Problem-solving is a mental process that involves discovering, analyzing, and solving problems.

The ultimate goal of problem-solving is to overcome obstacles and find a solution that best resolves the issue.

The best strategy for solving a problem depends largely on the unique situation.

Person putting together puzzle pieces

Dimitri Otis / Stone / Getty Images

In other instances,creativityand insight are the best options.

to make it correctly solve a problem, it is often important to follow a series of steps.

The following steps include developing strategies and organizing knowledge.

Some strategies that you might use to figure out the source of a problem include :

2.

State the problem clearly and identify the scope of the solution.

Forming a Strategy

After the problem has been identified, it is time to start brainstorming potential solutions.

This step usually involves generating as many ideas as possible without judging their quality.

Once several possibilities have been generated, they can be evaluated and narrowed down.

The next step is to develop a strategy to solve the problem.

The approach used will vary depending upon the situation and the individual’s unique preferences.

Common problem-solving strategies include heuristics and algorithms.

What do you know about the problem?

The more information that is available the better prepared you will be to come up with an accurate solution.

When approaching a problem, it is important to confirm that you have all the data you need.

Making a decision without adequate information can lead to biased or inaccurate results.

Before you begin to solve a problem, you should probably determine how high priority it is.

If it is an important problem, it is probably worth allocating more resources to solving it.

After careful evaluation, a decision can be made about which solution to pursue.

This step might involve trying out different solutions to see which one is the most effective.

Effective problem-solvers tend to monitor their progress as they work towards a solution.

This will help you to improve your problem-solving skills and become more efficient at solving future problems.

give a shot to see things from their perspective as well as your own.

Work together to find a resolution that works for both of you.

Be willing to compromise and accept that there may not be a perfect solution.

Don’t dwell on what’s going wronginstead, think about what’s going right.

Find support by talking to friends or family.

Seek professional help if you’re having trouble coping.

Published 2018 Jun 26. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2018.00261