What are Problem Solving Skills? Definition, Examples and Steps to learn

Problem solving skills involve identifying problems, analyzing and understanding them, and finding out the appropriate solutions for them. By developing problem solving skills, you can reach the origin of the problem and find an effective way to deal with it. 

An employee who has excellent problem solving skills can be a valuable asset to the company as he can prove to be an ideal self-starter. Problem solving skills require acting in a proactive manner and not waiting for the events to actually happen.

Problem solving skills are the skills that recruiters look for while searching for applicants for their organization. It is a practical skill that you can develop through soft skills. 

In this blog, we will take an in-depth look at problem solving skills, understanding why they are important through examples and applications. Read along to know key techniques and examples.

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What is the Importance of Problem Solving Skills?

Problem solving skills are crucial in almost every aspect of your career. You can solve the problems of your organization in a fast manner that too effectively by using problem solving skills. 

The importance of problem solving skills in the workplace is massive. Employees who have problem solving skills can tackle the arduous situations of the company quickly. It helps the company in time management and designing effective strategies for making your work simpler. 

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Let’s take a look at the various ways in which problem solving skills can be helpful: 

1. Design Effective Strategies 

Problem solving skills enable you to design strategies and also implement them in a proper manner. It helps the organization to take action in advance and deal with any kind of uncertainty. It also ensures that the company is not just surviving on luck and is performing well in the industry.

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2. Manage the Time Effectively 

Effective time management is yet another important aspect of problem-solving skills. This benefit can seriously help you to learn ways to manage your time and prioritize your important tasks. It will help you to make decisions for your business in a better way.

Know more about these 15 Ways to Improve Your Time Management Skills [With Actionable Tips]

3. Think Creatively 

Problem solving techniques help you to stand out from the crowd. It signifies that you are doing something unique from all the other competitors in the market. It can help to generate better results for the organization and push you to seek creative solutions to the problem at hand.

4. Manage Workload 

Managing workload is a major need to handle day-to-day tasks and targets. Problem solving skills help you to work under 5. Enhance Communication Skills 

The communication skills of an employee are also improved upon developing problem solving skills. It helps to transfer the message to the entire group with clarity and avoid any confusion or misunderstanding. This also helps in time-saving and efficiency of operations.

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What are Some Problem- Solving Skills Examples?

Let’s now understand this whole concept with actual and applied uses. Here are some top problem-solving skills examples based on different areas of impact:

1. Research - Research involves the study and consideration of the past trends and patterns of your business operations. It helps in experimenting with new business products. Research provides various thinking prospects and imagination to solve various problems.
2. Analysis - A thorough analysis of a particular situation can help to determine the root cause of the problem and the logical reasons attached to it. You can also find out the answers to why the problem occurred, the effects of the problem on your business, and the effective solutions to overcome them.
3. Decision Making - Decision-making is another skill that a business can use along with problem solving skills. It involves the ability to take strategic decisions for the company and have confidence in your decision. It gives successful outcomes on all the major decisions of the business through strategic decision-making techniques.
4. Communication - It involves listening skills and speaking skills. All active listeners tend to be excellent problem solvers. It is because half of the battle is won if you have listened and properly understood the problem. The ability to pass complex information clearly and concisely is quite important for the smooth functioning of a team.

Enroll in this Complete Guide to Problem Solving Skills and master this key soft skills for free!

How to Include Problem Solving Skills in a Job Application?

Highlighting in your resume your ability to solve a problem quickly can improve your chances of selection. It is the quality that the company looks for in a candidate. Showing them your skill of problem solving in your resume can act as a cherry on the cake. There are various ways through which you can list out problem solving skills in your resume. Below listed are some of the problem solving steps that you can follow to stand out:

1. Show it in your work history – You can mention in your ‘work history’ section, the times when you have used problem solving skills and contributed to the organization. You can mention that you have saved the company’s time and resources by using your problem solving skills. This will show that you have contributed to the company by increasing its revenue.
2. Mention the Skills that are branches of problem solving Skills – Instead of writing problem solving skills directly, you can even mention this indirectly in your ‘skills’ section. You can mention skills like logical analysis, thoughtful planning, and efficient communication. 
3. Modify Your Educational Background – You should include an educational background in your resume with specifications in problem solving skills. Here also, you can include these skills indirectly. You can mention points such as how you have used these skills in your educational career. This will add value to your resume and will highlight you among all the other candidates.

How to Improve Problem Solving Skills?

We have learned the importance of problem solving skills, but how do we develop and improve these skills? Let’s list some key steps by which you can improve your problem solving skills.

Step 1: Identify Key Problems First

• The first and the most important step to improve your problem solving skills is to identify what the problem is. Find out the reason for the problem. 
• Use some problem solving techniques to make it simple and clear. You must also make decisions about what you can do to improve the current situation of your company.

Step 2: Think of Digital Solutions

• The clients and employers of the organization give more importance to digital problem solving skills. This is because digital solutions are more beneficial and easy to implement in today’s era. 
• You must get comfortable with the new tech and try out new technologies and automate business processes. 

Step 3: Collaborate With Others

• Problem solving techniques can never be successful if done solely. You should collaborate with the entire team and welcome their reviews and suggestions. It helps in maintaining better team relationships and enhances communicative value also. 
• You must engage with others and ask them the possible solutions to the problems. Finally, stick to the solution that is accepted by all the people.

Step 4: Adapt to the Current Situation

• We all have accepted certain things over the past few years and have adapted to various things that are constantly changing and developing. You must always be open to the problems and suggestions that your colleague provides you
• You just do not stick to a particular routine and make adjustments where necessary. You must learn to get out of your comfort zone and try innovative ideas for your business.

Step 5: Face Difficult Challenges Head On 

• Problem solving skills help you to face challenging situations with ease. It gives you relevant exposure and experience to deal with problems
• By challenging yourself, you will learn new ways to tackle the problem and navigate through various ideas.

Conclusion

Problem solving skills help you to find a way to solve the problem and act proactively. It is a skill that is highly demanded in the workplace. Companies are always in search of people who can make their complex tasks easy and can provide problem solving techniques to deal with them. 

You must learn to collaborate with the team to make a better way for the organization and develop problem solving skills. If you want to explore various online learning courses that offer flexible learning, you can check out upGrad’s vast range of skills courses. 

At upGrad, we aim to provide you with a targeted upskilling experience so that you can get high-paying roles or transition to a new field of your choice.

You might also want to explore our range of Free Management Courses and find beginner-friendly learning options. 

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Reference:
https://www.imarcgroup.com/soft-skills-training-market