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We all solve problems all the time. It’s natural to humans to do so. Almost everything you see around you is a solution to a perceived problem.
But the skill of solving problems is hard to a lot of people. Having the right resources or tools doesn’t mean you’re able to solve a problem. You need to have a strategy on how to use those tools.
I haven’t spent nearly enough time on developing models or strategies for problem solving, at least not consciously. Now I’ve started, and I think you should as well.
→ Analogies for solving problems
Developing a language to describe a problem is the first step to solving it. If you can’t speak about it, you can’t begin to pull the threads.
Analogies are extremely powerful in that. Being able to liken the problem to another one, or even make a callback to a shared experience is powerful for making a vivid description of your problem. It’ll be a lot easier to understand once you unlock the “It’s like…”-factor, and have the ability to draw comparisons from your current problem to a past one.
Additionally, developing the ability to speak in analogies will serve you well in all areas of your life. An analogy doesn’t necessarily convey the facts of a problem. It could just as well be a feeling, state of mind or general mood.
→ Breaking a problem down
I’ve broken down projects down for a very long time, and I’m quite good at it. Breaking tasks up into smaller ones is highly advantageous, as you’re able to move on quicker. Especially if you get stuck, because there’s always another step to take. However small it is.
The same principle applies to problem solving it seems. Solving a problem can often be done in incremental steps that don’t seem connected at first. Just take a step, and see if it works.
Even if your problem is heavily restricted, break it down into parts where you can solve for each individual restriction. When having all of those solutions, you might be able to see the way forward to solve the big picture as well. It’s very hard to solve a sudoku without having any numbers on the board. But when you start putting some of them out, even if you make mistakes, it’ll be a lot easier.
<aside> <img src="/icons/exclamation-mark_gray.svg" alt="/icons/exclamation-mark_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Oh, and the whole thing is edited with Descript to be able to have the subtitles. It also spares you of all my uhms and ahs, which is the reason to why it jumps every now and then.
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Here’s a summary of the whole episode, made by ChatGPT.