Problem Solving Strategy by Dr. Bambang Budijanto

Leaders for Leaders

5 Jul 202007:34

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

00:00

🧠 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.

05:05

🔍 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

Problem solving is the central theme of the video, where the speaker introduces a seven-step process for resolving issues in organizations. It involves recognizing a problem, forming a team, diagnosing the issue, finding root causes, brainstorming solutions, choosing the best one, and implementing and evaluating the solution. This structured approach is designed to address challenges effectively rather than through trial and error.

💡Acknowledge the Problem

Acknowledging the problem refers to the first step in the process, where leaders must admit that a problem exists in their organization. Denial or avoidance, such as 'sweeping it under the rug,' is a common but unproductive response. Recognizing the issue is essential for initiating a proper resolution.

💡Establish a Team

Establishing a team is the second step, emphasizing the importance of collaboration. The speaker highlights that solving complex problems requires a team of individuals who are capable, critical thinkers, and open to innovative ideas, rather than tackling problems alone. This collective effort helps ensure better problem identification and solution development.

💡Identify the Problem

Identifying the problem is the third step, where the team must clearly define what issue they are addressing. The speaker stresses that being unclear about the problem can render the following steps ineffective. A precise understanding is necessary, especially when multiple interconnected problems exist, to decide which one to prioritize.

💡Root Cause

The root cause refers to the underlying source of a problem, which the team must uncover during the fourth step. Often, issues are only symptoms of deeper problems, and addressing these surface symptoms without understanding the root cause will lead to recurring issues. The speaker likens this process to a doctor diagnosing the true source of an ailment.

💡Brainstorming Solutions

Brainstorming solutions is the fifth step in which the team generates a list of possible solutions to address the root cause of the problem. The speaker encourages creating multiple alternatives, each evaluated in terms of risks, costs, side effects, and potential success. This helps leaders make informed decisions later.

💡Decision Making

Decision making is the sixth step where the leader chooses the best solution from the list generated during brainstorming. The decision must align with the organization's values and strategy, ensuring it maximizes benefits for the organization. In a church context, decisions should also aim to fulfill a purpose that honors God.

💡Planning and Implementation

Planning and implementation refers to the seventh step, where a detailed action plan is created, responsibilities are assigned, and the chosen solution is executed. After implementing the solution, evaluation is crucial to determine whether the root cause has been fully addressed. If not, the team may need to revisit previous steps.

💡Evaluation

Evaluation is a continuous process after implementing a solution to ensure the problem is fully resolved. The speaker explains that even if the problem reoccurs, it doesn't mean failure but rather an opportunity to learn and refine the approach. Evaluating the effectiveness of the solution is key to preventing the problem from resurfacing.

💡Trial and Error

The speaker contrasts their structured approach to problem solving with 'trial and error,' which they describe as an unsystematic and unreliable method. Trial and error often leads to repeated failures without understanding the root cause, whereas the proposed method encourages a learning process that builds towards effective solutions.

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.