The Genius Problem Solver is the Logical Problem Solver

Problem-solving is as much a creative endeavor as a logical progression. I sit in on meetings occasionally and see individuals digging deep into their minds for possible solutions. While this can and does occasionally produce excellent paths forward, it is more often distracting and misses the best solution.

One of the first things to realize about Problem Solving is that it is less about throwing brainstorming ideas on a board, and more about walking down a decision tree split into mutually exclusive and completely exhaustive options or buckets. That is to say, all possible options are covered, and no options intersect.

Problem-solving looks more like…

… and less like …

So before throwing brilliant ideas out on why sales are down or how to go about fixing a quality issue, walk through a logical progression listing the possibilities. As long as you do so in a MECE way, the buckets shouldn’t matter.

While this is just a general example, notice each branch includes all possibilities by using yes/no questions. There are further steps like estimating bucket sizes and percents, validating those estimates, and drawing action plans based on the conclusions, but if you start here, you will notice a huge increase in your outcomes.