You’re managing a team that’s facing a problem. How can you develop their problem-solving skills?

Absolutely. Asking why 5 times is the crux of Root Cause Analysis (RCA). In 99% cases it will be really difficult to reach the 5th why? One who practices and try to reach the 5th why actually end up solving the problem from core.

In my experience, it’s starts from our contractual obligations Vs the challenges. I would ask team to define following: 1. The end goal. 2. Key challenges 3. 3 ideas to be proposed against each challenge. 4. Check the feasibility of each idea w.r.t time, resource and cost. 5. Short list the best possible way forward. 6. Bring all stakeholders together as per the final idea. 7. Define milestones. 8. Define timelines for each milestone. 9. Define the milestone owners to keep the tab on the progress. 10. Implement review mechanism to assess the progress with plan.

I ask a simple question multiple times (with variations as needed): Why is this a problem? Who does it bother and how? How do you know it’s a pain? What are you not able to do right/ better? Just apply the 5Why again and again to every answer till you go nowhere anymore. The first answer and the last one often are unrecognisable from each other. The last few answers are the real problem and should give maximum clarity.

Problem identification requires deep understanding across several factors to find the root of the problem. These include data, facts about People, Product, Partners, Purpose and Profit (5Ps). Don't be afraid to ask as many questions to as many people as possible to identify the root of the problem. Go deeper by asking why, the why of the whys. Many times, you should be able to identify the problem correctly after mapping the answers you received across the 5Ps.

Problem solving can be a lot effective if there's no pressure to implement a solution even before the problem is actually understood. The complexities can vary greatly depending on whether it's situational, or if it involves interpersonal dynamics. Many a time, it becomes important to step outside and observe, whereas, at certain times, it works only when you get your hands dirty. Infact, some leaders prefer to not touch a problem out of turn or blow it out of proportion, trusting the teams to try resolving it on their own. In other cases, leaders may prefer a proactive hint about what is brewing to strategize solutions. Showing direction to tackle a problem is key to letting the team experience and learn rather than being overprotective.

Empower your team's problem-solving prowess by fostering a culture of solution evaluation. Encourage diverse perspectives, prompt critical thinking, and provide a platform for open discussions on proposed solutions. This not only sharpens their analytical skills but also promotes collaborative problem-solving. Emphasize the importance of weighing pros and cons, considering alternatives, and collectively deciding on the most viable solution. Developing a team that evaluates solutions systematically enhances their problem-solving capabilities and drives innovative outcomes.

Where possible, test the new solutions. It will be ideal to test the solutions, this can include testing with consumers via research, with customers through interviews, or in store using point of sale data to measure effectiveness of the solutions.

In my experience, it makes sense to evaluate the solutions in terms of cost/impact, as there are always some quick wins you can turn around. Win/loss analysis of implementing/not implementing a solution is also a great way to understand what truly matters to your team - what they can or absolutely cannot live with(out) And for a complex problem, I would always recommend selecting a variety of solutions to be tested at the same time (assuming they don’t conflict with one another) - to make sure you achieve business impact at a reasonable timeframe

Les solutions ayant étés trouvées il faut maintenant faire un rapport bénéfice risque sur chaque parties du problèmes en juger la plus opportune pour faire face à la problématique.

Risk and impact analysis. if more than one solution then parallel testing of solution within stipulated time to find resource and cost analysis. And keeping the quality in mind for sure.

Execute chosen solutions with SMART goals, clear roles and action plans. Monitor progress, communicate with stakeholders and provide support for effective implementation.

It's important to clearly communicate the solution to relevant stakeholders, including team members, supervisors, and other affected parties. Seeking their support and feedback provides a sense of ownership and collaboration, increasing the likelihood of successful implementation.. Providing the team with the necessary resources, guidance, and motivation is essential for overcoming obstacles and staying motivated throughout the implementation process. This may include providing training, access to tools and technology, or offering support and encouragement as needed.

La mise en oeuvre est la partie qui va juger si la solution pensée répond bien au problème posé initialement. ll sera parfois nécessaire de faire quelques ajustements en conduite.

While Implementation is key to success, identifying the right team members, right tools, periodical status update from the team, evaluating the progress, understand the minor challenges that crop up in the meanwhile, communication within Team members, considering feedback from other team members, feasible smart ways to actions are some of the process points for effective implementation

Implementing solutions requires meticulous planning and execution. Set SMART goals, assign roles, create action plans, and monitor progress. Communicate with stakeholders, provide support, and motivate your team for effective implementation.

Reviewing results is pivotal in the problem-solving journey. Measure outcomes, assess impacts, and identify successes and challenges. Encourage team reflection and feedback, using tools like surveys and interviews. Through this process, foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement, enhancing problem-solving skills and team confidence.

La mesure des résultats peut se mesurer par des KPI ou indicateurs de performance, c'est obligatoire pour s'assurer que les résultats obtenus sont en adéquation avec la solution proposée et réponds bien au problème initial.

Evaluate outcomes, successes and challenges. Encourage team reflection and learning from the experience. Foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement

Monitor and Adjust: Regularly check on the progress and make adjustments as necessary. It's important to be flexible and responsive to new challenges. Celebrate Successes: Acknowledge and celebrate when objectives are met. This boosts morale and reinforces the value of the team's effort.

Before implementing a solution, establish clear success metrics and objectives. These metrics should be measurable and aligned with the goals of the problem-solving effort. Throughout the implementation of the solution, collect relevant data and information related to the problem and its solution. This could include quantitative data, such as performance metrics, as well as qualitative feedback from stakeholders. Encourage team members to reflect on their individual roles in the problem-solving process. What worked well? What could have been done differently? Encourage open and honest communication to foster a culture of learning and improvement.

It is all about the mutual respect in a team - while certain situations do require one to "pull rank", in the majority of day-to-day operations a manager should strive to be seen as part of the team, dealing with the same problems each one faces. An excellent manager should deal with incidents himself, participate in client meetings even for things that appear mundane, and in general not lose the connection with the troops on the ground. Leading by example, as boilerplate as it sounds, is the mantra here. Only then would you feel the same pain as them and be able to work through the stages mentioned here - do not sit on your high horse and parachute in solutions - guide, nurture collaboration and be transparent to your team.

Following should help:- 1) Task Allocation - Selection of the right Team. A blend of strengths and areas of development within the team will not only help in accomplishing the task but will also add in learning from each other. 2) Clear definite Aim. 3) Regular Feedback at fixed intervals. Feedback should not only be for the review of numbers, but also to understand any challenges being faced by the team. 4) Brainstorm the problems, get diverse ideas, dive deep with 5 Whys, fish bone analysis and then provide a corrective feedback. 6) Lastly and most importantly - be fair and emphatic as a leader. It will not only help in finishing of a project but also in building your team and growth of all..

I would like to support team develop their problem solving by helping them understand how to determine the cause of the problem, identifying, prioritizing, and selecting alternatives for a solution, and implementing a solution. Although problem-solving is a skill and these are important elements to include in their learning -analysis, communication, emotional intelligence, resilience, creativity, adaptability, and teamwork.

Promote a problem solving culture in the team with a framework for problem solving like PDCA, DMAIC. etc. This helps surfacing problems and building solutions while creating a structure for the thought process.

By being impartial and encouraging each one leaving Noone behind one can resolve most of the conflicts. That is possible only by being transforming oneself from self centricity to better individual who takes challenge to responsibly tackle situations by taking care of each one of team members.