How to Increase Problem Solving Skills
An important part of intelligence is the ability to quickly and creatively solve problems. This is an excellent skill to have in your everyday life, in the workplace, and in general. After all, problems present themselves unexpectedly and in a variety of contexts. If you can train your brain in the raw, foundation-level skills needed to solve problems, you will increase your general problem-solving ability, regardless of whether the problem is at home, at work, or somewhere in between.
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Instructions
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Practice orienting and defining problems. This is something that needs to be done before you start trying to solve them, and can save you a lot of time and hassle. Orienting is recognizing a problem's existence and that a solution is possible, while defining is recognizing exactly what obstacles you need to clear to solve the problem. Many people just ignore orienting and defining, and it makes problems needlessly difficult or impossible to solve.
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Write down, articulate, or just think any solution that comes to your head. A large obstacle to problem-solving is people holding themselves back and avoiding possible solutions because they "sound dumb." Remember that you're exploring possible solutions, not actual solutions; the more options you explore, the more likely you are to find a usable one.
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Think of past solutions to similar problems, and think about how you could improve on these past solutions. Often, the solution to your current problem is just an improvement on how you solved your last problem.
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Narrow down your solutions into the most feasible.
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Practice these steps for every problem, no matter how big or small. The more you practice, the more refined your skills become. It's like building a muscle.
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Set aside a time each day to apply these strategies through problem solving puzzles and games (included in the resources). Sudoku is a good option, as are jigsaw puzzles and certain online flash games. The more you practice the basic skills in a controlled, relaxed setting, the better you'll be able to apply them in real life.
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