Problem Solving

A necessary trait to have as a leader is to be good at problem solving. You need to be able to look at a problem and come up with a solution. Why might this be helpful as a small business owner even if you are the only person involved in your business? Well a big key to your success is how well you do providing a product or service to your customers. Now we have talked about finding a need and filling it. Here is an area where being a good problem solve will truly benefit you. If you can solve a problem for the consumer you will create a demand for your product. Another thing to think of is in the business world would you rather do business with someone who is great at solving your problem or someone who can not seem to find you the solution you are in need of. Well let's turn that around. Do you think another business owner would want to do business with someone who is a good problem solver or someone who just doesn't seem to have any answers? Exactly, everyone likes to do business with people who are good at problem solving. It instills confidence and a sense of reliability in people and gives credibility to you and your company name. Two very important aspects when building a business. This gives you the testimonial part of your business which is very important. You know the saying "There is no better advertisement than word of mouth". Now you may be wondering how do you get good at problem solving, here are a couple of key things to remember. When you encounter a problem figure out what needs to be done and do it. Here is a proven rule I have used for many years, If you don't know the answer find it, if you need help go get it. What does that mean you ask. We have always used what we call the 5 minute rule. Here is how it works, first always remember there is someone who has done what you are doing and knows how to do it very well, second, if you spend more than 5 minutes trying to figure it out and have not made any progress you should stop and go get that certain someone who has the information you need. Here is the key to making this work efficiently, have that resource already in mind or on standby. In essence, have a backup plan. If you are working on building a website using a certain program it would be helpful to have a resource, that can give you the information you may need, readily available to help if you should encounter a problem. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, having a plan that anticipates potential problems will allow you to become a great problem solver. You will literally teach yourself how to anticipate a problem and in doing so give you the ability to have a solution for that problem before it actually occurs. See you do not necessarily need to have all the answers, you just need to know where to find them. And there is always going to be someone who has done what you are doing or has encountered that problem already. And the even greater part of this is that person who has the information you desire would love to share it with you, all you need to do is ask. So get started anticipating those problems and get on a path to becoming a great problem solver.


Find Your "Best Path 2 Success"

Brian K