The New Manager's Guide to Problem Solving

Combining business know-how, time management, planning, coaching, conflict management and a host of other skills, management is no small task! At the heart of managerial success is the ability to make clear and sound decisions under pressure.

By Chris Alfe, Thingamajob Staff Writer

Continue on to learn the six essential problem solving steps for new managers...

Those newly entering managerial or supervisory positions need to quickly learn how to approach problems in a defined and dispassionate way...

If organizations were never presented with challenges, they'd run themselves and they wouldn't even need to hire managers. To handle ambiguous situations, and to do so with limited resources, is ultimately why managers exist. Those newly entering managerial or upervisory positions need to quickly learn how to approach problems in a defined and dispassionate way if they are to flourish.

These six basic steps are at the root of successful problem resolution, whether simple or complex:

Step 1: Gather Information.

Assemble your staff and contact other relevant employees in order to gain the best understanding possible of the potential hurdle. After you conduct this initial phase you may discover that, in fact, no real problem exists. If it does exist, identify it clearly in writing and prioritize it against any other outstanding issues you and your team may be facing.

Step 2: Identify Possible Causes.

Collect information and opinions about the cause of the challenge from your team members and from anyone else impacted by it. Encourage your employees to speak freely and to respect everyone's view, and seek the advice of subject matter experts when they are available. Ultimately, you should be able to state the problem concisely, answering who, what, when, where, why and to what extent.

Step 3: Build a List of Solutions.

Brainstorm as many answers to the problem as possible, and capture them all. Don't gauge the validity or practicality of the solutions at this point ? just list them! Newer managers often struggle with their roles here, that of mediators, not judges.

Step 4: Choose a Solution.

Welcoming feedback from your team, eliminate all but the best solution based on cost, time, feasibility, and all other constraints under which you are operating. Be sure to consider the effect your approach to solving the problem may have on your team as well as on other problems with which you may be dealing.

Step 5: Administer the Solution.

Spell out exactly how you plan to carry out your solution, and how you'll know if you've succeeded. Include milestone dates to help you assess your progress, and assign actions to specific team members to promote accountability among them. Install progress review points along the way to allow you to steer your team members back on course should they stray from the plan.

Step 6: Review the Results.

By specifically defining success in Step 5, you'll be able to make a firm judgment as to whether or not your solution was truly successful. Ideally, you'll not only resolve your problem but also gain new insight into your organization and a new understanding of your team in the process. Some solutions may require supplemental reviews to ensure their success.

Chris Alfe is a staff writer for thingamajob.com.  He has ten years of experience in staffing and human resources and currently resides in Baltimore, Maryland.