested sponsoring us, but the company didn’t quite match the ethos of the society. After considering it myself and speaking with other committee members, we decided to go ahead with the sponsorship on the basis that the messaging of the company didn’t clash with or undermine that of the society and the money from the company could be used to do a lot of good in the community we’ve built.

How would you resolve an issue with an unsatisfied customer or client?

When working in retail, I occasionally had to deal with unhappy customers as this is part of the service. One time, a customer came in complaining that they had seen an item on the website but couldn’t find it in-store. I explained that we don’t offer the entire range of items from the website, but the customer was unhappy having travelled to get here. Instead of escalating the issue to my manager, I worked with the customer to find the item they wanted, order it for home delivery and secure them a small discount which they were eligible for but weren’t aware of.

Talk about a situation where you’ve had to change your approach at the last minute

Whilst studying, one of the projects for a module I completed was a group project. My group consisted of four members including myself. We all agreed to collaborate on the task and then set ourselves the task of collecting data on a topic we agreed upon and coming together to combine it into a presentation and practice before the assessment. However, one member of the group became unwell a week before the presentation. Therefore, I was sent all the information that the group member had collected so far, researched deeper into the topic since it’s not my area of expertise, and combined my existing information with the group member’s and my additional research. Overall, we had a very successful presentation which we scored highly in. 

Talk about a time you’ve taken charge when solving a problem

During my time working in retail, my manager left the store to deal with a delivery and my colleague and I stayed to serve customers. During the time my manager was unavailable, one of the tills stopped working, cutting down the number of customers we could serve at one time by half. Instead of running out to get my manager to deal with the issue, I told my colleague to continue serving customers with the working till while I troubleshot the issue, first with my own understanding of the system and then by calling our IT-Support who were able to access the till remotely and resolve the fault.

To summarise, here are the most important pieces of information for you to take away:

• Problem-solving is a highly sought-after skill by employers. You should be able to demonstrate an instance in which you’ve dealt with a problem, either on your own or with a group, to show the employer you have the skill.
• Problem-solving includes several different skills including analytical skills, research skills, decision-making skills, project management skills and assessment skills.
• There are numerous ways for you to improve your problem-solving skills, so don’t feel that you can’t get better.

You can include your problem-solving skills in your CV and cover letter and talk about them in an interview to help you show an employer you’re a great candidate and have the right soft skills for the role. Want to improve on other soft skills? Read our soft skills employers value article. 

Browse thousands of available graduate jobs, schemes and more and demonstrate to employers that you're able to use your problem-solving skills to succeed at interview and in your early career. 

35 problem-solving techniques and methods for solving complex problems

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All teams and organizations encounter challenges as they grow. There are problems that might occur for teams when it comes to miscommunication or resolving business-critical issues . You may face challenges around growth , design , user engagement, and even team culture and happiness. In short, problem-solving techniques should be part of every team’s skillset.

Problem-solving methods are primarily designed to help a group or team through a process of first identifying problems and challenges , ideating possible solutions , and then evaluating the most suitable .

Finding effective solutions to complex problems isn’t easy, but by using the right process and techniques, you can help your team be more efficient in the process.

So how do you develop strategies that are engaging, and empower your team to solve problems effectively?

In this blog post, we share a series of problem-solving tools you can use in your next workshop or team meeting. You’ll also find some tips for facilitating the process and how to enable others to solve complex problems.

Let’s get started! 

How do you identify problems?

How do you identify the right solution.

• Tips for more effective problem-solving

Complete problem-solving methods

• Problem-solving techniques to identify and analyze problems
• Problem-solving techniques for developing solutions

Problem-solving warm-up activities

Closing activities for a problem-solving process.

Before you can move towards finding the right solution for a given problem, you first need to identify and define the problem you wish to solve. 

Here, you want to clearly articulate what the problem is and allow your group to do the same. Remember that everyone in a group is likely to have differing perspectives and alignment is necessary in order to help the group move forward. 

Identifying a problem accurately also requires that all members of a group are able to contribute their views in an open and safe manner. It can be scary for people to stand up and contribute, especially if the problems or challenges are emotive or personal in nature. Be sure to try and create a psychologically safe space for these kinds of discussions.

Remember that problem analysis and further discussion are also important. Not taking the time to fully analyze and discuss a challenge can result in the development of solutions that are not fit for purpose or do not address the underlying issue.

Successfully identifying and then analyzing a problem means facilitating a group through activities designed to help them clearly and honestly articulate their thoughts and produce usable insight.

With this data, you might then produce a problem statement that clearly describes the problem you wish to be addressed and also state the goal of any process you undertake to tackle this issue.  

Finding solutions is the end goal of any process. Complex organizational challenges can only be solved with an appropriate solution but discovering them requires using the right problem-solving tool.

After you’ve explored a problem and discussed ideas, you need to help a team discuss and choose the right solution. Consensus tools and methods such as those below help a group explore possible solutions before then voting for the best. They’re a great way to tap into the collective intelligence of the group for great results!

Remember that the process is often iterative. Great problem solvers often roadtest a viable solution in a measured way to see what works too. While you might not get the right solution on your first try, the methods below help teams land on the most likely to succeed solution while also holding space for improvement.

Every effective problem solving process begins with an agenda . A well-structured workshop is one of the best methods for successfully guiding a group from exploring a problem to implementing a solution.

In SessionLab, it’s easy to go from an idea to a complete agenda . Start by dragging and dropping your core problem solving activities into place . Add timings, breaks and necessary materials before sharing your agenda with your colleagues.

The resulting agenda will be your guide to an effective and productive problem solving session that will also help you stay organized on the day!

Tips for more effective problem solving

Problem-solving activities are only one part of the puzzle. While a great method can help unlock your team’s ability to solve problems, without a thoughtful approach and strong facilitation the solutions may not be fit for purpose.

Let’s take a look at some problem-solving tips you can apply to any process to help it be a success!

Clearly define the problem

Jumping straight to solutions can be tempting, though without first clearly articulating a problem, the solution might not be the right one. Many of the problem-solving activities below include sections where the problem is explored and clearly defined before moving on.

This is a vital part of the problem-solving process and taking the time to fully define an issue can save time and effort later. A clear definition helps identify irrelevant information and it also ensures that your team sets off on the right track.

Don’t jump to conclusions

It’s easy for groups to exhibit cognitive bias or have preconceived ideas about both problems and potential solutions. Be sure to back up any problem statements or potential solutions with facts, research, and adequate forethought.

The best techniques ask participants to be methodical and challenge preconceived notions. Make sure you give the group enough time and space to collect relevant information and consider the problem in a new way. By approaching the process with a clear, rational mindset, you’ll often find that better solutions are more forthcoming.  

Try different approaches  

Problems come in all shapes and sizes and so too should the methods you use to solve them. If you find that one approach isn’t yielding results and your team isn’t finding different solutions, try mixing it up. You’ll be surprised at how using a new creative activity can unblock your team and generate great solutions.

Don’t take it personally 

Depending on the nature of your team or organizational problems, it’s easy for conversations to get heated. While it’s good for participants to be engaged in the discussions, ensure that emotions don’t run too high and that blame isn’t thrown around while finding solutions.

You’re all in it together, and even if your team or area is seeing problems, that isn’t necessarily a disparagement of you personally. Using facilitation skills to manage group dynamics is one effective method of helping conversations be more constructive.

Get the right people in the room

Your problem-solving method is often only as effective as the group using it. Getting the right people on the job and managing the number of people present is important too!

If the group is too small, you may not get enough different perspectives to effectively solve a problem. If the group is too large, you can go round and round during the ideation stages.

Creating the right group makeup is also important in ensuring you have the necessary expertise and skillset to both identify and follow up on potential solutions. Carefully consider who to include at each stage to help ensure your problem-solving method is followed and positioned for success.

Document everything

The best solutions can take refinement, iteration, and reflection to come out. Get into a habit of documenting your process in order to keep all the learnings from the session and to allow ideas to mature and develop. Many of the methods below involve the creation of documents or shared resources. Be sure to keep and share these so everyone can benefit from the work done!

Bring a facilitator 

Facilitation is all about making group processes easier. With a subject as potentially emotive and important as problem-solving, having an impartial third party in the form of a facilitator can make all the difference in finding great solutions and keeping the process moving. Consider bringing a facilitator to your problem-solving session to get better results and generate meaningful solutions!

Develop your problem-solving skills

It takes time and practice to be an effective problem solver. While some roles or participants might more naturally gravitate towards problem-solving, it can take development and planning to help everyone create better solutions.

You might develop a training program, run a problem-solving workshop or simply ask your team to practice using the techniques below. Check out our post on problem-solving skills to see how you and your group can develop the right mental process and be more resilient to issues too!

Design a great agenda

Workshops are a great format for solving problems. With the right approach, you can focus a group and help them find the solutions to their own problems. But designing a process can be time-consuming and finding the right activities can be difficult.

Check out our workshop planning guide to level-up your agenda design and start running more effective workshops. Need inspiration? Check out templates designed by expert facilitators to help you kickstart your process!

In this section, we’ll look at in-depth problem-solving methods that provide a complete end-to-end process for developing effective solutions. These will help guide your team from the discovery and definition of a problem through to delivering the right solution.

If you’re looking for an all-encompassing method or problem-solving model, these processes are a great place to start. They’ll ask your team to challenge preconceived ideas and adopt a mindset for solving problems more effectively.

• Six Thinking Hats
• Lightning Decision Jam
• Problem Definition Process
• Discovery & Action Dialogue

Design Sprint 2.0

• Open Space Technology

1. Six Thinking Hats

Individual approaches to solving a problem can be very different based on what team or role an individual holds. It can be easy for existing biases or perspectives to find their way into the mix, or for internal politics to direct a conversation.

Six Thinking Hats is a classic method for identifying the problems that need to be solved and enables your team to consider them from different angles, whether that is by focusing on facts and data, creative solutions, or by considering why a particular solution might not work.

Like all problem-solving frameworks, Six Thinking Hats is effective at helping teams remove roadblocks from a conversation or discussion and come to terms with all the aspects necessary to solve complex problems.

2. Lightning Decision Jam

Featured courtesy of Jonathan Courtney of AJ&Smart Berlin, Lightning Decision Jam is one of those strategies that should be in every facilitation toolbox. Exploring problems and finding solutions is often creative in nature, though as with any creative process, there is the potential to lose focus and get lost.

Unstructured discussions might get you there in the end, but it’s much more effective to use a method that creates a clear process and team focus.

In Lightning Decision Jam, participants are invited to begin by writing challenges, concerns, or mistakes on post-its without discussing them before then being invited by the moderator to present them to the group.

From there, the team vote on which problems to solve and are guided through steps that will allow them to reframe those problems, create solutions and then decide what to execute on. 

By deciding the problems that need to be solved as a team before moving on, this group process is great for ensuring the whole team is aligned and can take ownership over the next stages. 

Lightning Decision Jam (LDJ)   #action   #decision making   #problem solving   #issue analysis   #innovation   #design   #remote-friendly   The problem with anything that requires creative thinking is that it’s easy to get lost—lose focus and fall into the trap of having useless, open-ended, unstructured discussions. Here’s the most effective solution I’ve found: Replace all open, unstructured discussion with a clear process. What to use this exercise for: Anything which requires a group of people to make decisions, solve problems or discuss challenges. It’s always good to frame an LDJ session with a broad topic, here are some examples: The conversion flow of our checkout Our internal design process How we organise events Keeping up with our competition Improving sales flow

3. Problem Definition Process

While problems can be complex, the problem-solving methods you use to identify and solve those problems can often be simple in design. 

By taking the time to truly identify and define a problem before asking the group to reframe the challenge as an opportunity, this method is a great way to enable change.

Begin by identifying a focus question and exploring the ways in which it manifests before splitting into five teams who will each consider the problem using a different method: escape, reversal, exaggeration, distortion or wishful. Teams develop a problem objective and create ideas in line with their method before then feeding them back to the group.

This method is great for enabling in-depth discussions while also creating space for finding creative solutions too!

Problem Definition   #problem solving   #idea generation   #creativity   #online   #remote-friendly   A problem solving technique to define a problem, challenge or opportunity and to generate ideas.

4. The 5 Whys 

Sometimes, a group needs to go further with their strategies and analyze the root cause at the heart of organizational issues. An RCA or root cause analysis is the process of identifying what is at the heart of business problems or recurring challenges. 

The 5 Whys is a simple and effective method of helping a group go find the root cause of any problem or challenge and conduct analysis that will deliver results. 

By beginning with the creation of a problem statement and going through five stages to refine it, The 5 Whys provides everything you need to truly discover the cause of an issue.

The 5 Whys   #hyperisland   #innovation   This simple and powerful method is useful for getting to the core of a problem or challenge. As the title suggests, the group defines a problems, then asks the question “why” five times, often using the resulting explanation as a starting point for creative problem solving.

5. World Cafe

World Cafe is a simple but powerful facilitation technique to help bigger groups to focus their energy and attention on solving complex problems.

World Cafe enables this approach by creating a relaxed atmosphere where participants are able to self-organize and explore topics relevant and important to them which are themed around a central problem-solving purpose. Create the right atmosphere by modeling your space after a cafe and after guiding the group through the method, let them take the lead!

Making problem-solving a part of your organization’s culture in the long term can be a difficult undertaking. More approachable formats like World Cafe can be especially effective in bringing people unfamiliar with workshops into the fold. 

World Cafe   #hyperisland   #innovation   #issue analysis   World Café is a simple yet powerful method, originated by Juanita Brown, for enabling meaningful conversations driven completely by participants and the topics that are relevant and important to them. Facilitators create a cafe-style space and provide simple guidelines. Participants then self-organize and explore a set of relevant topics or questions for conversation.

6. Discovery & Action Dialogue (DAD)

One of the best approaches is to create a safe space for a group to share and discover practices and behaviors that can help them find their own solutions.

With DAD, you can help a group choose which problems they wish to solve and which approaches they will take to do so. It’s great at helping remove resistance to change and can help get buy-in at every level too!

This process of enabling frontline ownership is great in ensuring follow-through and is one of the methods you will want in your toolbox as a facilitator.

Discovery & Action Dialogue (DAD)   #idea generation   #liberating structures   #action   #issue analysis   #remote-friendly   DADs make it easy for a group or community to discover practices and behaviors that enable some individuals (without access to special resources and facing the same constraints) to find better solutions than their peers to common problems. These are called positive deviant (PD) behaviors and practices. DADs make it possible for people in the group, unit, or community to discover by themselves these PD practices. DADs also create favorable conditions for stimulating participants’ creativity in spaces where they can feel safe to invent new and more effective practices. Resistance to change evaporates as participants are unleashed to choose freely which practices they will adopt or try and which problems they will tackle. DADs make it possible to achieve frontline ownership of solutions.

7. Design Sprint 2.0

Want to see how a team can solve big problems and move forward with prototyping and testing solutions in a few days? The Design Sprint 2.0 template from Jake Knapp, author of Sprint, is a complete agenda for a with proven results.

Developing the right agenda can involve difficult but necessary planning. Ensuring all the correct steps are followed can also be stressful or time-consuming depending on your level of experience.

Use this complete 4-day workshop template if you are finding there is no obvious solution to your challenge and want to focus your team around a specific problem that might require a shortcut to launching a minimum viable product or waiting for the organization-wide implementation of a solution.

8. Open space technology

Open space technology- developed by Harrison Owen – creates a space where large groups are invited to take ownership of their problem solving and lead individual sessions. Open space technology is a great format when you have a great deal of expertise and insight in the room and want to allow for different takes and approaches on a particular theme or problem you need to be solved.

Start by bringing your participants together to align around a central theme and focus their efforts. Explain the ground rules to help guide the problem-solving process and then invite members to identify any issue connecting to the central theme that they are interested in and are prepared to take responsibility for.

Once participants have decided on their approach to the core theme, they write their issue on a piece of paper, announce it to the group, pick a session time and place, and post the paper on the wall. As the wall fills up with sessions, the group is then invited to join the sessions that interest them the most and which they can contribute to, then you’re ready to begin!

Everyone joins the problem-solving group they’ve signed up to, record the discussion and if appropriate, findings can then be shared with the rest of the group afterward.

Open Space Technology   #action plan   #idea generation   #problem solving   #issue analysis   #large group   #online   #remote-friendly   Open Space is a methodology for large groups to create their agenda discerning important topics for discussion, suitable for conferences, community gatherings and whole system facilitation

Techniques to identify and analyze problems

Using a problem-solving method to help a team identify and analyze a problem can be a quick and effective addition to any workshop or meeting.

While further actions are always necessary, you can generate momentum and alignment easily, and these activities are a great place to get started.

We’ve put together this list of techniques to help you and your team with problem identification, analysis, and discussion that sets the foundation for developing effective solutions.

Let’s take a look!

• The Creativity Dice
• Fishbone Analysis
• Problem Tree
• SWOT Analysis
• Agreement-Certainty Matrix
• The Journalistic Six
• LEGO Challenge
• What, So What, Now What?
• Journalists

Individual and group perspectives are incredibly important, but what happens if people are set in their minds and need a change of perspective in order to approach a problem more effectively?

Flip It is a method we love because it is both simple to understand and run, and allows groups to understand how their perspectives and biases are formed. 

Participants in Flip It are first invited to consider concerns, issues, or problems from a perspective of fear and write them on a flip chart. Then, the group is asked to consider those same issues from a perspective of hope and flip their understanding.  

No problem and solution is free from existing bias and by changing perspectives with Flip It, you can then develop a problem solving model quickly and effectively.

Flip It!   #gamestorming   #problem solving   #action   Often, a change in a problem or situation comes simply from a change in our perspectives. Flip It! is a quick game designed to show players that perspectives are made, not born.

10. The Creativity Dice

One of the most useful problem solving skills you can teach your team is of approaching challenges with creativity, flexibility, and openness. Games like The Creativity Dice allow teams to overcome the potential hurdle of too much linear thinking and approach the process with a sense of fun and speed. 

In The Creativity Dice, participants are organized around a topic and roll a dice to determine what they will work on for a period of 3 minutes at a time. They might roll a 3 and work on investigating factual information on the chosen topic. They might roll a 1 and work on identifying the specific goals, standards, or criteria for the session.

Encouraging rapid work and iteration while asking participants to be flexible are great skills to cultivate. Having a stage for idea incubation in this game is also important. Moments of pause can help ensure the ideas that are put forward are the most suitable. 

The Creativity Dice   #creativity   #problem solving   #thiagi   #issue analysis   Too much linear thinking is hazardous to creative problem solving. To be creative, you should approach the problem (or the opportunity) from different points of view. You should leave a thought hanging in mid-air and move to another. This skipping around prevents premature closure and lets your brain incubate one line of thought while you consciously pursue another.

11. Fishbone Analysis

Organizational or team challenges are rarely simple, and it’s important to remember that one problem can be an indication of something that goes deeper and may require further consideration to be solved.

Fishbone Analysis helps groups to dig deeper and understand the origins of a problem. It’s a great example of a root cause analysis method that is simple for everyone on a team to get their head around. 

Participants in this activity are asked to annotate a diagram of a fish, first adding the problem or issue to be worked on at the head of a fish before then brainstorming the root causes of the problem and adding them as bones on the fish. 

Using abstractions such as a diagram of a fish can really help a team break out of their regular thinking and develop a creative approach.

Fishbone Analysis   #problem solving   ##root cause analysis   #decision making   #online facilitation   A process to help identify and understand the origins of problems, issues or observations.

12. Problem Tree 

Encouraging visual thinking can be an essential part of many strategies. By simply reframing and clarifying problems, a group can move towards developing a problem solving model that works for them. 

In Problem Tree, groups are asked to first brainstorm a list of problems – these can be design problems, team problems or larger business problems – and then organize them into a hierarchy. The hierarchy could be from most important to least important or abstract to practical, though the key thing with problem solving games that involve this aspect is that your group has some way of managing and sorting all the issues that are raised.

Once you have a list of problems that need to be solved and have organized them accordingly, you’re then well-positioned for the next problem solving steps.

Problem tree   #define intentions   #create   #design   #issue analysis   A problem tree is a tool to clarify the hierarchy of problems addressed by the team within a design project; it represents high level problems or related sublevel problems.

13. SWOT Analysis

Chances are you’ve heard of the SWOT Analysis before. This problem-solving method focuses on identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats is a tried and tested method for both individuals and teams.

Start by creating a desired end state or outcome and bare this in mind – any process solving model is made more effective by knowing what you are moving towards. Create a quadrant made up of the four categories of a SWOT analysis and ask participants to generate ideas based on each of those quadrants.

Once you have those ideas assembled in their quadrants, cluster them together based on their affinity with other ideas. These clusters are then used to facilitate group conversations and move things forward. 

SWOT analysis   #gamestorming   #problem solving   #action   #meeting facilitation   The SWOT Analysis is a long-standing technique of looking at what we have, with respect to the desired end state, as well as what we could improve on. It gives us an opportunity to gauge approaching opportunities and dangers, and assess the seriousness of the conditions that affect our future. When we understand those conditions, we can influence what comes next.

14. Agreement-Certainty Matrix

Not every problem-solving approach is right for every challenge, and deciding on the right method for the challenge at hand is a key part of being an effective team.

The Agreement Certainty matrix helps teams align on the nature of the challenges facing them. By sorting problems from simple to chaotic, your team can understand what methods are suitable for each problem and what they can do to ensure effective results. 

If you are already using Liberating Structures techniques as part of your problem-solving strategy, the Agreement-Certainty Matrix can be an invaluable addition to your process. We’ve found it particularly if you are having issues with recurring problems in your organization and want to go deeper in understanding the root cause. 

Agreement-Certainty Matrix   #issue analysis   #liberating structures   #problem solving   You can help individuals or groups avoid the frequent mistake of trying to solve a problem with methods that are not adapted to the nature of their challenge. The combination of two questions makes it possible to easily sort challenges into four categories: simple, complicated, complex , and chaotic .  A problem is simple when it can be solved reliably with practices that are easy to duplicate.  It is complicated when experts are required to devise a sophisticated solution that will yield the desired results predictably.  A problem is complex when there are several valid ways to proceed but outcomes are not predictable in detail.  Chaotic is when the context is too turbulent to identify a path forward.  A loose analogy may be used to describe these differences: simple is like following a recipe, complicated like sending a rocket to the moon, complex like raising a child, and chaotic is like the game “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.”  The Liberating Structures Matching Matrix in Chapter 5 can be used as the first step to clarify the nature of a challenge and avoid the mismatches between problems and solutions that are frequently at the root of chronic, recurring problems.

Organizing and charting a team’s progress can be important in ensuring its success. SQUID (Sequential Question and Insight Diagram) is a great model that allows a team to effectively switch between giving questions and answers and develop the skills they need to stay on track throughout the process. 

Begin with two different colored sticky notes – one for questions and one for answers – and with your central topic (the head of the squid) on the board. Ask the group to first come up with a series of questions connected to their best guess of how to approach the topic. Ask the group to come up with answers to those questions, fix them to the board and connect them with a line. After some discussion, go back to question mode by responding to the generated answers or other points on the board.

It’s rewarding to see a diagram grow throughout the exercise, and a completed SQUID can provide a visual resource for future effort and as an example for other teams.

SQUID   #gamestorming   #project planning   #issue analysis   #problem solving   When exploring an information space, it’s important for a group to know where they are at any given time. By using SQUID, a group charts out the territory as they go and can navigate accordingly. SQUID stands for Sequential Question and Insight Diagram.

16. Speed Boat

To continue with our nautical theme, Speed Boat is a short and sweet activity that can help a team quickly identify what employees, clients or service users might have a problem with and analyze what might be standing in the way of achieving a solution.

Methods that allow for a group to make observations, have insights and obtain those eureka moments quickly are invaluable when trying to solve complex problems.

In Speed Boat, the approach is to first consider what anchors and challenges might be holding an organization (or boat) back. Bonus points if you are able to identify any sharks in the water and develop ideas that can also deal with competitors!   

Speed Boat   #gamestorming   #problem solving   #action   Speedboat is a short and sweet way to identify what your employees or clients don’t like about your product/service or what’s standing in the way of a desired goal.

17. The Journalistic Six

Some of the most effective ways of solving problems is by encouraging teams to be more inclusive and diverse in their thinking.

Based on the six key questions journalism students are taught to answer in articles and news stories, The Journalistic Six helps create teams to see the whole picture. By using who, what, when, where, why, and how to facilitate the conversation and encourage creative thinking, your team can make sure that the problem identification and problem analysis stages of the are covered exhaustively and thoughtfully. Reporter’s notebook and dictaphone optional.

The Journalistic Six – Who What When Where Why How   #idea generation   #issue analysis   #problem solving   #online   #creative thinking   #remote-friendly   A questioning method for generating, explaining, investigating ideas.

18. LEGO Challenge

Now for an activity that is a little out of the (toy) box. LEGO Serious Play is a facilitation methodology that can be used to improve creative thinking and problem-solving skills. 

The LEGO Challenge includes giving each member of the team an assignment that is hidden from the rest of the group while they create a structure without speaking.

What the LEGO challenge brings to the table is a fun working example of working with stakeholders who might not be on the same page to solve problems. Also, it’s LEGO! Who doesn’t love LEGO! 

LEGO Challenge   #hyperisland   #team   A team-building activity in which groups must work together to build a structure out of LEGO, but each individual has a secret “assignment” which makes the collaborative process more challenging. It emphasizes group communication, leadership dynamics, conflict, cooperation, patience and problem solving strategy.

19. What, So What, Now What?

If not carefully managed, the problem identification and problem analysis stages of the problem-solving process can actually create more problems and misunderstandings.

The What, So What, Now What? problem-solving activity is designed to help collect insights and move forward while also eliminating the possibility of disagreement when it comes to identifying, clarifying, and analyzing organizational or work problems. 

Facilitation is all about bringing groups together so that might work on a shared goal and the best problem-solving strategies ensure that teams are aligned in purpose, if not initially in opinion or insight.

Throughout the three steps of this game, you give everyone on a team to reflect on a problem by asking what happened, why it is important, and what actions should then be taken. 

This can be a great activity for bringing our individual perceptions about a problem or challenge and contextualizing it in a larger group setting. This is one of the most important problem-solving skills you can bring to your organization.

W³ – What, So What, Now What?   #issue analysis   #innovation   #liberating structures   You can help groups reflect on a shared experience in a way that builds understanding and spurs coordinated action while avoiding unproductive conflict. It is possible for every voice to be heard while simultaneously sifting for insights and shaping new direction. Progressing in stages makes this practical—from collecting facts about What Happened to making sense of these facts with So What and finally to what actions logically follow with Now What . The shared progression eliminates most of the misunderstandings that otherwise fuel disagreements about what to do. Voila!

20. Journalists  

Problem analysis can be one of the most important and decisive stages of all problem-solving tools. Sometimes, a team can become bogged down in the details and are unable to move forward.

Journalists is an activity that can avoid a group from getting stuck in the problem identification or problem analysis stages of the process.

In Journalists, the group is invited to draft the front page of a fictional newspaper and figure out what stories deserve to be on the cover and what headlines those stories will have. By reframing how your problems and challenges are approached, you can help a team move productively through the process and be better prepared for the steps to follow.

Journalists   #vision   #big picture   #issue analysis   #remote-friendly   This is an exercise to use when the group gets stuck in details and struggles to see the big picture. Also good for defining a vision.

Problem-solving techniques for developing solutions 

The success of any problem-solving process can be measured by the solutions it produces. After you’ve defined the issue, explored existing ideas, and ideated, it’s time to narrow down to the correct solution.

Use these problem-solving techniques when you want to help your team find consensus, compare possible solutions, and move towards taking action on a particular problem.

• Improved Solutions
• Four-Step Sketch
• 15% Solutions
• How-Now-Wow matrix
• Impact Effort Matrix

21. Mindspin  

Brainstorming is part of the bread and butter of the problem-solving process and all problem-solving strategies benefit from getting ideas out and challenging a team to generate solutions quickly. 

With Mindspin, participants are encouraged not only to generate ideas but to do so under time constraints and by slamming down cards and passing them on. By doing multiple rounds, your team can begin with a free generation of possible solutions before moving on to developing those solutions and encouraging further ideation. 

This is one of our favorite problem-solving activities and can be great for keeping the energy up throughout the workshop. Remember the importance of helping people become engaged in the process – energizing problem-solving techniques like Mindspin can help ensure your team stays engaged and happy, even when the problems they’re coming together to solve are complex. 

MindSpin   #teampedia   #idea generation   #problem solving   #action   A fast and loud method to enhance brainstorming within a team. Since this activity has more than round ideas that are repetitive can be ruled out leaving more creative and innovative answers to the challenge.

22. Improved Solutions

After a team has successfully identified a problem and come up with a few solutions, it can be tempting to call the work of the problem-solving process complete. That said, the first solution is not necessarily the best, and by including a further review and reflection activity into your problem-solving model, you can ensure your group reaches the best possible result. 

One of a number of problem-solving games from Thiagi Group, Improved Solutions helps you go the extra mile and develop suggested solutions with close consideration and peer review. By supporting the discussion of several problems at once and by shifting team roles throughout, this problem-solving technique is a dynamic way of finding the best solution. 

Improved Solutions   #creativity   #thiagi   #problem solving   #action   #team   You can improve any solution by objectively reviewing its strengths and weaknesses and making suitable adjustments. In this creativity framegame, you improve the solutions to several problems. To maintain objective detachment, you deal with a different problem during each of six rounds and assume different roles (problem owner, consultant, basher, booster, enhancer, and evaluator) during each round. At the conclusion of the activity, each player ends up with two solutions to her problem.

23. Four Step Sketch

Creative thinking and visual ideation does not need to be confined to the opening stages of your problem-solving strategies. Exercises that include sketching and prototyping on paper can be effective at the solution finding and development stage of the process, and can be great for keeping a team engaged. 

By going from simple notes to a crazy 8s round that involves rapidly sketching 8 variations on their ideas before then producing a final solution sketch, the group is able to iterate quickly and visually. Problem-solving techniques like Four-Step Sketch are great if you have a group of different thinkers and want to change things up from a more textual or discussion-based approach.

Four-Step Sketch   #design sprint   #innovation   #idea generation   #remote-friendly   The four-step sketch is an exercise that helps people to create well-formed concepts through a structured process that includes: Review key information Start design work on paper,  Consider multiple variations , Create a detailed solution . This exercise is preceded by a set of other activities allowing the group to clarify the challenge they want to solve. See how the Four Step Sketch exercise fits into a Design Sprint

24. 15% Solutions

Some problems are simpler than others and with the right problem-solving activities, you can empower people to take immediate actions that can help create organizational change. 

Part of the liberating structures toolkit, 15% solutions is a problem-solving technique that focuses on finding and implementing solutions quickly. A process of iterating and making small changes quickly can help generate momentum and an appetite for solving complex problems.

Problem-solving strategies can live and die on whether people are onboard. Getting some quick wins is a great way of getting people behind the process.   

It can be extremely empowering for a team to realize that problem-solving techniques can be deployed quickly and easily and delineate between things they can positively impact and those things they cannot change. 

15% Solutions   #action   #liberating structures   #remote-friendly   You can reveal the actions, however small, that everyone can do immediately. At a minimum, these will create momentum, and that may make a BIG difference.  15% Solutions show that there is no reason to wait around, feel powerless, or fearful. They help people pick it up a level. They get individuals and the group to focus on what is within their discretion instead of what they cannot change.  With a very simple question, you can flip the conversation to what can be done and find solutions to big problems that are often distributed widely in places not known in advance. Shifting a few grains of sand may trigger a landslide and change the whole landscape.

25. How-Now-Wow Matrix

The problem-solving process is often creative, as complex problems usually require a change of thinking and creative response in order to find the best solutions. While it’s common for the first stages to encourage creative thinking, groups can often gravitate to familiar solutions when it comes to the end of the process. 

When selecting solutions, you don’t want to lose your creative energy! The How-Now-Wow Matrix from Gamestorming is a great problem-solving activity that enables a group to stay creative and think out of the box when it comes to selecting the right solution for a given problem.

Problem-solving techniques that encourage creative thinking and the ideation and selection of new solutions can be the most effective in organisational change. Give the How-Now-Wow Matrix a go, and not just for how pleasant it is to say out loud. 

How-Now-Wow Matrix   #gamestorming   #idea generation   #remote-friendly   When people want to develop new ideas, they most often think out of the box in the brainstorming or divergent phase. However, when it comes to convergence, people often end up picking ideas that are most familiar to them. This is called a ‘creative paradox’ or a ‘creadox’. The How-Now-Wow matrix is an idea selection tool that breaks the creadox by forcing people to weigh each idea on 2 parameters.

26. Impact and Effort Matrix

All problem-solving techniques hope to not only find solutions to a given problem or challenge but to find the best solution. When it comes to finding a solution, groups are invited to put on their decision-making hats and really think about how a proposed idea would work in practice. 

The Impact and Effort Matrix is one of the problem-solving techniques that fall into this camp, empowering participants to first generate ideas and then categorize them into a 2×2 matrix based on impact and effort.

Activities that invite critical thinking while remaining simple are invaluable. Use the Impact and Effort Matrix to move from ideation and towards evaluating potential solutions before then committing to them. 

Impact and Effort Matrix   #gamestorming   #decision making   #action   #remote-friendly   In this decision-making exercise, possible actions are mapped based on two factors: effort required to implement and potential impact. Categorizing ideas along these lines is a useful technique in decision making, as it obliges contributors to balance and evaluate suggested actions before committing to them.

27. Dotmocracy

If you’ve followed each of the problem-solving steps with your group successfully, you should move towards the end of your process with heaps of possible solutions developed with a specific problem in mind. But how do you help a group go from ideation to putting a solution into action? 

Dotmocracy – or Dot Voting -is a tried and tested method of helping a team in the problem-solving process make decisions and put actions in place with a degree of oversight and consensus. 

One of the problem-solving techniques that should be in every facilitator’s toolbox, Dot Voting is fast and effective and can help identify the most popular and best solutions and help bring a group to a decision effectively. 

Dotmocracy   #action   #decision making   #group prioritization   #hyperisland   #remote-friendly   Dotmocracy is a simple method for group prioritization or decision-making. It is not an activity on its own, but a method to use in processes where prioritization or decision-making is the aim. The method supports a group to quickly see which options are most popular or relevant. The options or ideas are written on post-its and stuck up on a wall for the whole group to see. Each person votes for the options they think are the strongest, and that information is used to inform a decision.

All facilitators know that warm-ups and icebreakers are useful for any workshop or group process. Problem-solving workshops are no different.

Use these problem-solving techniques to warm up a group and prepare them for the rest of the process. Activating your group by tapping into some of the top problem-solving skills can be one of the best ways to see great outcomes from your session.

• Check-in/Check-out
• Doodling Together
• Show and Tell
• Constellations
• Draw a Tree

28. Check-in / Check-out

Solid processes are planned from beginning to end, and the best facilitators know that setting the tone and establishing a safe, open environment can be integral to a successful problem-solving process.

Check-in / Check-out is a great way to begin and/or bookend a problem-solving workshop. Checking in to a session emphasizes that everyone will be seen, heard, and expected to contribute. 

If you are running a series of meetings, setting a consistent pattern of checking in and checking out can really help your team get into a groove. We recommend this opening-closing activity for small to medium-sized groups though it can work with large groups if they’re disciplined!

Check-in / Check-out   #team   #opening   #closing   #hyperisland   #remote-friendly   Either checking-in or checking-out is a simple way for a team to open or close a process, symbolically and in a collaborative way. Checking-in/out invites each member in a group to be present, seen and heard, and to express a reflection or a feeling. Checking-in emphasizes presence, focus and group commitment; checking-out emphasizes reflection and symbolic closure.

29. Doodling Together  

Thinking creatively and not being afraid to make suggestions are important problem-solving skills for any group or team, and warming up by encouraging these behaviors is a great way to start. 

Doodling Together is one of our favorite creative ice breaker games – it’s quick, effective, and fun and can make all following problem-solving steps easier by encouraging a group to collaborate visually. By passing cards and adding additional items as they go, the workshop group gets into a groove of co-creation and idea development that is crucial to finding solutions to problems. 

Doodling Together   #collaboration   #creativity   #teamwork   #fun   #team   #visual methods   #energiser   #icebreaker   #remote-friendly   Create wild, weird and often funny postcards together & establish a group’s creative confidence.

30. Show and Tell

You might remember some version of Show and Tell from being a kid in school and it’s a great problem-solving activity to kick off a session.

Asking participants to prepare a little something before a workshop by bringing an object for show and tell can help them warm up before the session has even begun! Games that include a physical object can also help encourage early engagement before moving onto more big-picture thinking.

By asking your participants to tell stories about why they chose to bring a particular item to the group, you can help teams see things from new perspectives and see both differences and similarities in the way they approach a topic. Great groundwork for approaching a problem-solving process as a team! 

Show and Tell   #gamestorming   #action   #opening   #meeting facilitation   Show and Tell taps into the power of metaphors to reveal players’ underlying assumptions and associations around a topic The aim of the game is to get a deeper understanding of stakeholders’ perspectives on anything—a new project, an organizational restructuring, a shift in the company’s vision or team dynamic.

31. Constellations

Who doesn’t love stars? Constellations is a great warm-up activity for any workshop as it gets people up off their feet, energized, and ready to engage in new ways with established topics. It’s also great for showing existing beliefs, biases, and patterns that can come into play as part of your session.

Using warm-up games that help build trust and connection while also allowing for non-verbal responses can be great for easing people into the problem-solving process and encouraging engagement from everyone in the group. Constellations is great in large spaces that allow for movement and is definitely a practical exercise to allow the group to see patterns that are otherwise invisible. 

Constellations   #trust   #connection   #opening   #coaching   #patterns   #system   Individuals express their response to a statement or idea by standing closer or further from a central object. Used with teams to reveal system, hidden patterns, perspectives.

32. Draw a Tree

Problem-solving games that help raise group awareness through a central, unifying metaphor can be effective ways to warm-up a group in any problem-solving model.

Draw a Tree is a simple warm-up activity you can use in any group and which can provide a quick jolt of energy. Start by asking your participants to draw a tree in just 45 seconds – they can choose whether it will be abstract or realistic. 

Once the timer is up, ask the group how many people included the roots of the tree and use this as a means to discuss how we can ignore important parts of any system simply because they are not visible.

All problem-solving strategies are made more effective by thinking of problems critically and by exposing things that may not normally come to light. Warm-up games like Draw a Tree are great in that they quickly demonstrate some key problem-solving skills in an accessible and effective way.

Draw a Tree   #thiagi   #opening   #perspectives   #remote-friendly   With this game you can raise awarness about being more mindful, and aware of the environment we live in.

Each step of the problem-solving workshop benefits from an intelligent deployment of activities, games, and techniques. Bringing your session to an effective close helps ensure that solutions are followed through on and that you also celebrate what has been achieved.

Here are some problem-solving activities you can use to effectively close a workshop or meeting and ensure the great work you’ve done can continue afterward.

• One Breath Feedback
• Who What When Matrix
• Response Cards

How do I conclude a problem-solving process?

All good things must come to an end. With the bulk of the work done, it can be tempting to conclude your workshop swiftly and without a moment to debrief and align. This can be problematic in that it doesn’t allow your team to fully process the results or reflect on the process.

At the end of an effective session, your team will have gone through a process that, while productive, can be exhausting. It’s important to give your group a moment to take a breath, ensure that they are clear on future actions, and provide short feedback before leaving the space. 

The primary purpose of any problem-solving method is to generate solutions and then implement them. Be sure to take the opportunity to ensure everyone is aligned and ready to effectively implement the solutions you produced in the workshop.

Remember that every process can be improved and by giving a short moment to collect feedback in the session, you can further refine your problem-solving methods and see further success in the future too.

33. One Breath Feedback

Maintaining attention and focus during the closing stages of a problem-solving workshop can be tricky and so being concise when giving feedback can be important. It’s easy to incur “death by feedback” should some team members go on for too long sharing their perspectives in a quick feedback round. 

One Breath Feedback is a great closing activity for workshops. You give everyone an opportunity to provide feedback on what they’ve done but only in the space of a single breath. This keeps feedback short and to the point and means that everyone is encouraged to provide the most important piece of feedback to them. 

One breath feedback   #closing   #feedback   #action   This is a feedback round in just one breath that excels in maintaining attention: each participants is able to speak during just one breath … for most people that’s around 20 to 25 seconds … unless of course you’ve been a deep sea diver in which case you’ll be able to do it for longer.

34. Who What When Matrix 

Matrices feature as part of many effective problem-solving strategies and with good reason. They are easily recognizable, simple to use, and generate results.

The Who What When Matrix is a great tool to use when closing your problem-solving session by attributing a who, what and when to the actions and solutions you have decided upon. The resulting matrix is a simple, easy-to-follow way of ensuring your team can move forward. 

Great solutions can’t be enacted without action and ownership. Your problem-solving process should include a stage for allocating tasks to individuals or teams and creating a realistic timeframe for those solutions to be implemented or checked out. Use this method to keep the solution implementation process clear and simple for all involved. 

Who/What/When Matrix   #gamestorming   #action   #project planning   With Who/What/When matrix, you can connect people with clear actions they have defined and have committed to.

35. Response cards

Group discussion can comprise the bulk of most problem-solving activities and by the end of the process, you might find that your team is talked out! 

Providing a means for your team to give feedback with short written notes can ensure everyone is head and can contribute without the need to stand up and talk. Depending on the needs of the group, giving an alternative can help ensure everyone can contribute to your problem-solving model in the way that makes the most sense for them.

Response Cards is a great way to close a workshop if you are looking for a gentle warm-down and want to get some swift discussion around some of the feedback that is raised. 

Response Cards   #debriefing   #closing   #structured sharing   #questions and answers   #thiagi   #action   It can be hard to involve everyone during a closing of a session. Some might stay in the background or get unheard because of louder participants. However, with the use of Response Cards, everyone will be involved in providing feedback or clarify questions at the end of a session.

Save time and effort discovering the right solutions

A structured problem solving process is a surefire way of solving tough problems, discovering creative solutions and driving organizational change. But how can you design for successful outcomes?

With SessionLab, it’s easy to design engaging workshops that deliver results. Drag, drop and reorder blocks  to build your agenda. When you make changes or update your agenda, your session  timing   adjusts automatically , saving you time on manual adjustments.

Collaborating with stakeholders or clients? Share your agenda with a single click and collaborate in real-time. No more sending documents back and forth over email.

Explore  how to use SessionLab  to design effective problem solving workshops or  watch this five minute video  to see the planner in action!

Over to you

The problem-solving process can often be as complicated and multifaceted as the problems they are set-up to solve. With the right problem-solving techniques and a mix of creative exercises designed to guide discussion and generate purposeful ideas, we hope we’ve given you the tools to find the best solutions as simply and easily as possible.

Is there a problem-solving technique that you are missing here? Do you have a favorite activity or method you use when facilitating? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you! 

thank you very much for these excellent techniques

Certainly wonderful article, very detailed. Shared!

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27 Growth Mindset Examples

A growth mindset is a way of thinking that starts from the belief that you can always improve upon yourself through effort over time.

The growth mindset concept was created by psychologist Carol Dweck, who conducted extensive research on the different ways people perceive intelligence and ability.

Dweck’s achievement goal theory work identified two main perspectives:

• Fixed mindset : From her research, she identified that many people have a fixed mindset. These people believe that intelligence and talent are innate and unchangeable. This mindset leads them to avoid challenges and they tend to lack resilience when faced with obstacles.
• Growth mindset: In contrast, Dweck identified people with a growth mindset, who believed they could grow their intelligence and abilities through effort, persistence, iteration (Dweck, 2006).

Below are a series of growth mindset examples that demonstrate the ways people with growth mindsets think.

Growth Mindset Examples

• Embracing challenges: A person with a growth mindset views challenges as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles to be avoided. If something hard comes up in their life, they think about what they might benefit from the experience.
• Persistence through setbacks: Those with a growth mindset understand that setbacks are a natural part of the learning process, and use these experiences to reflect, adapt, and ultimately persevere in their pursuits.
• Embracing failure as a learning opportunity: A growth mindset reframes failure as an essential component of the learning process, enabling individuals to extract valuable lessons from setbacks and apply them to future endeavors (Shechtman et al., 2013).
• Effort as a path to mastery: Growth mindsets acknowledge that hard work is necessary, but they also see that it pays off. Only with hard work and sustained effort , can you achieving mastery. A person with a growth mindset knows the importance of continuous hard work and dedication to their goals.
• Learning from critique: Too many of my students see critical feedback as a horrible thing. But the point of critique is to identify your weaknesses so you can work on them. By getting yourself in the mindset that feedback is a valuable tool for improvement, you can begin to use that constructive criticism as an opportunity to learn more about yourself and how you can get better.
• Internal locus of control: Locus of control refers to who you think is in control of your success – you, or your environment? People with an external locus of control blame external factors for their failures. People with an internal locus of control believe they’re always able to influence the outcomes for their own personal development.
• Embracing mentorship : If you’ve got a growth mindset, you’re looking for ways to improve . So, one thing you can do is seek out a mentor who can give you guidance and support along your journey. This could be a teacher, parent, peer, or someone you admire and respect. Ideally, they’ve been down the path you want to head down so they can give you good advice.
• One step at a time: Sometimes, fixed mindsets are rooted in the fact that improvement seems too hard. It’s a gigantic task. But growth mindset people don’t let that bother them. They look down and think about the first step they need to take to conquer the mountain.
• Reframing: You need to be able to reframe any negative situation by looking at things you can learn from it. If you’ve got a growth mindset, you are excellent at reframing something to find the positive such as the learning experience you can get out of it.
• Divergent Thinking : Divergent thinking refers to the ability to think about multiple possible answers or solutions. Often, a person with a fixed mindset fails to be able to see all the possibilities they have in front of them to achieve success (see: functional fixedness ). They need to start using their divergent thinking skills to consider all the possibilities for achieving success in their pursuits!
• Failing fast: The concept of failing fast refers to the idea that you should take action on an idea because that’s the only way you’ll see if it works or not. This mindset is all about overcoming procrastination and being quick to implement with the idea that you can iterate on your imperfections over time.
• The power of “yet”: The growth mindset embraces the concept of “yet” – acknowledging that while a skill or understanding may not be present currently, it can be developed over time through dedication and effort.
• Curiosity-driven exploration: Individuals with a growth mindset exhibit an insatiable curiosity, seeking out new experiences and knowledge to expand their horizons and enrich their understanding of the world.
• Readiness to change your mind: A fixed mindset literally means that your mind is fixed . In other words, you’re not willing to change (and don’t think you can). But people with growth mindsets are excited about the idea of having their minds changed with new evidence or insights because that’s a sign of growth .
• Belief in the potential of others: A growth mindset involves recognizing the capacity for growth in others, fostering supportive and encouraging relationships that promote collective success.
• Journaling: Many people with growth mindsets keep daily journals to help them reflect on their work and seek improvement. By writing and reflecting on your day, you can come up with ideas for how to make a little effort and do a little better the next day.
• Flexibility in problem-solving : A growth mindset enables individuals to approach problems with a flexible mindset, considering multiple perspectives and strategies in order to identify the most effective solution.
• Commitment to lifelong learning: Embodying a growth mindset entails a lifelong commitment to learning and self-improvement , understanding that there is always room for growth and development in both personal and professional spheres.
• Emphasizing process over results: A growth mindset encourages focusing on the learning process and valuing the journey, rather than solely fixating on outcomes, fostering resilience and adaptability (Dweck, 2010).
• The first draft mindset: This is a mindset I teach to my students when writing essays. It’s about getting your first draft done then seeking formative feedback from your teacher and improving on the draft incrementally over the next few weeks. Here, you’re focused on improvement, believing that with feedback and effort, that draft can become an A+ essay in the end.
• Self-regulated learning: Zimmerman (2002) highlights the importance of self-regulated learning, which involves setting personal goals , monitoring progress, and adjusting strategies – skills that are nurtured through a growth mindset.
• High Expectations : High expectations isn’t about expecting yourself to be the best or be perfect. It’s about expecting yourself to do your best and put your best effort into it, no matter the outcome or odds.
• Valuing effort rather than ability: Research by Mueller & Dweck (1998) suggests that praising effort rather than innate ability leads to increased motivation and perseverance, fostering a growth mindset in individuals.
• Developing a sense of purpose: A growth mindset supports the cultivation of a sense of purpose, motivating individuals to align their efforts with personally meaningful objectives (Yeager & Bundick, 2009).
• Cultivating a learning-oriented culture: Organizations that promote a growth mindset create a culture where continuous learning, innovation, and experimentation are encouraged and rewarded, leading to increased adaptability (Keating & Heslin, 2015).
• Openness to interdisciplinary approaches: A growth mindset fosters a willingness to explore interdisciplinary approaches, understanding that complex problems often require the integration of knowledge and skills from multiple fields (Klein, 2008).
• Minimum viable product concept: One of my favorite growth mindset examples is that of the minimum viable product. This happens when entrepreneurs release version 1 of their product before it’s perfect for beta users. They then use feedback from those users to build on and improve their product. Here, we can see they’re not focused on perfection but on improvement through feedback.

Traits of People with Fixed Mindsets

• Self-awareness
• Persistence
• Self-belief
• Reflectiveness
• Seekers of feedback
• Collaborators
• Action takers
• Lifelong learners
• Intrinsically motivated
• Focused on Learning Goals (enjoys process rather than outcome)

Note that ‘intelligent’ isn’t one of the traits!

Table: Growth vs Fixed Mindsets

Criticism of the growth mindset concept.

While I find this concept very valuable for personal development, there are clear limitations.

For example, in my own personal life, I have a growth mindset when it comes to academic work and entrepreneurship. I’m a very driven person from this perspective.

But when it comes to exercise and daily workouts, I struggle. I find myself blaming injuries or lack of time.

The obvious observation here is: mindsets are contextual . We may have a fixed mindset in one situation or on one day, and a growth mindset the next.

This also leads me to wonder where my mindsets come from: why do I have a fixed mindset in one situation and a growth mindset elsewhere? Is this innate in me? What would it take to develop a growth mindset when it comes to exercise, and why am I finding it so hard to develop it?

How to Start Developing a Growth Mindset

I’ve just mentioned that I struggle with fixed mindsets in some areas of my life, while I have a strong growth mindset in other areas. So, I’m no expert. But here, I’ll rely on some of the great information I’ve gleaned from books like The Gap and the Gain and Atomic Habits .

1. Look at how far you’ve come

This strategy involves looking back at your past successes to help you realize that you have the ability to grow and improve.

This idea comes from the book The Gap and the Gain . In this book, Dan Sullivan explains that you’ll never be happy if you look forward at how hard it is to reach your goals.

The best thing to do is to look back and how far you’ve already come.

This will give you perspective: you can achieve, get better, and see success. All you need is to put in the work day by day and you’ll continue down your path.

It’s a reminder that the growth mindset concept is correct: improvement is possible.

2. Failure Fridays

People with growth mindsets embrace failure. They’re not scared of it. Sadly, our society sends the wrong message about this – far too often.

As a teacher, I used to do a lesson each Friday called “Failure Fridays”. This lesson involves sitting down and talking with my class about famous people who failed multiple times before they succeeded.

A classic example is JK Rowling who submitted Harry Potter to 14 different potential publishers before her book was accepted.

These lessons teach students that failure isn’t a bad thing. We need to fail to learn lessons so we can succeed later on. We need to get back up and persist in order to succeed in life.

3. Take it One Task at a Time

This strategy involves not focusing on the overwhelming task ahead of you and, instead, focusing on the first small task in front of you.

James Clear in Atomic Habits give an ancedote of going to the gym (just what I need!). Don’t think about how hard the gym will be, or how much it will hurt.

Instead, just focus on getting out of bed. What’s the first thing to do? Pull your foot out from under the blankets. Then sit up, then put pants on. Just break it down to the simplest steps.

Then, before long, you’ll realize you’re at the gym working away.

Chunking your tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks makes it more achievable and feel less like you can’t do it – which is the fixed mindset you want to avoid!

Growth mindsets can get you a long way in life. I believe having a growth mindset it more important than having intelligence or natural talent. It’s what makes people great. Growth mindset examples can include embracing peer feedback , believing you can improve with effort, and persisting through setbacks.

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 50 Durable Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 100 Consumer Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 30 Globalization Pros and Cons

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