How do you react when your problem solving ideas are challenged?
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Problem solving is a valuable skill in any field, but it can also be challenging and frustrating. Sometimes, you may encounter situations where your ideas are questioned, criticized, or rejected by others. How do you react when your problem solving ideas are challenged? In this article, you will learn some tips and strategies to handle feedback, communicate effectively, and improve your problem solving skills.
Why feedback matters
Feedback is essential for problem solving, as it helps you identify gaps, errors, or weaknesses in your ideas. It also gives you an opportunity to learn from different perspectives, experiences, and expertise. However, feedback can also be difficult to receive, especially if it is negative, harsh, or unexpected. You may feel defensive, angry, or hurt by the comments, and lose confidence or motivation in your problem solving abilities.
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Helps You Get Better: Feedback tells you what you're doing well and where you can do better. Gives Different Ideas: It brings in different ideas and viewpoints you might not have thought about. Teaches You New Things: When people suggest ways to improve, you can learn new things and get better at what you do. Helps You Decide: Hearing what others think can help you make smarter choices. Makes You Grow: Being open to feedback helps you grow personally and become better at handling different situations.
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Positive or negative feedback taken with the right spirit helps in shaping your next move i.e., crafting an effective strategy with measured, actionable steps. This approach propels you forward, building momentum and guiding you toward achieving remarkable success.
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How to react positively
Reacting positively and constructively to feedback can make a big difference in your problem solving outcomes. To do so, listen actively and respectfully to the other person, ask questions to clarify any confusion, acknowledge and thank them for their input, and evaluate and decide what is relevant, useful, and actionable for your problem solving process. Avoid interrupting, arguing, or dismissing their points, as well as being defensive or hostile. Show that you value their input and appreciate their time - express your gratitude and willingness to learn and improve. After receiving the feedback, take some time to evaluate it objectively and critically. Consider the source, the context, and the evidence of the feedback before deciding what is relevant to your problem solving process and solution.
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I came across the 6 hats of thinking,Edward DeBono. It keeps all attendees on same page and extract thoughts and ideas from all, without personalization. White: Focus on facts. Yellow: looks at positive views and focus on the benefits. Black: rep devil’s advocate. Red etc.
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I always encourage my teams to challenge and give feedback on an idea or solution. Exercising ones listening and processing feedback are skills highly sought in the teams I form and belong to. At the end of the day feedback, even better when it leads to providing an optimized and motivating feed forward is what leads to team success and exceptional results.
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How to communicate effectively
Communication is a fundamental part of problem solving, as it facilitates the exchange of ideas, reasoning, and persuasion. When your problem solving ideas are met with opposition, you need to communicate effectively and confidently to address the questions or objections. To do so, use clear and concise language that is simple and precise. Illustrate your points with examples, analogies, or visuals to make them more understandable. Additionally, support your ideas with logic and evidence such as facts, data, statistics, or research. Demonstrate how your ideas are relevant, feasible, and beneficial for the problem and stakeholders. Anticipate and address potential counterarguments or drawbacks of your ideas, and explain how you can overcome or mitigate them. Furthermore, show empathy and respect for the needs, interests, and emotions of your audience. Acknowledge their contributions and feedback while avoiding aggressive or dismissive behavior which can be damaging to your relationship with them.
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These are reasonable suggestions for encouraging others to see your perspective on a solution. I would caution, however, that sometimes it isn't yet the appropriate time within the problem solving process to criticize ideas. It is generally helpful to cast a wide net first and then begin to narrow. Thus, I'd also suggest considering whether asking people to take a step back and leave room for creation first is appropriate. Simply put, pay attention to where you are in the process.
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Share your ideas with an open mind, be clear and concise, make sure everyone understands your reasoning behind your ideas and finally, always ask for other ideas or questions as having a pool of ideas that you can pull from can make your idea grow into something far better than before. Make sure to give credit where it's due, this goes a long way with a team.
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How to improve your problem solving skills
Problem solving is a skill that can be improved with practice and reflection. To maximize your learning potential, it is important to seek feedback proactively and regularly from various sources. Additionally, reflecting on your problem solving process and solution can help you identify strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, looking to others for examples and inspiration, as well as learning from your own experiences and mistakes, are great ways to grow and improve. By using feedback and communication as opportunities to learn, you can become a better problem solver.
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Think about reasons for this problem and how we can change our thinking and look forward the other polarity of this problem and how we can learn from this situation to nor repeat again.
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Listening Makes Problem-Solving Better Fresh Ideas: When you listen, you get new and smart ideas. Learning from Others: You learn from others' experiences. Working Together: Listening helps teams work well together. Solving Problems: It helps solve problems in a better way.
Here’s what else to consider
This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?
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Deep Listening: Feedback is hardly personal; listen to what is not so obvious Stay objective: Not all feedback serves the main thing Build relationships: Feedback can be a great way to connect with someone who sees your thinking and structuring differently, and in a good way!
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Solving problems to most inquisitive people is second nature, but there are so many ways to solve problems and depending on the problem the road to any solution is easier with others input, even if it challenges your own.
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