Problem Solving Strategy by Dr. Bambang Budijanto
Summary
TLDRThis video focuses on a structured 7-step approach to problem-solving in organizations, companies, or churches. The speaker emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the existence of problems, forming a reliable team, identifying the real issue, and finding the root cause. The team then brainstorms solutions, assesses risks, and the leader chooses the most strategic option. Implementation and evaluation follow, with the possibility of revisiting previous steps if needed. The video encourages leaders to learn from challenges and improve problem-solving skills to become more effective in leadership.
Takeaways
- ✅ Acknowledge the problem: Leaders must first recognize and admit that a problem exists rather than denying or ignoring it.
- 👥 Form a reliable team: Create a dedicated team to address the issue, selecting individuals who are critical thinkers, problem-solvers, and not afraid to fail.
- 🔍 Identify the real problem: Be clear about what the actual problem is before proceeding, as misidentification can lead to ineffective solutions.
- 🌱 Find the root cause: Address the underlying cause of the issue, not just the symptoms, to prevent the problem from recurring.
- 📝 Brainstorm solutions: Generate a list of potential solutions, considering the risks, side effects, and chances of success for each.
- 🎯 Choose the best solution: The leader should decide on the most strategic solution that aligns with the organization's values and offers the greatest benefit.
- 📅 Plan, implement, and evaluate: Develop a detailed plan, assign tasks, execute the solution, and then evaluate its effectiveness.
- 🔄 Continuous evaluation: If the problem persists, return to the earlier steps to reassess the team, the problem, or the solution.
- 📚 Learn from failure: Not succeeding doesn't mean failure, but a learning opportunity to refine the approach and deepen understanding.
- 🙏 Growth through problem-solving: Solving problems helps leaders learn, grow, and become more competent, as challenges are continuous in life.
Q & A
What is the first step in solving a problem in an organization according to the video?
-The first step is to acknowledge that the problem exists. Many leaders tend to deny or ignore the problem, but recognizing its existence is crucial for effective problem solving.
Why is it important to establish a team when solving a problem?
-It is important because solving problems together is more effective than handling them alone. A team brings diverse perspectives and skills, ensuring that the problem is diagnosed properly and innovative solutions are generated.
What characteristics should members of the problem-solving team possess?
-Team members should be reliable, critical thinkers, capable of diagnosing problems, generating innovative ideas, and unafraid of failure while being eager to solve the problem.
Why is it essential to clearly identify the problem?
-Clearly identifying the problem is essential because without a clear understanding of what needs to be solved, subsequent steps will be ineffective. It also helps in addressing the most important problem first if there are multiple related issues.
What is the significance of finding the root of the problem?
-Finding the root of the problem is crucial because many problems are only symptoms of a deeper issue. Addressing only the symptoms will result in the problem recurring, so the root cause must be identified and solved to prevent this.
What should be done in step five of the problem-solving process?
-In step five, the team should brainstorm and make a list of possible solutions. For each solution, they should evaluate the risks, costs, side effects, and chances of success to determine the most viable options.
How should a leader choose a solution from the list of alternatives?
-A leader should choose the solution that aligns with the organization's values, is the most strategic, and offers the greatest benefit. In a ministry or church setting, the solution should also be maximized for God's work.
What is the final step in the problem-solving process?
-The final step is to make a plan, implement the chosen solution, and evaluate its effectiveness. If the problem persists, the team should go back and reassess earlier steps such as team composition or problem identification.
What should be done if the problem is not fully resolved after implementing a solution?
-If the problem is not resolved, the team should revisit earlier steps, check if the team is complete, reassess the problem identification, review the root diagnosis, and explore other solutions from the list of alternatives.
What mindset should leaders adopt toward problems, according to the speaker?
-Leaders should view problems as opportunities to learn and grow. Problems will always exist, but they help leaders become better problem solvers and improve their competence over time.
Outlines
🧠 Effective Problem Solving in Leadership
In this segment, the speaker introduces the topic of problem-solving within organizations such as companies, churches, or other entities. The emphasis is on acknowledging the existence of problems, a step often neglected by many leaders. They tend to sweep problems under the rug rather than address them. The speaker proposes a structured seven-step approach to problem-solving, starting with recognizing the issue and followed by assembling a reliable team to work on it. The importance of a team that offers innovative ideas and diagnoses problems without fear of failure is underscored. Clear problem identification is crucial, as it directs the rest of the process.
🔍 Identifying and Resolving the Root Causes
This paragraph delves into steps 3 to 7 of the problem-solving process. First, the team must be clear about the specific problem at hand, as solving surface-level issues will lead to recurring problems. The speaker likens the process to diagnosing an illness, where the real root of the issue must be identified. The team should brainstorm and list out various possible solutions along with their associated risks and potential side effects. The leader is responsible for choosing the solution that aligns best with the organization's values and goals. After implementation, the problem-solving process should conclude with thorough planning, execution, and evaluation to ensure the problem is permanently resolved.
🔄 Revisiting and Refining the Problem-Solving Process
The speaker continues by stressing the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of the solution. If the problem persists, the team must go back to earlier steps, reevaluate the team composition, and review the accuracy of the problem's identification and root diagnosis. Adding new members or refining the approach might be necessary. The speaker advocates for systematic, responsible problem-solving instead of a trial-and-error method. This approach promotes learning and growth from challenges, rather than seeing temporary setbacks as failures. Leaders are encouraged to embrace ongoing learning, as problems are constant and provide opportunities for personal and organizational development.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Problem Solving
💡Acknowledge the Problem
💡Establish a Team
💡Identify the Problem
💡Root Cause
💡Brainstorming Solutions
💡Decision Making
💡Planning and Implementation
💡Evaluation
💡Trial and Error
Highlights
Introduction to problem solving for corporate, organizational, or church contexts, presented in a structured format.
Acknowledging the existence of a problem is a crucial first step, as denial only prolongs issues.
Form a team based on the size and nature of the problem. Choose team members who are analytical, innovative, and willing to challenge assumptions.
Clearly identify the main problem to be solved. Understanding the root issue is essential for effective resolution.
Establish the root cause rather than focusing only on visible symptoms. Solving superficial issues leads to recurring problems.
Create a comprehensive list of possible solutions, including risks, costs, side effects, and the potential success rate of each.
Select the most strategic solution that aligns with the organization's values and long-term goals.
Implement the chosen solution with a clear plan, assign responsibilities, and set measurable goals.
Evaluate the outcome to ensure the root problem has been fully resolved. If not, revisit the earlier steps for a more thorough analysis.
Leaders must continually assess the team's effectiveness, ensuring the right skills and perspectives are present.
The process should not be purely trial and error but instead a systematic approach to problem-solving.
Failure is a learning opportunity; understanding what doesn’t work is as valuable as knowing what does.
Use every challenge as an opportunity to grow as a leader and develop the team’s problem-solving capabilities.
Problem-solving is a continuous process that helps leaders and organizations evolve and adapt.
Encourages leaders to proactively engage with problems rather than avoid them, fostering a culture of responsibility and innovation.
Transcripts
We meet again in the Leadership Moment forum.
This time I would like to share about PROBLEM SOLVING,
how to solve a problem.
In this brief video I will focus on problem solving in corporate basis, in company, organization, or church.
I propose 7 steps. Step-by-step to solve problems in organization.
The 1st step, if a leader, you and me, know or hear that there is problem in our organization,
what important is to acknowledge that the problem exists.
Many leaders deny that the problem does exist. Many organizations or leaders whom rather than admitting
that the problem exist, they sweep the problem or dirt, put it under the chair to be unseen.
The 2nd step, we establish a team, depends on the size of the problem.
It takes a team to solve it together, not to be handled alone.
This team is a team who can be relied on by this company, not a team who works carelessly
whose members easily agree with everything. Seek people who can diagnose problems.
Seek people who can bring out innovative ideas.
Seek learners who are not afraid of failing but eager to solve problem.
No. 3, have this team start identifying what the real problem that needs to be solved.
If we are never clear about what problems we want to solve, then the next steps will not be of much use.
We have to be crystal clear regarding the problem we want to solve. Sometimes there is 1 problem which is
related to other problem that also related to other problem. We must decide of which
is the most important for us to solve at the moment. Clearly identified.
The next step or the 4th step is seek the root of the problem. Lots of problems in organization, at church,
in the company are the problems which is a symptom, which is only seen on the outside, on the skin.
If we immediately solve it, the problem will reappear, will reappear, will reappear.
So, the task of this team after deciding which problem to solve is finding the root,
like a doctor diagnosing, what the root of all this, and what things it relates to.
Step no. 5 is making a list, brainstorming, having discussion about what are the possible solutions.
If the root is like this, what are the possible solutions, the possible alternatives of solutions.
List it: 1, 2, 3, 4...
Write down in each number on this list: the risk, the price, the side effect,
make the list one by one with the possibilities of success.
Step no. 6, as the leader, decide which solution you will choose from the list. How to choose it?
Which one is in accordance with the value of organization? Which is the most strategic
that will give benefits to organization.
While in ministry, or at church, maximize it for God.
The last step/step no. 7: Make planning, implement and evaluate it.
Make a good planning, give people the task to implement it. After implementing, evaluate it
whether the root of the problem is really "dead" already, finished there.
If not, this team must go back to step no. 2.
See whether our team is complete already or need to have more member.
Then, the 3rd step, is the identification of the problem correct?
No. 2, if it's lack of people, the people are not critical and sharp enough in diagnosing, then add people.
No. 3, have the diagnosis, identification, the problem been correct?
No. 4, has the diagnosis to the root of the problem been correct?
No. 5, is there anything forgotten from the list of alternatives?
No. 6, is the decision made already the most appropriate? Can we try the 2nd rank, 3rd rank,
then make planning again, implement again, evaluate again.
Therefore we solve problem systematically,and responsible,
not just trial and error repeatedly.
In this process, not successful doesn't mean we fail. We are learning new thing,
that if the root is like this, then the solution is not like that,
that it is not enough to identify the problem this way.
I pray, I hope that each of us will become competent leaders who continue learning to be problem solvers,
since the problem will never stop existing in this world. Problems help us to learn and grow more and more.
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Thank you.
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