Wassily Kandinsky - 'Transverse Lines', 1923
‘Complex problem solving and Communication’
According to the Oxford dictionary, Problem Solve is to find a solution to a difficult or complex question or situation; to engage in the actions or thoughts necessary to discover solutions to problems. Also with the aim: to think out, grapple with, or solve (a problem).
Problem Solving is the process of finding solutions to difficult or complex issues whose origin is back in 1950s was found in The New York Times. From problem + solve, after problem-solving [adjective], problem-solver.
“Problems are nothing but wake-up calls for creativity” – Gerhard Gschwandtner *Author of ‘The Sales Question Book’).
It is not a matter of not having a complex problem (I think this is completely reasonable), but not having to deal again with the same problem that you had to deal in the past, proving that you didn't resolved it.
There is no solution without a problem and there is no problem with no solution, in business, art, science...
Solving problems requires enrichment and diversity in the people who will work together, on how to approach the problem-s through the conciliation environment and to view it from different angles. The problem in companies - organizations and at individual level, is that they start to look for answers rather than to find initial questions. Furthermore companies and all of us at personal level should be receptive to every question and point of view.
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” – Albert Einstein
In my opinion, problems are opportunities and the canvas for creativity to be painted on/over.
A very significant part is to understand of the complex situation in which the problem occurs, so that we can pinpoint exactly what the problem is. We observe these situations, and then review some useful, well-established problem-solving frameworks.
There are four basic steps in solving a problem:
Having good, strong problem solving skills can make a great difference for organization and at individual level.
Problems are at the center of what we do at work and in our everyday lives. Whether we are solving a problem for a client (internal or external), supporting those who are solving problems, or discovering new problems to solve, the problems we face can be large or small, simple or complex, and easy or difficult.
Keys and steps for a team on approaching and resolving the problem-s.
- Use people who want to challenge themselves and are able to take risks.
- Create a staff with diverse backgrounds.
- Embrace and motivate people/employees/team to enrich their education.
- Challenge people/employees/team with projects beyond their comfort zone.
- Add Creativity on every level!!!
- Be opened to every possible question and solution.
The key to a good problem definition is ensuring that you deal with the real problem – not its symptoms.
In many cases at collaborative level, I use tools like Brainstorming and Design Thinking as a basis for finding solutions… and of course Creativity, with many creative processes and workshops.
But I will repeat it… Questions, questions, questions…Through the 5 basic elements of research questions.
Focusing on the most important words, concepts, elements of soft skills starting with the letter C, next is communication and if we move beyond C to Com, apart from Communication, is Commercial, Company, Commute, Come, Community, Compare, etc, which are also Important words and elements in Entrepreneurship and Business. Communication in Business is about the sharing of information between people within an company that is performed for the commercial benefit of the organization. In addition, business communication can also refer to how a company shares information to promote its product or services to potential consumers.
“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.“ – Epictetus (Greek Stoic Philosopher).
According to a recent study, companies with good communication practices are three and a half times more likely to outperform their competitors and possessing or developing excellent communication skills will help business leaders and their teams in every facet of business operations.
The source is the person (or thing) attempting to share information and the ability to transmit this information, through a channel, to a receiver.
This may be an opinion, attitude, feelings, views, orders, or suggestions.
Encoding is the process of assembling the message (information, ideas and thoughts) into a representative design with the objective of ensuring that the receiver can comprehend it. It's realization requires the use of certain symbols such as words, actions or pictures etc.
An encoded message is conveyed by the source through a channel. There are numerous channel categories: verbal, non-verbal, personal, non-personal, etc. A channel is the material and texture and a good communicator is one who understands which channels to use under different circumstances.
Receiver is the person who receives the message or for whom the message is meant for and tries to understand the message in the best possible manner in achieving the desired objectives
The person who receives the message, symbol or picture from the communicator tries to convert the same in such a way so that he may extract its meaning to his complete understanding. Decoding is impossible if the decoder cannot even understand the message.
Feedback is the process of ensuring that the receiver has received the message and understood it in the same sense as the sender meant it. Similar words might be “reaction” or “responses” and the source judges its success based on the feedback it receives, so pay close attention.
For a successful personal communication, an important role does also play the way people interact, including elements like the tone of the voice they use, how much they gesture, and their ability to listen or interrupt.
To communicate also needs to be-come a Good Learner with elements as I mentioned on a previous post, such as Critical Thinking, Receptiveness, Acceptance and <Collection>, Emotional Intelligence, Cognitive Flexibility, Focus and Respect, Connection (with Ideas, people, things and things etc).
I will write more about these two topics in following posts.