The Mechanics Of A Problem And Its Solution

Contributed by Jay Schroyer

When I was a small child, I had a battery operated robot toy that I used and abused so much that it stopped working. I changed the batteries, but still it wouldn’t run. Frustrated, I took a screwdriver and a hammer to it and discovered that it was made up of a whole bunch of tiny parts. It had never dawned on me that this was how the robot worked. I just assumed that it was one big piece that walked and talked and flashed its lights when I flicked a switch. I asked my dad why there were all these little parts inside of the robot and he explained to me how almost everything in our lives is the same way: made up of a bunch of little parts that operate together to do bigger and better things.

Later in life, I learned that any problems I encountered were just like that busted toy robot. They were always made up of other smaller parts. Like the battery for the robot, it wasn’t always as easy as changing one thing to solve the problem. Taking a hammer or a screwdriver was no way to fix them either and sometimes asking the advice of someone else was the only way to get a different perspective and finally a solution. From all of this, I began to develop a kind of standard operating procedure for problems. I throw a problem into this matrix and by the time I make my way through the list, I’ve found a workable solution. Give it a try on your next busted-toy-robot-of-a-problem and see if it yields you any success.

What’s Broken
Sit down and clear your head. What exactly is the problem? Sometimes we attempt to solve something and halfway through our thinking, we don’t even know what we were trying to solve. Isolate the problem and pinpoint what the actual problem is.

Try Quick Fixes
With my robot, I tried the battery first. How easy would it have been if that was the problem? Maybe the solution to your problem is that simple. Think of quick and easy fixes and give them a try first. You have nothing to lose and you may save yourself a lot of time and trouble. If that doesn’t work, then you can move on.

Take It Apart
Now comes the fun part: tearing your problem apart. Look at all of the smaller parts that fit together to form the whole. Is it one of the smaller things that is causing the problem? Break everything down to its smallest parts and see if the solution is hiding in there somewhere.

Get a Second Opinion
If you just can’t get your brain wrapped around this one, talk it out with someone else. It doesn’t have to be an expert in the field; just a patient person who’s willing to listen. And even if they aren’t able to offer a solution or any suggestions, just the act of talking it over with someone else will help you lay out what you do know and calm yourself down. Or, they may offer perspectives or other ways to think about the problem that you never even considered.

Walk Away
Often you can start thinking in circles when you’ve spent a long time on a problem. If you can, this is the time to walk away from the problem and do something else for a while. If you have a lot of time, sleep on it and see what comes out of rest and dreams. A break will refresh your mind, your body, and your perspective.

History Repeats Itself
Ask around or read around: is this a problem that others have encountered and already solved? Look to history to see if this problem of yours has already been tackled and see if the presented solution could work for you.

Rethink
Many things we don’t think about because we feel we already know all there is to know about them. This assuming is something that can block our path to solutions. If you think you already know it, forget it and relearn it. Maybe there’s something in an assumption you’re making that is ruining any chances of you reaching the solution.

Spell It Out
Take it from your head and onto some paper. Write or draw out the problem or list the problems and possible solutions. Sometimes just spelling it out or seeing it on paper right in front of you reveals things that you haven’t thought about yet. This is also helpful if you are in an environment where you are constantly distracted.

Problems range in scale and grandeur, both concrete and abstract. I’ve found that this line of thinking and questioning has always led me to the solution whether it be a computer problem, financial difficulty, relationship roadblock, or a recipe for veggie dip that just won’t turn out right. Try taking it apart and you just might find your solution lying there in the pile of spare parts.

About the Author:
Jay Schroyer has worked in the client and customer service end of business for over five years in retail, advertising, and printing. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English writing and communication.

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