how to increase problem solving speed

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How to Improve Problem Solving Skills

Last Updated: January 27, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Erin Conlon, PCC, JD . Erin Conlon is an Executive Life Coach, the Founder of Erin Conlon Coaching, and the host of the podcast "This is Not Advice." She specializes in aiding leaders and executives to thrive in their career and personal lives. In addition to her private coaching practice, she teaches and trains coaches and develops and revises training materials to be more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. She holds a BA in Communications and History and a JD from The University of Michigan. Erin is a Professional Certified Coach with The International Coaching Federation. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 236,071 times.

The ability to solve problems applies to more than just mathematics homework. Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills are a part of many jobs, ranging from accounting and computer programming to detective work and even creative occupations like art, acting, and writing. While individual problems vary, there are certain general approaches to problem-solving like the one first proposed by mathematician George Polya in 1945. [1] X Research source By following his principles of understanding the problem, devising a plan, carrying out the plan, and looking back, you can improve your problem-solving and tackle any issue systematically.

Define the problem clearly.

• Try to formulate questions. Say that as a student you have very little money and want to find an effective solution. What is at issue? Is it one of income – are you not making enough money? Is it one of over-spending? Or perhaps you have run into unexpected expenses or your financial situation has changed?

State your objective.

• Say that your problem is still money. What is your goal? Perhaps you never have enough to go out on the weekend and have fun at the movies or a club. You decide that your goal is to have more spending cash. Good! With a clear goal, you have better defined the problem.

Gather information systematically.

• To solve your money shortage, for example, you would want to get as detailed a picture of your financial situation as possible. Collect data through your latest bank statements and to talk to a bank teller. Track your earnings and spending habits in a notebook, and then create a spreadsheet or chart to show your income alongside your expenditures.

Analyze information.

• Say you have now collected all your bank statements. Look at them. When, how, and from where is your money coming? Where, when, and how are you spending it? What is the overall pattern of your finances? Do you have a net surplus or deficit? Are there any unexplained items?

Generate possible solutions.

• Your problem is a lack of money. Your goal is to have more spending cash. What are your options? Without evaluating them, come up with possible options. Perhaps you can acquire more money by getting a part-time job or by taking out a student loan. On the other hand, you might try to save by cutting your spending or by lowering other costs.
• Divide and conquer. Break the problem into smaller problems and brainstorm solutions for them separately, one by one.
• Use analogies and similarities. Try to find a resemblance with a previously solved or common problem. If you can find commonalities between your situation and one you've dealt with before, you may be able to adapt some of the solutions for use now.

Evaluate the solutions and choose.

• How can you raise money? Look at expenditures – you aren’t spending much outside of basic needs like tuition, food, and housing. Can you cut costs in other ways like finding a roommate to split rent? Can you afford to take a student loan just to have fun on the weekend? Can you spare time from your studies to work part-time?
• Each solution will produce its own set of circumstances that need evaluation. Run projections. Your money problem will require you to draw up budgets. But it will also take personal consideration. For example, can you cut back on basic things like food or housing? Are you willing to prioritize money over school or to take on debt?

Implement a solution.

• You decide to cut costs, because you were unwilling to take on debt, to divert time away from school, or to live with a roommate. You draw up a detailed budget, cutting a few dollars here and there, and commit to a month-long trial.

Review and evaluate the outcome.

• The results of your trial are mixed. On one hand, you have saved enough during the month for fun weekend activities. But there are new problems. You find that you must choose between spending cash and buying basics like food. You also need a new pair of shoes but can’t afford it, according to your budget. You may need to a different solution.

Adjust if necessary.

• After a month, you decide to abandon your first budget and to look for part-time work. You find a work-study job on campus. Making a new budget, you now have extra money without taking too much time away from your studies. You may have an effective solution.

Do regular mental exercises.

• Word games work great. In a game like “Split Words,” for example, you have to match word fragments to form words under a given theme like “philosophy.” In the game, “Tower of Babel,” you will need to memorize and then match words in a foreign language to the proper picture.
• Mathematical games will also put your problem solving to the test. Whether it be number or word problems, you will have to activate the parts of your brain that analyze information. For instance: “James is half as old now as he will be when he is 60 years older than he was six years before he was half as old as he is now. How old will James be when his age is twice what it was 10 years after he was half his current age?”

Play video games.

• Play something that will force you to think strategically or analytically. Try a puzzle game like Tetris. Or, perhaps you would rather prefer a role-playing or strategy game. In that case, something like “Civilization” or “Sim-City” might suit you better.

Take up a hobby.

• Web design, software programming, jigsaw puzzles, Sudoku, and chess are also hobbies that will force you to think strategically and systematically. Any of these will help you improve your overall problem solving.

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://math.berkeley.edu/~gmelvin/polya.pdf
• ↑ https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/N_R/Problem-solving
• ↑ https://asq.org/quality-resources/problem-solving
• ↑ https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/evaluate/evaluate-community-interventions/collect-analyze-data/main
• ↑ https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCT_96.htm
• ↑ https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/problem-solving.html
• ↑ Erin Conlon, PCC, JD. Executive Life Coach. Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.
• ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5930973/
• ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/oct/13/mental-exercises-to-keep-your-brain-sharp
• ↑ https://www.apa.org/monitor/2014/02/video-game
• ↑ https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05449-7

About This Article

To improve your problem-solving skills, start by clearly defining the problem and your objective or goal. Next, gather as much information as you can about the problem and organize the data by rewording, condensing, or summarizing it. Then, analyze the information you've gathered, looking for important links, patterns, and relationships in the data. Finally, brainstorm possible solutions, evaluate the solutions, and choose one to implement. For tips on implementing solutions successfully, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Think Faster, More Efficiently and Accurately

Last updated May 22, 2023. Edited and medically reviewed by Patrick Alban, DC . Written by Deane Alban .

Fast thinking is important, but mental processing speed is often less valuable than accuracy. Learn 14 ways to help you think faster and more efficiently.

Do you often think of the perfect snappy comeback … after it’s too late?

Does it take you longer than your colleagues to get your work done?

Do you feel it takes you longer than it should to learn new information or read a book?

Are you the last one in your class to finish an exam?

If so, you’ll be interested to know that you can learn how to think faster and better.

Benefits of Fast Thinking

Most people associate fast thinking with higher intelligence.

This is not necessarily true, but there are still many reasons why thinking faster can be desirable.

Faster thinking can help with many aspects of life:

• When people are required to think quickly, they report feeling happier, more energetic, more creative, and more self-confident. 
• Faster thinking can enhance skills critical to success such as planning, goal-setting, problem-solving, and the ability to stay focused on tasks. 
• When you know you can think fast on your feet, it can make you more comfortable socially, when speaking with customers or clients, or when giving presentations at work.
• Additionally, research confirms that people who think fast are seen by others as more charismatic . 
• Fast thinking can make you a more efficient student who blasts through homework and exams.
• If you play sports, faster reaction times can lead to better athletic performance.
• Quick thinking can make you a safer driver.
• Developing faster thinking can help you stay mentally sharp as you age.

Some Reasons Your Thinking Isn’t as Fast as You’d Like

If your thinking isn’t as fast as you’d like, or as fast as it used to be, it may be due to a variety of health and lifestyle factors.

Health and Lifestyle Factors

Diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, and other vascular risk factors can starve the brain of oxygen and glucose , resulting in slower thinking. 

Slow thinking can be a lingering side effect of a traumatic brain injury or stroke, or a sign of multiple sclerosis , dementia, or Alzheimer’s. 

It’s also a common symptom of depression . 

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Many Prescription Medications Can Slow Thinking

Anti-anxiety drugs and antidepressants can impact your ability to think quickly.

One class of drugs known as anticholinergics blocks the activity of acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter associated with memory and learning.

Anticholinergic medications cause brain activity to slow down, leading to memory loss and mental confusion.

" Ironically, there’s evidence that taking modafinil, a favorite “smart drug” among students and biohackers, slows down response times for some mental tasks, including decision-making.

A good clue that a medication is anticholinergic is in the common name of its general classification.

Most anticholinergic drugs belong to groups that start with “anti,” such as antihistamines, antidepressants, antipsychotics, antibiotics, antispasmodics, and antihypertensives.

If you suspect that any of your medications are affecting your thinking, look for them on this list of common anticholinergic medications .

Age and Genes Can Be Factors

Your thinking speed may also be a factor of your age.

Thinking is slower in childhood, then ramps up during the teens and young adulthood, stabilizes during middle age, and ultimately slows down during the senior years.

A clinical study on twins found that genes play a large role in mental processing speed as well. 

Fast Thinking vs Efficient, Accurate Thinking

Your ability to think fast depends on your brain’s processing speed.

Processing speed is defined as the time it takes the brain to take in new information, reach some judgment on it, and then formulate a response.

This input can be visual, auditory, or from any other senses.

For most people, the efficiency and accuracy of thought, rather than speed, are the limiting factors.

Gary L. Wenk, PhD, professor of psychology and neuroscience, is a leading authority on the consequences of chronic inflammation on the brain.

In Psychology Today , Dr. Wenk writes:

“Your brain is probably already functioning almost as fast as is safe. Most of us can push the processing speed a little without risk. Unfortunately, the neural processing speed in our brains is already just a few extra action potentials per second away from a full-blown seizure.”  

So, perhaps the more important goal is to learn how to think more efficiently and accurately, rather than simply faster.

There’s always a push-pull between processing speed and accuracy that psychologists call the “speed-accuracy trade-off.”

Your thinking, which may feel slow, may be, in fact, more efficient and/or accurate, which is often more important.

Thinking fast isn’t very helpful if you aren’t thinking clearly, accurately, or logically.

Additionally, there’s a potential downside to being a fast thinker.

Fast thinkers are more likely to engage in risky behaviors than those who think more deliberately and slowly. 

13 Ways to Faster, More Efficient Thinking

So, thinking speed isn’t the only factor that determines quality of thought.

Here are some of the best ways to make thinking not just faster, but also more efficient and accurate as well.

1. Make Minor, Unimportant Decisions Fast

The next time you go out to eat, challenge yourself to choose your meal in a minute or less.

Don’t worry if you don’t choose wisely since the consequences are small.

When you really want to make a decision fast, flip a coin . 

You may find yourself inwardly hoping for one outcome over another which will help you know what you really want.

(This is not the way to make important, life-altering decisions!)

2. Practice Doing Things You Are Good At, Faster

If you play music, learn songs with a faster tempo.

If you do puzzles (like crossword or Sudoku) or play games like chess, set a timer to force yourself to work faster.

See how fast you can do a simple chore like cleaning your desk or preparing a meal.

Don’t try this with something you are just learning as you’ll only get frustrated.

3. Stop Trying to Multitask

I say stop trying because, in fact, we don’t actually multitask.

The brain can’t focus on two tasks at once and, instead, quickly toggles back and forth between tasks.

NUTRITION FOR THE MIND/BODY CONNECTION

It’s almost impossible to live a lifestyle that provides all the nutrients needed for good brain health and performance. The reason? All of us confront multiple nutrient thieves — stress, poor diet, insomnia, pharmaceuticals, pollution, and more — that steal nutrients that the brain needs to thrive.

• Provides the building blocks to create new brain cells and brain chemicals
• Helps increase resilience to stress to avoid mental burnout
• Supplies the brain with the fuel it needs for mental energy

A foundational principle of mental health and cognitive performance is to supply the body with the best nutrition possible. And, when you buy a 3-month supply of any Performance Lab supplement, you get 1 extra month free . See why I recommend Performance Lab.

It’s well documented that attempting to multitask can make you less productive and reduces mental performance, attention span, and ability to learn. 

Get in the habit of giving one task at a time your undivided attention.

Paying attention to just one thing is key to learning and remembering.

4. Get Plenty of Sleep

Getting adequate quality sleep is one of the most important things to do for optimal brain function.

Lack of sleep negatively impacts both thinking speed and accuracy. 

Even moderate sleep loss can affect your mental performance as much as being drunk! 

5. Stay Cool

The latest research shows that mental processing speed goes down as the temperature goes up.

The ideal temperature for optimal thinking seems to be around 72 °F (22 °C). 

6. Meditate

A regular meditation practice builds a more efficient brain by stimulating the formation of new brain cells and neural connections, and by increasing brain plasticity.

Meditation strengthens communication between brain cells which, in turn, speeds up mental processing , enhances the capacity to learn, and improves the ability to concentrate. 

7. Play a Musical Instrument

Musicians have bigger, better connected, more symmetrical brains . 

Having musical training improves processing speed , cognitive skills , and working memory. 

8. Give Your Brain a Mental Workout

While any intellectually challenging endeavor can help you stay mentally sharp, there’s evidence that the right kind of brain training program can specifically help you think faster.

The IMPACT study , led by scientists from Mayo Clinic and the University of Southern California, found that BrainHQ’s original brain training program increased auditory processing by 131%. 

The Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) study was the first large-scale trial to show that computerized brain training can improve cognitive function in older adults.

This study concluded that computerized brain training provided long-lasting improvements in memory, reasoning, and processing speed.

Another way to challenge your mental speed is by taking a reputable timed intelligence test, such as the Mensa IQ Challenge.

Mensa is a worldwide organization for people with above-average intelligence.

You must score in the top 2% on an approved IQ test to join.

But anyone can exercise their brain with their free  Mensa IQ Challenge .

Take this 35-question test when you have a bit of uninterrupted time; it has a 25-minute time limit.

You can also download Mensa’s official Mensa Brain Test app for iPad or Mensa IQ Check for Android. 

9. Be Socially Active

Communicating via your electronic devices gives you time to ruminate over conversations.

Engaging with others face-to-face in real time, rather than digitally, will force you to think faster.

10. Get Regular Aerobic Exercise

Physical exercise can help you learn and think faster, focus better, and remember more. 

One huge study on over 1 million men found that exercise can actually raise IQ. 

All exercise is good for your brain, but aerobic exercises like walking, jogging, swimming, or biking specifically improve processing speed. 

11. Increase Your Dopamine Level

If you feel mentally sluggish, you may be low in the brain chemical dopamine .

Dopamine is the neurotransmitter of motivation, productivity, and attention.

Faster thinking is linked to higher brain levels of dopamine . 

12. Chew Gum

The simple act of chewing gum improves mental accuracy, reaction times, and the ability to focus.

It’s believed to work by increasing oxygen levels in regions of the brain responsible for attention. 

13. Get Your Hearing and Eyesight Checked

Most information enters the brain via your eyes and ears.

So, either hearing loss or vision problems can significantly impair your ability to process information quickly.

14 Supplements That Promote Faster Thinking

Another way to promote faster thinking is by taking the right nutritional supplements.

Here’s a look at the supplements that have been shown to improve processing speed, processing accuracy, or both, thus promoting faster, more efficient thinking.

1. Acetyl-l-Carnitine

Acetyl-l-carnitine (ALCAR) is an amino acid that’s the precursor of acetylcholine , the neurotransmitter of memory and learning.

It can improve processing speed, mental clarity, and memory and also works as a fast-acting natural antidepressant . 

Bacopa ( Bacopa monnieri ) is a traditional herbal brain tonic noted for reducing stress and anxiety, boosting mental energy and clarity, and protecting the brain from aging.

Research on  Bacognize® , a patented form of bacopa, has found it to be beneficial for processing speed, focus, short-term memory, and mood.

This ingredient can be found in a some of the better bacopa supplements. 

3. Black Cumin

Black cumin  ( Nigella sativa ) is a culinary spice used in Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine.

When taken as an herbal remedy, it yields modest benefits in processing speed. 

4. Caffeine

Caffeine is the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance.

It speeds up cognition in many ways, including improving verbal processing speed , reaction time, and accuracy. 

If you use caffeine, be mindful that too much can be counterproductive since it can increase stress, anxiety, and insomnia.

All these conditions can impair your ability to think clearly.

5. Citicoline

Citicoline is a naturally occurring compound that increases mental energy and protects the brain from damage, toxins, and aging.

Citicoline supplements can increase processing speed, working memory, verbal learning, and verbal memory. 

6. Fish Oil

Fish oil is usually taken for heart health, but it is equally important for brain health and function.

The omega-3 essential fatty acids found in fish oil can improve mood, memory, memory-related learning, and processing accuracy. 

Ginkgo ( Ginkgo biloba ) is one of the most popular herbal remedies in the world. 

It has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine as a brain tonic.

It enhances both processing speed and accuracy .

8. Lions’ Mane

Lion’s mane ( Hericium erinaceus ) is both a culinary mushroom and a brain supplement.

It helps to rebuild myelin , a protective coating surrounding nerve fibers that speeds up communication between brain cells . 

9. Lutein and Zeaxanthin

Lutein and zeaxanthin are antioxidants found in the eye that promote visual processing speed , an important component in visual learning.

10. Phosphatidylserine

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a fat-soluble amino acid found in high concentrations in the brain.

It is an integral part of healthy brain cell membranes.

PS normalizes levels of important neurotransmitters and stress hormones and can increase both processing speed and accuracy. 

Phosphatidylserine works synergistically with ginkgo , so this is a good combination to take together. 

11. Rhodiola Rosea

Rhodiola rosea is a traditional herb used to increase physical stamina, mental vitality, and longevity.

It’s considered an adaptogen , a substance that increases tolerance to both psychological and physiological stress.

Research shows that it improves processing accuracy, attention, and reaction time. 

12. Vinpocetine

Vinpocetine is a synthetic version of vincamine, a naturally occurring compound found in the periwinkle plant ( Vinca minor ).

It increases both processing speed and accuracy. 

Vinpocetine works by increasing blood flow , protecting against oxidative damage, reducing brain inflammation , and balancing neurotransmitter levels . 

13. Vitamin D

Low levels of vitamin D , the sunshine vitamin, have been linked to slower thinking and poorer cognitive function, particularly in seniors. 

Since it’s hard to get adequate sun exposure to sustain optimal levels of vitamin D, you might benefit from supplementation.

NT-020™ is a proprietary formulation of blueberry, carnosine, green tea, vitamin D3, and red grape extract.

This patented nutrient blend is a key ingredient in a few select brain supplements.

It was found to significantly increase processing speed during a 2-month trial period. 

Only a few supplement manufacturers currently offer supplements that contain this formula. 

Foods and Supplements That Slow Down Thinking

There are a few substances which often slow down thinking that you should avoid.

The herbal remedy lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis ), which is often taken for stress, anxiety, or insomnia, acts as a natural sedative and leads to a decrease in processing speed. 

Ironically, there’s evidence that taking modafinil, a favorite “smart drug” among students and biohackers, slows down response times for some mental tasks, including decision-making . 

Sugar, in excessive amounts, slows down communication between brain cells . 

And finally, it should come as no surprise that alcohol slows your reaction time and your thinking. 

How Fast Is Your Thinking? Take a Mental Speed Test

If you are concerned that your slow thinking is due to a health concern or your medications, talk to your doctor.

But if you’re just curious as to how fast or slow your thinking speed is, Psychology Today offers a  Mental Speed Test that you can take for free in just 5 minutes.

Recommended: Upgrading brain health is key to making your brain work better.

• Improve your mental clarity and focus.
• Boost your memory and your ability to learn.
• Increase your capacity to think critically, solve problems, and make decisions.

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How to Solve Math Problems Faster: 15 Techniques to Show Students

Written by Marcus Guido

• Teaching Strategies

“Test time. No calculators.”

You’ll intimidate many students by saying this, but teaching techniques to solve math problems with ease and speed can make it less daunting.

This can also  make math more rewarding . Instead of relying on calculators, students learn strategies that can improve their concentration and estimation skills while building number sense. And, while there are educators who  oppose math “tricks”  for valid reasons, proponents point to benefits such as increased confidence to handle difficult problems.

Here are 15 techniques to show students,  helping them solve math problems faster:

Addition and Subtraction

1. two-step addition.

Many students struggle when learning to add integers of three digits or higher together, but changing the process’s steps can make it easier.

The first step is to  add what’s easy.  The second step is to  add the rest.

Let’s say students must find the sum of 393 and 89. They should quickly see that adding 7 onto 393 will equal 400 — an easier number to work with. To balance the equation, they can then subtract 7 from 89.

Broken down, the process is:

• (393 + 7) + (89 – 7)

With this fast technique, big numbers won’t look as scary now.

2. Two-Step Subtraction

There’s a similar method for subtraction.

Remove what’s easy. Then remove what’s left.

Suppose students must find the difference of 567 and 153. Most will feel that 500 is a simpler number than 567. So, they just have to take away 67 from the minuend — 567 — and the subtrahend — 153 — before solving the equation.

Here’s the process:

• (567 – 67) – (153 – 67)

Instead of two complex numbers, students will only have to tackle one.

3. Subtracting from 1,000

You can  give students confidence  to handle four-digit integers with this fast technique.

To subtract a number from 1,000, subtract that number’s first two digits from 9. Then, subtract the final digit from 10.

Let’s say students must solve 1,000 – 438.  Here are the steps:

This also applies to 10,000, 100,000 and other integers that follow this pattern.

Multiplication and Division

4. doubling and halving.

When students have to multiply two integers, they can speed up the process when one is an even number. They just need to  halve the even number and double the other number.

Students can stop the process when they can no longer halve the even integer, or when the equation becomes manageable.

Using 33 x 48 as an example,  here’s the process:

The only prerequisite is understanding the 2 times table.

5. Multiplying by Powers of 2

This tactic is a speedy variation of doubling and halving.

It simplifies multiplication if a number in the equation is a power of 2, meaning it works for 2, 4, 8, 16 and so on.

Here’s what to do:  For each power of 2 that makes up that number, double the other number.

For example, 9 x 16 is the same thing as 9 x (2 x 2 x 2 x 2) or 9 x 24. Students can therefore double 9 four times to reach the answer:

Unlike doubling and halving, this technique demands an understanding of exponents along with a strong command of the 2 times table.

6. Multiplying by 9

For most students, multiplying by 9 — or 99, 999 and any number that follows this pattern — is difficult compared with multiplying by a power of 10.

But there’s an easy tactic to solve this issue, and  it has two parts.

First, students round up the 9  to 10. Second, after solving the new equation, they subtract the number they just multiplied by 10 from the answer.

For example, 67 x 9 will lead to the same answer as 67 x 10 – 67. Following the order of operations will give a result of 603. Similarly, 67 x 99 is the same as 67 x 100 – 67.

Despite more steps, altering the equation this way is usually faster.

7. Multiplying by 11

There’s an easier way for multiplying two-digit integers by 11.

Let’s say students must find the product of 11 x 34.

The idea is to put a space between the digits, making it 3_4. Then, add the two digits together and put the sum in the space.

The answer is 374.

What happens if the sum is two digits? Students would put the second digit in the space and add 1 to the digit to the left of the space.  For example:

It’s multiplication without having to multiply.

8. Multiplying Even Numbers by 5

This technique only requires basic division skills.

There are two steps,  and 5 x 6 serves as an example. First, divide the number being multiplied by 5 — which is 6 — in half. Second, add 0 to the right of number.

The result is 30, which is the correct answer.

It’s an ideal, easy technique for students mastering the 5 times table.

9. Multiplying Odd Numbers by 5

This is another time-saving tactic that works well when teaching students the 5 times table.

This one has three steps,  which 5 x 7 exemplifies.

First, subtract 1 from the number being multiplied by 5, making it an even number. Second, cut that number in half — from 6 to 3 in this instance. Third, add 5 to the right of the number.

The answer is 35.

Who needs a calculator?

10. Squaring a Two-Digit Number that Ends with 1

Squaring a high two-digit number can be tedious, but there’s a shortcut if 1 is the second digit.

There are four steps to this shortcut,  which 812 exemplifies:

• Subtract 1 from the integer: 81 – 1 = 80
• Square the integer, which is now an easier number: 80 x 80 = 6,400
• Add the integer with the resulting square twice: 6,400 + 80 + 80 = 6,560
• Add 1: 6,560 + 1 = 6,561

This work-around eliminates the difficulty surrounding the second digit, allowing students to work with multiples of 10.

11. Squaring a Two-Digit Numbers that Ends with 5

Squaring numbers ending in 5 is easier, as there are  only two parts of the process.

First, students will always make 25 the product’s last digits.

Second, to determine the product’s first digits, students must multiply the number’s first digit — 9, for example — by the integer that’s one higher — 10, in this case.

So, students would solve 952 by designating 25 as the last two digits. They would then multiply 9 x 10 to receive 90. Putting these numbers together, the  result is 9,025.

Just like that, a hard problem becomes easy multiplication for many students.

12. Calculating Percentages

Cross-multiplication is an  important skill  to develop, but there’s an easier way to calculate percentages.

For example, if students want to know what 65% of 175 is, they can multiply the numbers together and move the decimal place two digits to the left.

The result is 113.75, which is indeed the correct answer.

This shortcut is a useful timesaver on tests and quizzes.

13. Balancing Averages

To determine the average among a set of numbers, students can balance them instead of using a complex formula.

Suppose a student wants to volunteer for an average of 10 hours a week over a period of four weeks. In the first three weeks, the student worked for 10, 12 and 14 hours.

To determine the number of hours required in the fourth week, the student must  add how much he or she surpassed or missed the target average  in the other weeks:

• 14 hours – 10 hours = 4 hours
• 12 – 10 = 2
• 10 – 10 = 0
• 4 hours + 2 hours + 0 hours = 6 hours

To learn the number of hours for the final week, the student must  subtract the sum from the target average:

• 10 hours – 6 hours = 4 hours

With practice, this method may not even require pencil and paper. That’s how easy it is. 

Word Problems

14. identifying buzzwords.

Students who struggle to translate  word problems  into equations will benefit from learning how to spot buzzwords — phrases that indicate specific actions.

This isn’t a trick. It’s a tactic.

Teach students to look for these buzzwords,  and what skill they align with in most contexts:

Be sure to include buzzwords that typically appear in their textbooks (or other classroom  math books ), as well as ones you use on tests and assignments.

As a result, they should have an  easier time processing word problems .

15. Creating Sub-Questions

For complex word problems, show students how to dissect the question by answering three specific sub-questions.

Each student should ask him or herself:

• What am I looking for?  — Students should read the question over and over, looking for buzzwords and identifying important details.
• What information do I need?  — Students should determine which facts, figures and variables they need to solve the question. For example, if they determine the question is rooted in subtraction, they need the minuend and subtrahend.
• What information do I have?  — Students should be able to create the core equation using the information in the word problem, after determining which details are important.

These sub-questions help students avoid overload.

Instead of writing and analyzing each detail of the question, they’ll be able to identify key information. If you identify students who are struggling with these, you can use  peer learning  as needed.  

For more fresh approaches to teaching math in your classroom, consider treating your students to a range of  fun math activities .

Final Thoughts About these Ways to Solve Math Problems Faster

Showing these 15 techniques to students can give them the  confidence to tackle tough questions .

They’re also  mental math  exercises, helping them build skills related to focus, logic and critical thinking.

A rewarding class equals an  engaging class . That’s an easy equation to remember.

> Create or log into your teacher account on Prodigy  — a free, adaptive math game that adjusts content to accommodate player trouble spots and learning speeds. Aligned to US and Canadian curricula, it’s loved by more than 500,000 teachers and 15 million students.

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• Project management

Reach a solution faster with these problem-solving techniques

Georgina Guthrie

May 20, 2021

This post was originally published on October 18, 2019, and updated most recently on May 20, 2021.

There are three common approaches to any problem. One: Panic. Two: Bury your head in the sand. And three: Tackle it. While we all succumb to option one or two from time to time, let’s focus on the problem-solving techniques that will get you to option three.

Learning to overcome problems effectively is one of the most valuable things you can learn for both your professional and personal life. If you hold a senior or managerial position, then you’ll not only need to know how to solve personal challenges but also to figure out how to make decisions on behalf of your team or organization. These larger problems often need to be turned into projects.

Whether your project is personal or organizational, big or small, using a methodical approach will help tackle it more effectively. First, let’s take a look at what problem-solving is.

What is problem-solving?

Solving a problem involves strategically working through every aspect of an issue to reach a solution.

First, you need to define the problem. Then, you need to evaluate potential fixes. After that comes implementation, and finally, confirmation that the problem has been resolved.

This process can be done individually or as a group. Collective problem solving is more common in business scenarios because workplace decisions usually affect more than one person.

How to solve any problem in 5 steps

These stages can help anyone start solving an issue. They also come in handy during times of stress because they give you a clear route to follow.

1. Define the problem

It sounds like a no-brainer, but it’s not always as clear-cut as you might think — especially when there are multiple stages of factors.

Say, for example, the issue is a missed deadline. It might not be as simple as turning to the person responsible for delivery. There may have been a chain of events that had just as valid of an impact. First, define the nature of the issue —what are the signs something’s wrong? Then work your way back through the potential causes.

You don’t have to be concrete here, simply keep your options open and evaluate everything. If you need to involve other people to find out what’s gone wrong, keep your tone non-accusatory . People can clam up and blame others when they feel under threat. To stop that happening, reiterate it’s not about blame; it’s about finding a solution.

There are diagrams you can use to help you out here. A fishbone diagram (aka a ‘cause and effect diagram,’ is one method that can help you locate the route cause.

The five whys approach

Another option is an exercise called ‘five whys,’ which involves asking employees to methodically dig deeper into the problem than they might otherwise.

Simply start with the question ‘why did x happen,’ and then ask ‘why is that?’ five or more times to unearth more details. Obviously, asking this in person makes you sound a little interrogatory, so you might consider creating a form for the exercise. If you really prefer in-person interaction, let people know what you’re doing ahead of time. Mix up your ‘why is that’ with similar variations. And remember to smile and keep the tone light. This is about reaching a solution together, not blame.

2. Find a solution

This could be something you work through on your own. But, if you’re operating within an organization, it may be better to solve the issue as a small group.

Your solution really depends on the problem you have. But for the best chance of success, come up with as many options as possible, then narrow your selection down to three or so. We’ll go into more detail about how to come up with solutions a little later on in the article.

3. Evaluate your options

Once you’ve chosen your favorite solutions, evaluate each one and decide on the best route (that includes a primary solution and a contingency plan). You may want to involve relevant colleagues to help you reach a decision — especially if your choice will impact different departments.

4. Implement your plan

Once you’ve set the wheels in motion, you need to keep a close eye on how your chosen solution is performing. Does it fix the issue, or do you need to implement your contingency plan ?

If you’re managing a team, then helping everyone feel organized is crucial if you want to keep stress to a minimum. Project management software is a good option here because it means you and your team can track progress in real-time, share updates, and collaborate more freely, ironing out barriers that could lead to confusion.

5. Assess the project’s success

As an optional fifth and final stage, you can evaluate your chosen route to see whether it was effective, either as a post-mortem meeting  or a via some number crunching — whatever works for you.

Evaluating everything post-event gives you a better understanding of what went wrong and how well you managed it — which can help you if something similar happens again.

Two problem-solving techniques you need to know

Now you know the steps involved in problem-solving, here are some of the problem-solving techniques you can use to help you define your solution.

1. Creative Problem Solving (CPS)

CPS isn’t just about coming up with ad-hoc ideas. It’s a legitimate process formulated by Alex Faickney Osborn — the father of traditional brainstorming — and academic Sid Parnes , designed to help teams think more creatively.

3 key phases make up the CPS method.

• Brainstorm as many ideas as you can. Don’t evaluate, critique, or prioritize them — just write them all down. The idea is to keep moving. The faster you go, the more you’ll get into your creative flow. If you’re not into brainstorming, a group mind map works just as well.
• Turn all your problems into questions. This encourages the group (or you) to address the situation more creatively and helps remove the burden of blame.
• Keep your language positive and affirmative. Avoid words like ‘no’ and ‘no but’ like the plague. Instead, ask ‘yes and’ to keep the conversation flowing and expand ideas.

2. Process-oriented problem solving

This is a formally defined approach that can be scaled to fit the task. The good thing about this method is that the journey to fixing the problem is already defined, which makes that initial jumping-off point a little less intimidating. There are several routes you can take, but we’ll focus on the three most popular options.

• Hurson’s Productive Thinking Model: In his 2007 book Think Better: An Innovator’s Guide to Productive Thinking , Tim Hurson defines six steps intended to give structure to solution planning while maintaining creativity. It involves working together to answer the following questions: 1) What’s going on? 2) What is success? 3) What is the question? 4) Generate answers 5) Create the solution 6) Align resources.
• Means-End Analysis (MEA): This approach is designed to reduce the difference between the problem and the goal. To narrow this gap, teams collect all the information they believe has led them to the problem, then systematically try to eliminate the issues one by one, starting with the biggest.
• Plan Do Check Act (PDCA): A favorite of developers, this iterative technique focuses on continually improving the process, one step at a time. Teams begin by setting out objectives, then implement the plan, compare it against previous results, then define the solution based on the knowledge gained. And then they repeat.

Common barriers to problem-solving

Ever heard of reproductive thinking ? No, it’s nothing to do with the birds and the bees. It’s a term coined by psychologists to describe how people reproduce past experiences to help them deal with current problems.

Problems arise when the mind becomes so focused on one particular solution that it can’t comprehend any other route — something that’s known as mental entrenchment . This usually happens when you’re drawing too heavily from past experience: You want to do something you know worked previously, even if it has little relation to your current issue.

Keep your mind open and pay attention to any biases you may have developed. The best way to do this is to get a second opinion and listen to what others think. Their fresh perspective may help illuminate routes you hadn’t previously considered.

Other barriers include:

• Confirmation bias: This is when you search for or interpret information that confirms your existing belief while disregarding data that doesn’t support it.
• Unnecessary constraints: This happens when people get overwhelmed with the drama of a problem and make the situation more confusing than it needs to be. The best way to avoid this is to have a plan in place and a clear schedule to help people work toward a solution.
• Fixedness: This is when people are inflexible and can’t accept different perspectives.
• Groupthink: This happens when people start agreeing with each other because it’s easier than risking the challenge of conflict.
• Rigidity: People naturally want to resist change . It’s important to have self-awareness, so you can spot when you (or your team) are avoiding learning or implementing something new just because it’s never been done before. One way to change perspective is through something called constructive controversy . Split people into two teams and ask one group to play devil’s advocate to refute a solution, while the other defends it. Forcing people to discuss the pros and cons objectively brings any unconscious bias to the surface and helps people think more flexibly.

Final thoughts

Problems are an inherent part of working life, and when things go wrong, it’s natural to feel stressed and confused. The secret to keeping a calm head is having pre-defined steps in place before things go belly up — so that when they do, you don’t need to panic and scramble around for a solution. If you approach each task with an open mind, the right project management tools , and a methodical plan, you’ll soon learn to take issues big and small in your stride.

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Improving your problem-solving skills with learning games for adults

We face problems every day . Whether it's a complex problem at work or a personal issue that needs solving, good problem-solving skills are essential for success in both your personal and professional life. 

If you’re feeling a little rusty in the problem-solving department, there are many ways to enhance your problem-solving abilities, like cognitive training techniques and brain games. That’s right: Games can help improve your cognitive abilities like processing speed, reasoning, and working memory , which are essential for effective problem-solving. 

So if you’re ready to learn how to improve your problem-solving skills with some of our recommended cognitive training techniques and tips, keep reading. And you’ll be making quicker, more confident decisions in no time. 

What is problem solving, and why is it important?

Problem-solving is, well, the process of identifying, defining, and finding a solution to challenges or difficulties. It involves several steps, including recognizing the existence of a problem, understanding its nature, generating potential solutions, evaluating those solutions, and then implementing the best one. 

Problem-solving is an essential skill that enables you to navigate various aspects of your personal and professional lives effectively. In your workplace, for example, you can quickly identify issues and implement appropriate solutions, contributing to increased productivity and efficiency. In your personal life, good problem-solving skills can help you navigate relationships, make informed decisions, and cope with unexpected situations.

Good problem-solving skills not only help you make better decisions but also improve your critical thinking abilities, allowing you to find effective solutions to complex problems. And by developing and honing your problem-solving skills through cognitive training, you can become more adaptable and resourceful, capable of tackling a wide range of challenges that life throws your way. 

The science behind cognitive training for improving problem solving

So, what is cognitive training? And what does science have to say about it? 

Cognitive training involves a range of activities and exercises that target different cognitive functions. These may include puzzles, memory exercises, or brain games that require strategic thinking. The goal is to stimulate your brain and enhance its ability to process information, reason effectively, and retain information. By engaging in cognitive training , you can boost your mental capabilities and improve your overall problem-solving skills.

As you engage in cognitive training exercises, you’ll experience improvements in processing speed (the ability to absorb and process information quickly), reasoning (logical thinking and decision-making), and working memory (the capacity to hold and manipulate information over short periods). These enhanced cognitive abilities directly contribute to more effective problem-solving skills.

By understanding the principles behind cognitive training and consistently practicing these types of exercises, you can enhance your problem-solving abilities and apply these skills in various aspects of your lives. But not before you learn how to identify problems, which is a key first step to finding effective solutions. 

The problem-solving process

Effective problem identification is a crucial first step in the problem-solving process. Here’s how to do it: 

• Define the Problem: Clearly articulating the issue at hand is essential for understanding its scope and complexity. So take time to describe the problem in detail, considering the context, constraints, and possible repercussions.
• Gather Information: Collect relevant data and information about the problem. This may involve research, consulting with experts, or seeking input from those affected by the issue. Having accurate and comprehensive information is critical for informed decision-making during the problem-solving process.
• Involve Others: Collaborate with your team or other people to ensure diverse perspectives and insights are considered. A good idea can come from everywhere, and a collective approach can lead to more innovative and effective solutions.
• Identify Root Causes: Once the problem is defined, delve deeper to identify its underlying causes. Use techniques such as the "5 Whys" method or cause-and-effect analysis to pinpoint the factors contributing to the issue. Addressing these root causes is crucial for developing long-term, sustainable solutions.
• Select a Problem-Solving Strategy: Employ various problem-solving methods to devise a solution that tackles the root causes effectively. These may include brainstorming, evaluating pros and cons, or implementing a trial-and-error approach. The strategy you ultimately choose should be adaptable and considerate of potential challenges or obstacles.

By following these tips for problem identification and employing problem-solving techniques, you can increase your chances of finding effective and lasting solutions to the issues you face.

6 ways to improve your critical thinking skills

Here’s the truth: You can’t effectively solve a problem without using your critical thinking skills. 

Critical thinking is the process of objectively analyzing information, evaluating the credibility of arguments, and making informed decisions based on logic and reasoning. It involves things like questioning assumptions, considering multiple perspectives, and weighing evidence before reaching a conclusion.

Think about it: Having the ability to analyze information, evaluate arguments, and make reasoned decisions allows you to approach problems logically —and we have a few tips to help you improve your ability to do just that: 

• Break Down Information: To sharpen your critical thinking abilities, practice breaking down complex information into smaller components. Identify patterns, relationships, and underlying principles that can help you better understand the situation.
• Evaluate Arguments: Develop the habit of assessing the credibility and relevance of arguments presented to you. Consider the source of the information, identify any potential biases, and scrutinize the validity of the evidence provided.
• Make Reasoned Decisions: When faced with a decision, take time to gather all relevant information and consider possible outcomes. Weigh the pros and cons before arriving at a well-reasoned conclusion that takes into account both short-term and long-term consequences. (We love a good pros and cons list.) 
• Play Brain Games: Regularly engaging in brain games such as Sudoku, crosswords, chess, or logic puzzles can be an effective way to enhance critical thinking skills. These games require you to analyze information, evaluate potential moves or solutions, and make strategic decisions based on reasoning. We’ll go into more detail about this later, so hang tight. 
• Try Mindfulness Meditation: Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on the present moment while calmly acknowledging and accepting your thoughts and feelings. Practicing mindfulness can enhance attention, concentration, and emotional regulation, all of which are critical for effective problem-solving. And if you're interested, you can try it for free for an entire year with the Balance app .
• Consider Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a psychotherapy technique that helps you identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors. By learning to recognize unproductive thinking habits, you can develop more constructive approaches to problem-solving.

By exploring these various cognitive training techniques and consistently incorporating them into your daily life, you’ll be well on your way to enhancing your problem-solving skills and tackling life's challenges more logically and effectively.

How to approach problems with a critical mindset

Approaching problems with a critical mindset is a great way to turn critical thinking into a habit. But what does that mean, and how do you do it? Let’s break it down:  

• Embrace Critical Thinking: Develop the habit of questioning assumptions and challenging conventional wisdom when faced with a problem. This will help to uncover hidden biases or overlooked factors that may influence the issue at hand.
• Consider Multiple Perspectives: Explore different viewpoints and perspectives when assessing a problem. This allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the situation and can lead to innovative solutions that might not have been apparent from a single viewpoint.
• Evaluate Evidence: Gather relevant information and carefully evaluate its credibility and reliability. Assess the strength of the evidence supporting various arguments or positions before making a decision.

By following these tips, you can develop a critical mindset that habitually enables you to approach problems more effectively, leading to well-informed decisions and lasting solutions.

Problem solving methods and techniques

Now that you know a bit about how to approach a problem, here’s how you can implement these problem-solving techniques in your daily life:

• Understand the Context: When applying problem-solving techniques in different settings, it's essential to consider the unique context and constraints of each situation. The approach that works well in a professional environment may not be suitable for a personal issue, so tailor your strategies accordingly.
• Adapt and Be Flexible: Effective problem-solving requires adaptability and flexibility. Be open to changing your approach if circumstances shift or new information emerges. This willingness to adapt will help you find solutions that are relevant and sustainable in the long term.
• Communicate and Collaborate: In both workplace and personal settings, communication and collaboration are key to successful problem-solving. Share your thoughts, ideas, and concerns with team members or stakeholders, and actively seek their input. A diverse array of perspectives can lead to more innovative and effective solutions.
• Learn from Experience: Reflect on past problem-solving experiences and learn from both successes and failures. Apply these lessons to future situations to continuously improve your problem-solving skills.
• Practice Regularly: To develop strong problem-solving abilities, practice regularly by tackling problems in various aspects of your life. The more you practice, the more adept you'll become at identifying problems, generating solutions, and making well-informed decisions.

How to practice effective decision-making

By now, you know how to approach a problem. But how do you solve one? 

Effective decision-making skills are closely related to problem-solving skills, and the two can work together to help you achieve better results. So the next time you have to make a decision, give these steps a try: 

• Gather Information: Just as you need to gather information to understand a problem, you also need to gather information to make informed decisions. This may involve conducting research into various options, consulting with experts, or seeking input from those affected by the issue. Comprehensive and accurate information is crucial for evaluating potential solutions.
• Evaluate Options: Once you have gathered enough information, carefully assess the different options available to address the problem. Consider factors such as feasibility, impact, costs, and potential risks when weighing the pros and cons of each alternative.
• Make a Decision: After evaluating the options, select a solution based on the available information and your assessment of its effectiveness in addressing the root causes of the problem. Ensure that your chosen solution is sustainable in the long term and takes into account any potential challenges or obstacles that may arise.
• Monitor Outcomes: Track the outcomes of your decision to gauge its effectiveness and learn from the results. Be prepared to reassess and adjust your approach if necessary, based on feedback or changing circumstances.
• Refine Your Decision-Making Skills: Continuously work on improving your decision-making abilities by reflecting on past decisions, learning from both successes and failures, and seeking opportunities to practice these skills in various aspects of your life.

The result of putting this into action? Better outcomes and greater success. That’s a win-win if we ever saw one. 

Benefits of brain games for improving problem-solving skills

One fun way to improve all of these problem-solving and decision-making skills we’ve discussed is by playing brain games. 

Brain games stimulate your mind and foster the development of various cognitive abilities like processing speed, reasoning, and working memory, which are all essential for effective problem-solving. 

These games challenge you to think critically and make decisions based on logic and strategy. And as a result, they help cultivate a more agile and adaptable mindset that is valuable for tackling real-life problems. (Did we mention they’re also fun?) 

One popular brain training app that incorporates a wide variety of games is Elevate. 

With more than 40 games spread across math , reading , writing , speaking , and memory skills , the Elevate app offers personalized training programs based on your goals, and it adapts to your skill level and performance over time. 

By incorporating brain games into daily routines or cognitive training programs, you’ll be able to make big improvements in your critical thinking and problem-solving skills, making it easier to tackle challenges in both personal and professional aspects of your life. Oh, and did we mention they’re also fun to play?

Improve your problem-solving skills with learning games for adults

By knowing how to identify a problem, approach it with a critical mindset, and implement a few key problem-solving techniques, you’ll be able to tackle your next challenge with ease. 

And if you’re ready to up-level your overall problem-solving skills with the help of brain training games, download the Elevate app on iOS or Android today and discover 40+ brain training games, personalized training programs, and expert guidance to help you optimize your cognitive abilities and improve your overall performance in daily life. 

With the Elevate app, you can take control of your cognitive function and become a more effective problem solver. It’s what we like to call a no-brainer decision! 

Enhancing your cognitive abilities

• Learn what brain training is, its benefits, and how you can easily get started training your brain. 

The science of cognitive training

• Training cognitive skills can improve brain function. Think of it like a workout for your mind. Read on to learn how brain games can help. 

The importance of mental fitness

• Mental fitness refers to your ability to sustain your overall well-being. Learn tips to improve yours. 

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How to Improve Problem Solving Skills [10 Ways]

While it might seem like some people are just born with stronger problem-solving skills, there are strategies that anyone can use to improve them.

That’s right, it’s possible to significantly enhance your abilities in this area — and the best part is, most of these activities are also pretty fun!

What Are Problem Solving Skills?

Before we get to the engaging activities, let’s refine our understanding of problem-solving skills, which are any techniques that help you consistently:

• Understand the causes of problems
• Overcome short-term crises
• Create strategies to solve longer-term problems
• Turn problems into opportunities

What Problem Solving Skills Should I Have?

You’ll be able to solve problems in your role better as you grow in your industry-specific knowledge. But there are also a few universal problem solving skills we all need:

• Defining the Problem: Deeply understanding a problem through research , leading to better solutions. Research can include interviewing, reading books and emails, analyzing financial data, searching your organization’s intranet, and organizing your findings.
• Brainstorming: Creating a myriad of new solutions quickly. In group brainstorms, allow everyone to state ideas. Appreciate all input, and avoid criticism. Then, organize solutions into groups around common themes.
• Analyzing: Using disciplined thought processes to evaluate each possible solution. Besides listing their costs and benefits, you might apply deductive reasoning, game theory, and the rules of logic (including fallacies) to them.
• Managing Risk: Anticipating and trying to avoid the downsides of key solutions. Your team can list potential risks, rate how likely each is, predict a date by which each might either happen or no longer be an issue, and devise ways to reduce those risks.
• Deciding: The ability to decide on a solution and move forward with it. After an appropriate amount of time, an analysis of possible solutions, and feedback from team members, a designated decider must choose and implement a solution.
• Managing Emotions: Applying emotional intelligence in order to improve your and your team members’ ability to think clearly. This requires you to recognize emotions in yourself and others, manage feelings, and channel emotions into useful work.

10 Exciting Ways to Improve Problem Solving Skills

Use these ten creative ways to improve problem solving skills, develop more strategic ways of thinking , and train your brain to do more.

1. Dance Your Heart Out

Did you know that dancing has a positive impact on neural processing, possibly developing new neural pathways to go around dopamine-depleted blockages in the brain?

This means that if you engage in ballet or another form of structured dance, doing so may facilitate convergent thinking . In other words, it may help you find a single, appropriate answer to a problem. If you need help with divergent thinking (finding multiple answers to a problem), engaging in more improvised types of dance such as hip-hop or tap might just do the trick.

2. Work out Your Brain with Logic Puzzles or Games

The winning strategy when playing chess, Sudoku, a Rubik’s Cube, or other brain-boosting games is actually to work the problem backward, not forward. The same strategy can apply to realistic strategic-thinking situations.

To build up your brain muscle and develop new problem-solving techniques, practice some logic puzzles and other games .

3. Get a Good Night’s Sleep

More than any other sleeping or awake state, Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep directly enhances creative processing in the brain. REM sleep helps “stimulate associative networks, allowing the brain to make new and useful associations between unrelated ideas” and are “not due to selective memory enhancements” such as memory consolidation, which occurs when awake.

4. Work out to Some Tunes

A study of cardiac rehabilitation patients tested verbal fluency after exercising with and without music. Results showed that when they listened to music while working out, participants more than doubled their scores on verbal fluency tests in contrast to when they worked out in silence. According to the study’s lead author, “The combination of music and exercise may stimulate and increase cognitive arousal while helping to organize the cognitive output.”

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5. keep an “idea journal” with you, 6. participate in yoga.

The powerful combination of body awareness, breathing, and meditation that is required during yoga practice has been shown to significantly raise cognitive test scores. Other results from a University of Illinois study include shorter reaction times, more accuracy, and increased attention.

7. Eat Some Cheerios (And Then Think About It)

The Cheerios Effect is the name physicists have given to the event that happens when the last few cheerios in a bowl always cling to each other. The cause of this occurrence is surface tension.

The takeaway is that when it comes to experiencing tension while trying to solve a problem, cling to those around you. Rely on others’ experiences and ideas, even those from different career fields. Draw connections. Brainstorm. Work together to get the job done.

8. Use Mind Maps to Help Visualize the Problem

Mind Maps , a visual snapshot of a problem and its possible solutions, can help focus the mind, stimulate the brain, increase the capacity for creative thinking, and generate more ideas for solutions.

Make a Mind Map by drawing your problem as the central idea. Add “main branches” consisting of all the reasons for the problem. Use “sub-branches” to explore further details.

Next, make a separate Mind Map of all possible solutions to the central problem. Add “main branches” showing all the ways that your problem can be solved, such as colleagues that can help, techniques you can apply, and other resources you can use. Add “sub-branches” to further explore the details. Make a final branch with the most suitable solution for the main problem. Use “sub-branches” for details.

Through this exercise, you should be able to see which “branch” or option is the most practical, time-saving, and cost-effective problem solving method .

9. Create “Psychological Distance”

What is psychological distance? According to the construal level theory (CLT), it’s “anything that we do not experience as occurring now, here, and to ourselves.” Some examples include taking another person’s perspective or thinking of the problem as unlikely.

Scientists have shown that by increasing the mental distance between us and our problem, we’ll have an increase in creative solutions. This happens because thinking more abstractly helps us form unexpected connections between seemingly unrelated concepts, thus allowing our minds to increase its problem solving capacity.

10. Play Some Soccer

A link has been found between our brain’s “executive functions” and sports success . When in action, our brains are quickly multitasking between moving, anticipating, strategizing, reacting, and performing. Doing all these things at once requires an enormous amount of brain activity.

This can be related to our working world when we plan, reason, monitor our actions and problem solve all at once. Therefore, it may be concluded that when you play soccer or any other fast-moving sport, you’re rewiring your brain to be quicker at thinking, processing, and reacting to problems.

To learn more about how to develop your problem-solving and decision making capabilities or to receive training on applied strategic thinking skills , contact CMOE today!

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3 Ways to Improve Your Decision Making

• Walter Frick

First, be less certain — about everything.

To get better at making decisions, you have to improve your ability to make predictions (how different choices change the likelihood of different outcomes) and your judgment (how desirable each of those outcomes is). While there are countless ways to work on these two skills, there are three simple rules that can help the most. First, be less certain. We’re all more confident about each step of the decision-making process than we ought to be. What else would you think about if you were less sure that A would cause B, or that B is preferable to C? Second, always ask yourself ask “How often does that typically happen?” If you think outcome B is preferable to outcome C, you might ask: How often has that historically been the case? Third, brush up on your understanding of probability. Research has shown that even basic training in probability makes people better forecasters and helps them avoid certain cognitive biases.

To make a good decision, you need to have a sense of two things: how different choices change the likelihood of different outcomes and how desirable each of those outcomes is. In other words, as Ajay Agrawal, Joshua Gans, and Avi Goldfarb have written , decision making requires both prediction and judgment.

• Walter Frick is a contributing editor at Harvard Business Review , where he was formerly a senior editor and deputy editor of HBR.org. He is the founder of Nonrival , a newsletter where readers make crowdsourced predictions about economics and business. He has been an executive editor at Quartz as well as a Knight Visiting Fellow at Harvard’s Nieman Foundation for Journalism and an Assembly Fellow at Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. He has also written for The Atlantic , MIT Technology Review , The Boston Globe , and the BBC, among other publications.

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How To Increase Solving Speed In Quantitative Aptitude

Quantitative Aptitude is one of the most important aspects of placement examination. It helps candidates to demonstrate their thinking, problem-solving and quick decision-making abilities to the employers.

But many candidates struggle to complete the Quantitative Aptitude sections in time due to the length and complexity of calculations. This led to many candidates trying and searching for methods to improve their speed in the Quantitative Aptitude section.

That’s why we have written this article to help students identify and understand the approaches and techniques on how to increase solving speed in Quantitative Aptitude.

How To Increase Solving Speed In Quantitative Aptitude Section

These are the methods you can use to increase solving speed in Quantitative Aptitude:

Step 1 – Understand the Complete Syllabus

The initial stage in any significant endeavour has always been the most crucial. Because the first one determines the overall trajectory of the excursion. The route of the Quantitative Aptitude examination is equivalent. Without question, it is a challenging task packed with peaks and troughs as well as significant difficulties.

The Quantitative Aptitude syllabus is comprehensive, diversified, and, in some instances, open-ended. It is also essential to understand that the syllabus is neither limited nor extensive. If you understand the syllabus completely, you can devise a reasonable plan for your preparation that will require fewer hours, explore more topics, and practice more to improve your solving speed.

Step 2 – Improve Your Weaker Areas

It is natural for students to have topics in which they are weaker in Quantitative Aptitude. After all, various problem-solving approaches or abilities might well be required for different topics. The dilemma then becomes whether students should concentrate on refining a topic or on improving weaker concepts.

Students, in our opinion, should concentrate on their weakest subjects. This is due to the fact that having a topic in which the student feels inadequate would induce unnecessary tension during the examination. As a result, they may be able to perform at a degree beyond their greatest or in other words it can hamper their ability to solve questions with a good calculation speed.

It is advised that a student must starts from essential questions for their weaker topics. The objective is to guarantee that students have a clear understanding of their basics and that they acquire confidence as they answer each subsequent question while improving their calculation speed.

Step 3 – Learn Speed Maths & Vedic Mathematics Tricks

The term ‘Vedic’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Veda,’ which denotes ‘Knowledge.’ Vedic Maths is a remarkable compilation of sutras for solving maths problems quickly and efficiently. If you go through any placement exam paper, you will see that there are many questions that can be answered efficiently and quickly by utilising these Vedic Maths Tricks.

Vedic Maths is no piece of cake as it requires extensive practice. These approaches may appear complex or challenging at first, but they will execute excellently when you begin your calculations with practice. Using Vedic Maths, problems are simplified to one-line answers. It can be learned and developed quickly and effectively. Compared to traditional methods, the calculations are quicker and more reliable.

Step 4 – Be Thorough with Tables, Squares & Cubes

Tables, squares, cubes, and so on are typically used to speed up calculations. Memorising and practising will help you remember them. You must sometimes uncover relationships between numbers and, on other occasions, just memorise.

Tables, squares, and cubes can be thought of as tools, similar to a screwdriver used to twist a screw. Understanding the principles and practising them leads to mastery of tables, squares, and cubes. Experts recommend memorising tables up to 20, squares up to 25, and cubes up to 10 to improve speed in your calculations.

Step 5 – Observe & Understand the Question

Quantitative Aptitude is a challenging concept to master. The most crucial facet that might make it more difficult for students is that they do not properly understand the question before answering it. To not fall into the trap of solving without understanding the question, follow the process mentioned underneath.

Pay close attention to what the question is asking. Understand it and attempt to picture it in your mind. After that, figure out which concepts you can apply. Is it necessary to use addition or the Remainder theorem, for example? You can go to the following step if you understand the problem and know which concept to use.

Attempting to tackle it in a single step might be a daunting task. Instead, seek an approach that breaks down the problem into smaller chunks and arrives at a solution.

Step 6 – Incorporating the Right Shortcuts/Methods

Tricks and shortcut methods can help you solve the Quantitative Aptitude section quickly.

These methods give students the confidence that they are approaching the solution to a problem faster. Today’s students have a multitude of shortcuts and techniques at their disposal, and understanding which to employ is half the battle. Students might utilise several shortcut methods to answer the problem depending on circumstances. Students acquire problem-solving abilities and grow more comfortable exploring for new answers when they understand how to get what they want.

Step 7 – Practice

When you see or read anything only once, you don’t learn it, at least not quite enough to retain it permanently. It may engage you for a few more encounters, but you easily forget about it and move on to something else.

While the ageing process has an impact on our recollection, there is still a lot we can really do to help us remember more when we want to study. For generations, repetition has been utilised as a memorisation technique. The right kind of repetition could assist your memory significantly. To study Quantitative Aptitude for placement exams , you must practice all you have learnt.

If knowledge is repeated or revisited on a frequent basis but at gradually increasing intervals, it gets transferred to another brain region to be retained in long-term memory. That becomes entrenched with duration. Every time you discover something new and practice it, you strengthen your memory’s specific learning or behaviour and make it simpler to remember or recall.

Final Words

We hope this article helps students identify and understand the approaches and techniques on how to increase solving speed in Quantitative Aptitude. If you have any queries regarding the techniques, feel free to drop a comment in the comments section. We wish you all the best in your preparations.

Frequently Asked Questions

These are the frequently asked questions regarding how to increase solving speed in Quantitative Aptitude:

1. Why does solving speed matter in acing the quantitative aptitude section?

Solving speed matters in acing the Quantitative Aptitude section because most of the Quantitative Aptitude section is set in a time-constrained environment, making it absolutely necessary to solve all questions in time.

2. How can I get started in improving the solving speed?

You can start by understanding the whole syllabus, then identifying your strong and weak points, and then improving them by learning different shortcut methods and tables to improve your calculation speed.

3. What are the factors that affect the solving speed?

The factors that affect the solving speed include the ability to break down a problem into smaller parts, approaching each part as a separate entity and identifying which shortcut method or technique can help get the desired results.

4. How does concept clarification go hand in hand with solving speed?

Concept clarification goes hand in hand with solving speed because understanding a concept thoroughly can help students approach the problem without any doubt, improving the solving speed.

Explore Quantitative Aptitude Guides

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Thirumoorthy

Thirumoorthy serves as a teacher and coach. He obtained a 99 percentile on the CAT. He cleared numerous IT jobs and public sector job interviews, but he still decided to pursue a career in education. He desires to elevate the underprivileged sections of society through education

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35 problem-solving techniques and methods for solving complex problems

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All teams and organizations encounter challenges as they grow. There are problems that might occur for teams when it comes to miscommunication or resolving business-critical issues . You may face challenges around growth , design , user engagement, and even team culture and happiness. In short, problem-solving techniques should be part of every team’s skillset.

Problem-solving methods are primarily designed to help a group or team through a process of first identifying problems and challenges , ideating possible solutions , and then evaluating the most suitable .

Finding effective solutions to complex problems isn’t easy, but by using the right process and techniques, you can help your team be more efficient in the process.

So how do you develop strategies that are engaging, and empower your team to solve problems effectively?

In this blog post, we share a series of problem-solving tools you can use in your next workshop or team meeting. You’ll also find some tips for facilitating the process and how to enable others to solve complex problems.

Let’s get started! 

How do you identify problems?

How do you identify the right solution.

• Tips for more effective problem-solving

Complete problem-solving methods

• Problem-solving techniques to identify and analyze problems
• Problem-solving techniques for developing solutions

Problem-solving warm-up activities

Closing activities for a problem-solving process.

Before you can move towards finding the right solution for a given problem, you first need to identify and define the problem you wish to solve. 

Here, you want to clearly articulate what the problem is and allow your group to do the same. Remember that everyone in a group is likely to have differing perspectives and alignment is necessary in order to help the group move forward. 

Identifying a problem accurately also requires that all members of a group are able to contribute their views in an open and safe manner. It can be scary for people to stand up and contribute, especially if the problems or challenges are emotive or personal in nature. Be sure to try and create a psychologically safe space for these kinds of discussions.

Remember that problem analysis and further discussion are also important. Not taking the time to fully analyze and discuss a challenge can result in the development of solutions that are not fit for purpose or do not address the underlying issue.

Successfully identifying and then analyzing a problem means facilitating a group through activities designed to help them clearly and honestly articulate their thoughts and produce usable insight.

With this data, you might then produce a problem statement that clearly describes the problem you wish to be addressed and also state the goal of any process you undertake to tackle this issue.  

Finding solutions is the end goal of any process. Complex organizational challenges can only be solved with an appropriate solution but discovering them requires using the right problem-solving tool.

After you’ve explored a problem and discussed ideas, you need to help a team discuss and choose the right solution. Consensus tools and methods such as those below help a group explore possible solutions before then voting for the best. They’re a great way to tap into the collective intelligence of the group for great results!

Remember that the process is often iterative. Great problem solvers often roadtest a viable solution in a measured way to see what works too. While you might not get the right solution on your first try, the methods below help teams land on the most likely to succeed solution while also holding space for improvement.

Every effective problem solving process begins with an agenda . A well-structured workshop is one of the best methods for successfully guiding a group from exploring a problem to implementing a solution.

In SessionLab, it’s easy to go from an idea to a complete agenda . Start by dragging and dropping your core problem solving activities into place . Add timings, breaks and necessary materials before sharing your agenda with your colleagues.

The resulting agenda will be your guide to an effective and productive problem solving session that will also help you stay organized on the day!

Tips for more effective problem solving

Problem-solving activities are only one part of the puzzle. While a great method can help unlock your team’s ability to solve problems, without a thoughtful approach and strong facilitation the solutions may not be fit for purpose.

Let’s take a look at some problem-solving tips you can apply to any process to help it be a success!

Clearly define the problem

Jumping straight to solutions can be tempting, though without first clearly articulating a problem, the solution might not be the right one. Many of the problem-solving activities below include sections where the problem is explored and clearly defined before moving on.

This is a vital part of the problem-solving process and taking the time to fully define an issue can save time and effort later. A clear definition helps identify irrelevant information and it also ensures that your team sets off on the right track.

Don’t jump to conclusions

It’s easy for groups to exhibit cognitive bias or have preconceived ideas about both problems and potential solutions. Be sure to back up any problem statements or potential solutions with facts, research, and adequate forethought.

The best techniques ask participants to be methodical and challenge preconceived notions. Make sure you give the group enough time and space to collect relevant information and consider the problem in a new way. By approaching the process with a clear, rational mindset, you’ll often find that better solutions are more forthcoming.  

Try different approaches  

Problems come in all shapes and sizes and so too should the methods you use to solve them. If you find that one approach isn’t yielding results and your team isn’t finding different solutions, try mixing it up. You’ll be surprised at how using a new creative activity can unblock your team and generate great solutions.

Don’t take it personally 

Depending on the nature of your team or organizational problems, it’s easy for conversations to get heated. While it’s good for participants to be engaged in the discussions, ensure that emotions don’t run too high and that blame isn’t thrown around while finding solutions.

You’re all in it together, and even if your team or area is seeing problems, that isn’t necessarily a disparagement of you personally. Using facilitation skills to manage group dynamics is one effective method of helping conversations be more constructive.

Get the right people in the room

Your problem-solving method is often only as effective as the group using it. Getting the right people on the job and managing the number of people present is important too!

If the group is too small, you may not get enough different perspectives to effectively solve a problem. If the group is too large, you can go round and round during the ideation stages.

Creating the right group makeup is also important in ensuring you have the necessary expertise and skillset to both identify and follow up on potential solutions. Carefully consider who to include at each stage to help ensure your problem-solving method is followed and positioned for success.

Document everything

The best solutions can take refinement, iteration, and reflection to come out. Get into a habit of documenting your process in order to keep all the learnings from the session and to allow ideas to mature and develop. Many of the methods below involve the creation of documents or shared resources. Be sure to keep and share these so everyone can benefit from the work done!

Bring a facilitator 

Facilitation is all about making group processes easier. With a subject as potentially emotive and important as problem-solving, having an impartial third party in the form of a facilitator can make all the difference in finding great solutions and keeping the process moving. Consider bringing a facilitator to your problem-solving session to get better results and generate meaningful solutions!

Develop your problem-solving skills

It takes time and practice to be an effective problem solver. While some roles or participants might more naturally gravitate towards problem-solving, it can take development and planning to help everyone create better solutions.

You might develop a training program, run a problem-solving workshop or simply ask your team to practice using the techniques below. Check out our post on problem-solving skills to see how you and your group can develop the right mental process and be more resilient to issues too!

Design a great agenda

Workshops are a great format for solving problems. With the right approach, you can focus a group and help them find the solutions to their own problems. But designing a process can be time-consuming and finding the right activities can be difficult.

Check out our workshop planning guide to level-up your agenda design and start running more effective workshops. Need inspiration? Check out templates designed by expert facilitators to help you kickstart your process!

In this section, we’ll look at in-depth problem-solving methods that provide a complete end-to-end process for developing effective solutions. These will help guide your team from the discovery and definition of a problem through to delivering the right solution.

If you’re looking for an all-encompassing method or problem-solving model, these processes are a great place to start. They’ll ask your team to challenge preconceived ideas and adopt a mindset for solving problems more effectively.

• Six Thinking Hats
• Lightning Decision Jam
• Problem Definition Process
• Discovery & Action Dialogue

Design Sprint 2.0

• Open Space Technology

1. Six Thinking Hats

Individual approaches to solving a problem can be very different based on what team or role an individual holds. It can be easy for existing biases or perspectives to find their way into the mix, or for internal politics to direct a conversation.

Six Thinking Hats is a classic method for identifying the problems that need to be solved and enables your team to consider them from different angles, whether that is by focusing on facts and data, creative solutions, or by considering why a particular solution might not work.

Like all problem-solving frameworks, Six Thinking Hats is effective at helping teams remove roadblocks from a conversation or discussion and come to terms with all the aspects necessary to solve complex problems.

2. Lightning Decision Jam

Featured courtesy of Jonathan Courtney of AJ&Smart Berlin, Lightning Decision Jam is one of those strategies that should be in every facilitation toolbox. Exploring problems and finding solutions is often creative in nature, though as with any creative process, there is the potential to lose focus and get lost.

Unstructured discussions might get you there in the end, but it’s much more effective to use a method that creates a clear process and team focus.

In Lightning Decision Jam, participants are invited to begin by writing challenges, concerns, or mistakes on post-its without discussing them before then being invited by the moderator to present them to the group.

From there, the team vote on which problems to solve and are guided through steps that will allow them to reframe those problems, create solutions and then decide what to execute on. 

By deciding the problems that need to be solved as a team before moving on, this group process is great for ensuring the whole team is aligned and can take ownership over the next stages. 

Lightning Decision Jam (LDJ)   #action   #decision making   #problem solving   #issue analysis   #innovation   #design   #remote-friendly   The problem with anything that requires creative thinking is that it’s easy to get lost—lose focus and fall into the trap of having useless, open-ended, unstructured discussions. Here’s the most effective solution I’ve found: Replace all open, unstructured discussion with a clear process. What to use this exercise for: Anything which requires a group of people to make decisions, solve problems or discuss challenges. It’s always good to frame an LDJ session with a broad topic, here are some examples: The conversion flow of our checkout Our internal design process How we organise events Keeping up with our competition Improving sales flow

3. Problem Definition Process

While problems can be complex, the problem-solving methods you use to identify and solve those problems can often be simple in design. 

By taking the time to truly identify and define a problem before asking the group to reframe the challenge as an opportunity, this method is a great way to enable change.

Begin by identifying a focus question and exploring the ways in which it manifests before splitting into five teams who will each consider the problem using a different method: escape, reversal, exaggeration, distortion or wishful. Teams develop a problem objective and create ideas in line with their method before then feeding them back to the group.

This method is great for enabling in-depth discussions while also creating space for finding creative solutions too!

Problem Definition   #problem solving   #idea generation   #creativity   #online   #remote-friendly   A problem solving technique to define a problem, challenge or opportunity and to generate ideas.

4. The 5 Whys 

Sometimes, a group needs to go further with their strategies and analyze the root cause at the heart of organizational issues. An RCA or root cause analysis is the process of identifying what is at the heart of business problems or recurring challenges. 

The 5 Whys is a simple and effective method of helping a group go find the root cause of any problem or challenge and conduct analysis that will deliver results. 

By beginning with the creation of a problem statement and going through five stages to refine it, The 5 Whys provides everything you need to truly discover the cause of an issue.

The 5 Whys   #hyperisland   #innovation   This simple and powerful method is useful for getting to the core of a problem or challenge. As the title suggests, the group defines a problems, then asks the question “why” five times, often using the resulting explanation as a starting point for creative problem solving.

5. World Cafe

World Cafe is a simple but powerful facilitation technique to help bigger groups to focus their energy and attention on solving complex problems.

World Cafe enables this approach by creating a relaxed atmosphere where participants are able to self-organize and explore topics relevant and important to them which are themed around a central problem-solving purpose. Create the right atmosphere by modeling your space after a cafe and after guiding the group through the method, let them take the lead!

Making problem-solving a part of your organization’s culture in the long term can be a difficult undertaking. More approachable formats like World Cafe can be especially effective in bringing people unfamiliar with workshops into the fold. 

World Cafe   #hyperisland   #innovation   #issue analysis   World Café is a simple yet powerful method, originated by Juanita Brown, for enabling meaningful conversations driven completely by participants and the topics that are relevant and important to them. Facilitators create a cafe-style space and provide simple guidelines. Participants then self-organize and explore a set of relevant topics or questions for conversation.

6. Discovery & Action Dialogue (DAD)

One of the best approaches is to create a safe space for a group to share and discover practices and behaviors that can help them find their own solutions.

With DAD, you can help a group choose which problems they wish to solve and which approaches they will take to do so. It’s great at helping remove resistance to change and can help get buy-in at every level too!

This process of enabling frontline ownership is great in ensuring follow-through and is one of the methods you will want in your toolbox as a facilitator.

Discovery & Action Dialogue (DAD)   #idea generation   #liberating structures   #action   #issue analysis   #remote-friendly   DADs make it easy for a group or community to discover practices and behaviors that enable some individuals (without access to special resources and facing the same constraints) to find better solutions than their peers to common problems. These are called positive deviant (PD) behaviors and practices. DADs make it possible for people in the group, unit, or community to discover by themselves these PD practices. DADs also create favorable conditions for stimulating participants’ creativity in spaces where they can feel safe to invent new and more effective practices. Resistance to change evaporates as participants are unleashed to choose freely which practices they will adopt or try and which problems they will tackle. DADs make it possible to achieve frontline ownership of solutions.

7. Design Sprint 2.0

Want to see how a team can solve big problems and move forward with prototyping and testing solutions in a few days? The Design Sprint 2.0 template from Jake Knapp, author of Sprint, is a complete agenda for a with proven results.

Developing the right agenda can involve difficult but necessary planning. Ensuring all the correct steps are followed can also be stressful or time-consuming depending on your level of experience.

Use this complete 4-day workshop template if you are finding there is no obvious solution to your challenge and want to focus your team around a specific problem that might require a shortcut to launching a minimum viable product or waiting for the organization-wide implementation of a solution.

8. Open space technology

Open space technology- developed by Harrison Owen – creates a space where large groups are invited to take ownership of their problem solving and lead individual sessions. Open space technology is a great format when you have a great deal of expertise and insight in the room and want to allow for different takes and approaches on a particular theme or problem you need to be solved.

Start by bringing your participants together to align around a central theme and focus their efforts. Explain the ground rules to help guide the problem-solving process and then invite members to identify any issue connecting to the central theme that they are interested in and are prepared to take responsibility for.

Once participants have decided on their approach to the core theme, they write their issue on a piece of paper, announce it to the group, pick a session time and place, and post the paper on the wall. As the wall fills up with sessions, the group is then invited to join the sessions that interest them the most and which they can contribute to, then you’re ready to begin!

Everyone joins the problem-solving group they’ve signed up to, record the discussion and if appropriate, findings can then be shared with the rest of the group afterward.

Open Space Technology   #action plan   #idea generation   #problem solving   #issue analysis   #large group   #online   #remote-friendly   Open Space is a methodology for large groups to create their agenda discerning important topics for discussion, suitable for conferences, community gatherings and whole system facilitation

Techniques to identify and analyze problems

Using a problem-solving method to help a team identify and analyze a problem can be a quick and effective addition to any workshop or meeting.

While further actions are always necessary, you can generate momentum and alignment easily, and these activities are a great place to get started.

We’ve put together this list of techniques to help you and your team with problem identification, analysis, and discussion that sets the foundation for developing effective solutions.

Let’s take a look!

• The Creativity Dice
• Fishbone Analysis
• Problem Tree
• SWOT Analysis
• Agreement-Certainty Matrix
• The Journalistic Six
• LEGO Challenge
• What, So What, Now What?
• Journalists

Individual and group perspectives are incredibly important, but what happens if people are set in their minds and need a change of perspective in order to approach a problem more effectively?

Flip It is a method we love because it is both simple to understand and run, and allows groups to understand how their perspectives and biases are formed. 

Participants in Flip It are first invited to consider concerns, issues, or problems from a perspective of fear and write them on a flip chart. Then, the group is asked to consider those same issues from a perspective of hope and flip their understanding.  

No problem and solution is free from existing bias and by changing perspectives with Flip It, you can then develop a problem solving model quickly and effectively.

Flip It!   #gamestorming   #problem solving   #action   Often, a change in a problem or situation comes simply from a change in our perspectives. Flip It! is a quick game designed to show players that perspectives are made, not born.

10. The Creativity Dice

One of the most useful problem solving skills you can teach your team is of approaching challenges with creativity, flexibility, and openness. Games like The Creativity Dice allow teams to overcome the potential hurdle of too much linear thinking and approach the process with a sense of fun and speed. 

In The Creativity Dice, participants are organized around a topic and roll a dice to determine what they will work on for a period of 3 minutes at a time. They might roll a 3 and work on investigating factual information on the chosen topic. They might roll a 1 and work on identifying the specific goals, standards, or criteria for the session.

Encouraging rapid work and iteration while asking participants to be flexible are great skills to cultivate. Having a stage for idea incubation in this game is also important. Moments of pause can help ensure the ideas that are put forward are the most suitable. 

The Creativity Dice   #creativity   #problem solving   #thiagi   #issue analysis   Too much linear thinking is hazardous to creative problem solving. To be creative, you should approach the problem (or the opportunity) from different points of view. You should leave a thought hanging in mid-air and move to another. This skipping around prevents premature closure and lets your brain incubate one line of thought while you consciously pursue another.

11. Fishbone Analysis

Organizational or team challenges are rarely simple, and it’s important to remember that one problem can be an indication of something that goes deeper and may require further consideration to be solved.

Fishbone Analysis helps groups to dig deeper and understand the origins of a problem. It’s a great example of a root cause analysis method that is simple for everyone on a team to get their head around. 

Participants in this activity are asked to annotate a diagram of a fish, first adding the problem or issue to be worked on at the head of a fish before then brainstorming the root causes of the problem and adding them as bones on the fish. 

Using abstractions such as a diagram of a fish can really help a team break out of their regular thinking and develop a creative approach.

Fishbone Analysis   #problem solving   ##root cause analysis   #decision making   #online facilitation   A process to help identify and understand the origins of problems, issues or observations.

12. Problem Tree 

Encouraging visual thinking can be an essential part of many strategies. By simply reframing and clarifying problems, a group can move towards developing a problem solving model that works for them. 

In Problem Tree, groups are asked to first brainstorm a list of problems – these can be design problems, team problems or larger business problems – and then organize them into a hierarchy. The hierarchy could be from most important to least important or abstract to practical, though the key thing with problem solving games that involve this aspect is that your group has some way of managing and sorting all the issues that are raised.

Once you have a list of problems that need to be solved and have organized them accordingly, you’re then well-positioned for the next problem solving steps.

Problem tree   #define intentions   #create   #design   #issue analysis   A problem tree is a tool to clarify the hierarchy of problems addressed by the team within a design project; it represents high level problems or related sublevel problems.

13. SWOT Analysis

Chances are you’ve heard of the SWOT Analysis before. This problem-solving method focuses on identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats is a tried and tested method for both individuals and teams.

Start by creating a desired end state or outcome and bare this in mind – any process solving model is made more effective by knowing what you are moving towards. Create a quadrant made up of the four categories of a SWOT analysis and ask participants to generate ideas based on each of those quadrants.

Once you have those ideas assembled in their quadrants, cluster them together based on their affinity with other ideas. These clusters are then used to facilitate group conversations and move things forward. 

SWOT analysis   #gamestorming   #problem solving   #action   #meeting facilitation   The SWOT Analysis is a long-standing technique of looking at what we have, with respect to the desired end state, as well as what we could improve on. It gives us an opportunity to gauge approaching opportunities and dangers, and assess the seriousness of the conditions that affect our future. When we understand those conditions, we can influence what comes next.

14. Agreement-Certainty Matrix

Not every problem-solving approach is right for every challenge, and deciding on the right method for the challenge at hand is a key part of being an effective team.

The Agreement Certainty matrix helps teams align on the nature of the challenges facing them. By sorting problems from simple to chaotic, your team can understand what methods are suitable for each problem and what they can do to ensure effective results. 

If you are already using Liberating Structures techniques as part of your problem-solving strategy, the Agreement-Certainty Matrix can be an invaluable addition to your process. We’ve found it particularly if you are having issues with recurring problems in your organization and want to go deeper in understanding the root cause. 

Agreement-Certainty Matrix   #issue analysis   #liberating structures   #problem solving   You can help individuals or groups avoid the frequent mistake of trying to solve a problem with methods that are not adapted to the nature of their challenge. The combination of two questions makes it possible to easily sort challenges into four categories: simple, complicated, complex , and chaotic .  A problem is simple when it can be solved reliably with practices that are easy to duplicate.  It is complicated when experts are required to devise a sophisticated solution that will yield the desired results predictably.  A problem is complex when there are several valid ways to proceed but outcomes are not predictable in detail.  Chaotic is when the context is too turbulent to identify a path forward.  A loose analogy may be used to describe these differences: simple is like following a recipe, complicated like sending a rocket to the moon, complex like raising a child, and chaotic is like the game “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.”  The Liberating Structures Matching Matrix in Chapter 5 can be used as the first step to clarify the nature of a challenge and avoid the mismatches between problems and solutions that are frequently at the root of chronic, recurring problems.

Organizing and charting a team’s progress can be important in ensuring its success. SQUID (Sequential Question and Insight Diagram) is a great model that allows a team to effectively switch between giving questions and answers and develop the skills they need to stay on track throughout the process. 

Begin with two different colored sticky notes – one for questions and one for answers – and with your central topic (the head of the squid) on the board. Ask the group to first come up with a series of questions connected to their best guess of how to approach the topic. Ask the group to come up with answers to those questions, fix them to the board and connect them with a line. After some discussion, go back to question mode by responding to the generated answers or other points on the board.

It’s rewarding to see a diagram grow throughout the exercise, and a completed SQUID can provide a visual resource for future effort and as an example for other teams.

SQUID   #gamestorming   #project planning   #issue analysis   #problem solving   When exploring an information space, it’s important for a group to know where they are at any given time. By using SQUID, a group charts out the territory as they go and can navigate accordingly. SQUID stands for Sequential Question and Insight Diagram.

16. Speed Boat

To continue with our nautical theme, Speed Boat is a short and sweet activity that can help a team quickly identify what employees, clients or service users might have a problem with and analyze what might be standing in the way of achieving a solution.

Methods that allow for a group to make observations, have insights and obtain those eureka moments quickly are invaluable when trying to solve complex problems.

In Speed Boat, the approach is to first consider what anchors and challenges might be holding an organization (or boat) back. Bonus points if you are able to identify any sharks in the water and develop ideas that can also deal with competitors!   

Speed Boat   #gamestorming   #problem solving   #action   Speedboat is a short and sweet way to identify what your employees or clients don’t like about your product/service or what’s standing in the way of a desired goal.

17. The Journalistic Six

Some of the most effective ways of solving problems is by encouraging teams to be more inclusive and diverse in their thinking.

Based on the six key questions journalism students are taught to answer in articles and news stories, The Journalistic Six helps create teams to see the whole picture. By using who, what, when, where, why, and how to facilitate the conversation and encourage creative thinking, your team can make sure that the problem identification and problem analysis stages of the are covered exhaustively and thoughtfully. Reporter’s notebook and dictaphone optional.

The Journalistic Six – Who What When Where Why How   #idea generation   #issue analysis   #problem solving   #online   #creative thinking   #remote-friendly   A questioning method for generating, explaining, investigating ideas.

18. LEGO Challenge

Now for an activity that is a little out of the (toy) box. LEGO Serious Play is a facilitation methodology that can be used to improve creative thinking and problem-solving skills. 

The LEGO Challenge includes giving each member of the team an assignment that is hidden from the rest of the group while they create a structure without speaking.

What the LEGO challenge brings to the table is a fun working example of working with stakeholders who might not be on the same page to solve problems. Also, it’s LEGO! Who doesn’t love LEGO! 

LEGO Challenge   #hyperisland   #team   A team-building activity in which groups must work together to build a structure out of LEGO, but each individual has a secret “assignment” which makes the collaborative process more challenging. It emphasizes group communication, leadership dynamics, conflict, cooperation, patience and problem solving strategy.

19. What, So What, Now What?

If not carefully managed, the problem identification and problem analysis stages of the problem-solving process can actually create more problems and misunderstandings.

The What, So What, Now What? problem-solving activity is designed to help collect insights and move forward while also eliminating the possibility of disagreement when it comes to identifying, clarifying, and analyzing organizational or work problems. 

Facilitation is all about bringing groups together so that might work on a shared goal and the best problem-solving strategies ensure that teams are aligned in purpose, if not initially in opinion or insight.

Throughout the three steps of this game, you give everyone on a team to reflect on a problem by asking what happened, why it is important, and what actions should then be taken. 

This can be a great activity for bringing our individual perceptions about a problem or challenge and contextualizing it in a larger group setting. This is one of the most important problem-solving skills you can bring to your organization.

W³ – What, So What, Now What?   #issue analysis   #innovation   #liberating structures   You can help groups reflect on a shared experience in a way that builds understanding and spurs coordinated action while avoiding unproductive conflict. It is possible for every voice to be heard while simultaneously sifting for insights and shaping new direction. Progressing in stages makes this practical—from collecting facts about What Happened to making sense of these facts with So What and finally to what actions logically follow with Now What . The shared progression eliminates most of the misunderstandings that otherwise fuel disagreements about what to do. Voila!

20. Journalists  

Problem analysis can be one of the most important and decisive stages of all problem-solving tools. Sometimes, a team can become bogged down in the details and are unable to move forward.

Journalists is an activity that can avoid a group from getting stuck in the problem identification or problem analysis stages of the process.

In Journalists, the group is invited to draft the front page of a fictional newspaper and figure out what stories deserve to be on the cover and what headlines those stories will have. By reframing how your problems and challenges are approached, you can help a team move productively through the process and be better prepared for the steps to follow.

Journalists   #vision   #big picture   #issue analysis   #remote-friendly   This is an exercise to use when the group gets stuck in details and struggles to see the big picture. Also good for defining a vision.

Problem-solving techniques for developing solutions 

The success of any problem-solving process can be measured by the solutions it produces. After you’ve defined the issue, explored existing ideas, and ideated, it’s time to narrow down to the correct solution.

Use these problem-solving techniques when you want to help your team find consensus, compare possible solutions, and move towards taking action on a particular problem.

• Improved Solutions
• Four-Step Sketch
• 15% Solutions
• How-Now-Wow matrix
• Impact Effort Matrix

21. Mindspin  

Brainstorming is part of the bread and butter of the problem-solving process and all problem-solving strategies benefit from getting ideas out and challenging a team to generate solutions quickly. 

With Mindspin, participants are encouraged not only to generate ideas but to do so under time constraints and by slamming down cards and passing them on. By doing multiple rounds, your team can begin with a free generation of possible solutions before moving on to developing those solutions and encouraging further ideation. 

This is one of our favorite problem-solving activities and can be great for keeping the energy up throughout the workshop. Remember the importance of helping people become engaged in the process – energizing problem-solving techniques like Mindspin can help ensure your team stays engaged and happy, even when the problems they’re coming together to solve are complex. 

MindSpin   #teampedia   #idea generation   #problem solving   #action   A fast and loud method to enhance brainstorming within a team. Since this activity has more than round ideas that are repetitive can be ruled out leaving more creative and innovative answers to the challenge.

22. Improved Solutions

After a team has successfully identified a problem and come up with a few solutions, it can be tempting to call the work of the problem-solving process complete. That said, the first solution is not necessarily the best, and by including a further review and reflection activity into your problem-solving model, you can ensure your group reaches the best possible result. 

One of a number of problem-solving games from Thiagi Group, Improved Solutions helps you go the extra mile and develop suggested solutions with close consideration and peer review. By supporting the discussion of several problems at once and by shifting team roles throughout, this problem-solving technique is a dynamic way of finding the best solution. 

Improved Solutions   #creativity   #thiagi   #problem solving   #action   #team   You can improve any solution by objectively reviewing its strengths and weaknesses and making suitable adjustments. In this creativity framegame, you improve the solutions to several problems. To maintain objective detachment, you deal with a different problem during each of six rounds and assume different roles (problem owner, consultant, basher, booster, enhancer, and evaluator) during each round. At the conclusion of the activity, each player ends up with two solutions to her problem.

23. Four Step Sketch

Creative thinking and visual ideation does not need to be confined to the opening stages of your problem-solving strategies. Exercises that include sketching and prototyping on paper can be effective at the solution finding and development stage of the process, and can be great for keeping a team engaged. 

By going from simple notes to a crazy 8s round that involves rapidly sketching 8 variations on their ideas before then producing a final solution sketch, the group is able to iterate quickly and visually. Problem-solving techniques like Four-Step Sketch are great if you have a group of different thinkers and want to change things up from a more textual or discussion-based approach.

Four-Step Sketch   #design sprint   #innovation   #idea generation   #remote-friendly   The four-step sketch is an exercise that helps people to create well-formed concepts through a structured process that includes: Review key information Start design work on paper,  Consider multiple variations , Create a detailed solution . This exercise is preceded by a set of other activities allowing the group to clarify the challenge they want to solve. See how the Four Step Sketch exercise fits into a Design Sprint

24. 15% Solutions

Some problems are simpler than others and with the right problem-solving activities, you can empower people to take immediate actions that can help create organizational change. 

Part of the liberating structures toolkit, 15% solutions is a problem-solving technique that focuses on finding and implementing solutions quickly. A process of iterating and making small changes quickly can help generate momentum and an appetite for solving complex problems.

Problem-solving strategies can live and die on whether people are onboard. Getting some quick wins is a great way of getting people behind the process.   

It can be extremely empowering for a team to realize that problem-solving techniques can be deployed quickly and easily and delineate between things they can positively impact and those things they cannot change. 

15% Solutions   #action   #liberating structures   #remote-friendly   You can reveal the actions, however small, that everyone can do immediately. At a minimum, these will create momentum, and that may make a BIG difference.  15% Solutions show that there is no reason to wait around, feel powerless, or fearful. They help people pick it up a level. They get individuals and the group to focus on what is within their discretion instead of what they cannot change.  With a very simple question, you can flip the conversation to what can be done and find solutions to big problems that are often distributed widely in places not known in advance. Shifting a few grains of sand may trigger a landslide and change the whole landscape.

25. How-Now-Wow Matrix

The problem-solving process is often creative, as complex problems usually require a change of thinking and creative response in order to find the best solutions. While it’s common for the first stages to encourage creative thinking, groups can often gravitate to familiar solutions when it comes to the end of the process. 

When selecting solutions, you don’t want to lose your creative energy! The How-Now-Wow Matrix from Gamestorming is a great problem-solving activity that enables a group to stay creative and think out of the box when it comes to selecting the right solution for a given problem.

Problem-solving techniques that encourage creative thinking and the ideation and selection of new solutions can be the most effective in organisational change. Give the How-Now-Wow Matrix a go, and not just for how pleasant it is to say out loud. 

How-Now-Wow Matrix   #gamestorming   #idea generation   #remote-friendly   When people want to develop new ideas, they most often think out of the box in the brainstorming or divergent phase. However, when it comes to convergence, people often end up picking ideas that are most familiar to them. This is called a ‘creative paradox’ or a ‘creadox’. The How-Now-Wow matrix is an idea selection tool that breaks the creadox by forcing people to weigh each idea on 2 parameters.

26. Impact and Effort Matrix

All problem-solving techniques hope to not only find solutions to a given problem or challenge but to find the best solution. When it comes to finding a solution, groups are invited to put on their decision-making hats and really think about how a proposed idea would work in practice. 

The Impact and Effort Matrix is one of the problem-solving techniques that fall into this camp, empowering participants to first generate ideas and then categorize them into a 2×2 matrix based on impact and effort.

Activities that invite critical thinking while remaining simple are invaluable. Use the Impact and Effort Matrix to move from ideation and towards evaluating potential solutions before then committing to them. 

Impact and Effort Matrix   #gamestorming   #decision making   #action   #remote-friendly   In this decision-making exercise, possible actions are mapped based on two factors: effort required to implement and potential impact. Categorizing ideas along these lines is a useful technique in decision making, as it obliges contributors to balance and evaluate suggested actions before committing to them.

27. Dotmocracy

If you’ve followed each of the problem-solving steps with your group successfully, you should move towards the end of your process with heaps of possible solutions developed with a specific problem in mind. But how do you help a group go from ideation to putting a solution into action? 

Dotmocracy – or Dot Voting -is a tried and tested method of helping a team in the problem-solving process make decisions and put actions in place with a degree of oversight and consensus. 

One of the problem-solving techniques that should be in every facilitator’s toolbox, Dot Voting is fast and effective and can help identify the most popular and best solutions and help bring a group to a decision effectively. 

Dotmocracy   #action   #decision making   #group prioritization   #hyperisland   #remote-friendly   Dotmocracy is a simple method for group prioritization or decision-making. It is not an activity on its own, but a method to use in processes where prioritization or decision-making is the aim. The method supports a group to quickly see which options are most popular or relevant. The options or ideas are written on post-its and stuck up on a wall for the whole group to see. Each person votes for the options they think are the strongest, and that information is used to inform a decision.

All facilitators know that warm-ups and icebreakers are useful for any workshop or group process. Problem-solving workshops are no different.

Use these problem-solving techniques to warm up a group and prepare them for the rest of the process. Activating your group by tapping into some of the top problem-solving skills can be one of the best ways to see great outcomes from your session.

• Check-in/Check-out
• Doodling Together
• Show and Tell
• Constellations
• Draw a Tree

28. Check-in / Check-out

Solid processes are planned from beginning to end, and the best facilitators know that setting the tone and establishing a safe, open environment can be integral to a successful problem-solving process.

Check-in / Check-out is a great way to begin and/or bookend a problem-solving workshop. Checking in to a session emphasizes that everyone will be seen, heard, and expected to contribute. 

If you are running a series of meetings, setting a consistent pattern of checking in and checking out can really help your team get into a groove. We recommend this opening-closing activity for small to medium-sized groups though it can work with large groups if they’re disciplined!

Check-in / Check-out   #team   #opening   #closing   #hyperisland   #remote-friendly   Either checking-in or checking-out is a simple way for a team to open or close a process, symbolically and in a collaborative way. Checking-in/out invites each member in a group to be present, seen and heard, and to express a reflection or a feeling. Checking-in emphasizes presence, focus and group commitment; checking-out emphasizes reflection and symbolic closure.

29. Doodling Together  

Thinking creatively and not being afraid to make suggestions are important problem-solving skills for any group or team, and warming up by encouraging these behaviors is a great way to start. 

Doodling Together is one of our favorite creative ice breaker games – it’s quick, effective, and fun and can make all following problem-solving steps easier by encouraging a group to collaborate visually. By passing cards and adding additional items as they go, the workshop group gets into a groove of co-creation and idea development that is crucial to finding solutions to problems. 

Doodling Together   #collaboration   #creativity   #teamwork   #fun   #team   #visual methods   #energiser   #icebreaker   #remote-friendly   Create wild, weird and often funny postcards together & establish a group’s creative confidence.

30. Show and Tell

You might remember some version of Show and Tell from being a kid in school and it’s a great problem-solving activity to kick off a session.

Asking participants to prepare a little something before a workshop by bringing an object for show and tell can help them warm up before the session has even begun! Games that include a physical object can also help encourage early engagement before moving onto more big-picture thinking.

By asking your participants to tell stories about why they chose to bring a particular item to the group, you can help teams see things from new perspectives and see both differences and similarities in the way they approach a topic. Great groundwork for approaching a problem-solving process as a team! 

Show and Tell   #gamestorming   #action   #opening   #meeting facilitation   Show and Tell taps into the power of metaphors to reveal players’ underlying assumptions and associations around a topic The aim of the game is to get a deeper understanding of stakeholders’ perspectives on anything—a new project, an organizational restructuring, a shift in the company’s vision or team dynamic.

31. Constellations

Who doesn’t love stars? Constellations is a great warm-up activity for any workshop as it gets people up off their feet, energized, and ready to engage in new ways with established topics. It’s also great for showing existing beliefs, biases, and patterns that can come into play as part of your session.

Using warm-up games that help build trust and connection while also allowing for non-verbal responses can be great for easing people into the problem-solving process and encouraging engagement from everyone in the group. Constellations is great in large spaces that allow for movement and is definitely a practical exercise to allow the group to see patterns that are otherwise invisible. 

Constellations   #trust   #connection   #opening   #coaching   #patterns   #system   Individuals express their response to a statement or idea by standing closer or further from a central object. Used with teams to reveal system, hidden patterns, perspectives.

32. Draw a Tree

Problem-solving games that help raise group awareness through a central, unifying metaphor can be effective ways to warm-up a group in any problem-solving model.

Draw a Tree is a simple warm-up activity you can use in any group and which can provide a quick jolt of energy. Start by asking your participants to draw a tree in just 45 seconds – they can choose whether it will be abstract or realistic. 

Once the timer is up, ask the group how many people included the roots of the tree and use this as a means to discuss how we can ignore important parts of any system simply because they are not visible.

All problem-solving strategies are made more effective by thinking of problems critically and by exposing things that may not normally come to light. Warm-up games like Draw a Tree are great in that they quickly demonstrate some key problem-solving skills in an accessible and effective way.

Draw a Tree   #thiagi   #opening   #perspectives   #remote-friendly   With this game you can raise awarness about being more mindful, and aware of the environment we live in.

Each step of the problem-solving workshop benefits from an intelligent deployment of activities, games, and techniques. Bringing your session to an effective close helps ensure that solutions are followed through on and that you also celebrate what has been achieved.

Here are some problem-solving activities you can use to effectively close a workshop or meeting and ensure the great work you’ve done can continue afterward.

• One Breath Feedback
• Who What When Matrix
• Response Cards

How do I conclude a problem-solving process?

All good things must come to an end. With the bulk of the work done, it can be tempting to conclude your workshop swiftly and without a moment to debrief and align. This can be problematic in that it doesn’t allow your team to fully process the results or reflect on the process.

At the end of an effective session, your team will have gone through a process that, while productive, can be exhausting. It’s important to give your group a moment to take a breath, ensure that they are clear on future actions, and provide short feedback before leaving the space. 

The primary purpose of any problem-solving method is to generate solutions and then implement them. Be sure to take the opportunity to ensure everyone is aligned and ready to effectively implement the solutions you produced in the workshop.

Remember that every process can be improved and by giving a short moment to collect feedback in the session, you can further refine your problem-solving methods and see further success in the future too.

33. One Breath Feedback

Maintaining attention and focus during the closing stages of a problem-solving workshop can be tricky and so being concise when giving feedback can be important. It’s easy to incur “death by feedback” should some team members go on for too long sharing their perspectives in a quick feedback round. 

One Breath Feedback is a great closing activity for workshops. You give everyone an opportunity to provide feedback on what they’ve done but only in the space of a single breath. This keeps feedback short and to the point and means that everyone is encouraged to provide the most important piece of feedback to them. 

One breath feedback   #closing   #feedback   #action   This is a feedback round in just one breath that excels in maintaining attention: each participants is able to speak during just one breath … for most people that’s around 20 to 25 seconds … unless of course you’ve been a deep sea diver in which case you’ll be able to do it for longer.

34. Who What When Matrix 

Matrices feature as part of many effective problem-solving strategies and with good reason. They are easily recognizable, simple to use, and generate results.

The Who What When Matrix is a great tool to use when closing your problem-solving session by attributing a who, what and when to the actions and solutions you have decided upon. The resulting matrix is a simple, easy-to-follow way of ensuring your team can move forward. 

Great solutions can’t be enacted without action and ownership. Your problem-solving process should include a stage for allocating tasks to individuals or teams and creating a realistic timeframe for those solutions to be implemented or checked out. Use this method to keep the solution implementation process clear and simple for all involved. 

Who/What/When Matrix   #gamestorming   #action   #project planning   With Who/What/When matrix, you can connect people with clear actions they have defined and have committed to.

35. Response cards

Group discussion can comprise the bulk of most problem-solving activities and by the end of the process, you might find that your team is talked out! 

Providing a means for your team to give feedback with short written notes can ensure everyone is head and can contribute without the need to stand up and talk. Depending on the needs of the group, giving an alternative can help ensure everyone can contribute to your problem-solving model in the way that makes the most sense for them.

Response Cards is a great way to close a workshop if you are looking for a gentle warm-down and want to get some swift discussion around some of the feedback that is raised. 

Response Cards   #debriefing   #closing   #structured sharing   #questions and answers   #thiagi   #action   It can be hard to involve everyone during a closing of a session. Some might stay in the background or get unheard because of louder participants. However, with the use of Response Cards, everyone will be involved in providing feedback or clarify questions at the end of a session.

Save time and effort discovering the right solutions

A structured problem solving process is a surefire way of solving tough problems, discovering creative solutions and driving organizational change. But how can you design for successful outcomes?

With SessionLab, it’s easy to design engaging workshops that deliver results. Drag, drop and reorder blocks  to build your agenda. When you make changes or update your agenda, your session  timing   adjusts automatically , saving you time on manual adjustments.

Collaborating with stakeholders or clients? Share your agenda with a single click and collaborate in real-time. No more sending documents back and forth over email.

Explore  how to use SessionLab  to design effective problem solving workshops or  watch this five minute video  to see the planner in action!

Over to you

The problem-solving process can often be as complicated and multifaceted as the problems they are set-up to solve. With the right problem-solving techniques and a mix of creative exercises designed to guide discussion and generate purposeful ideas, we hope we’ve given you the tools to find the best solutions as simply and easily as possible.

Is there a problem-solving technique that you are missing here? Do you have a favorite activity or method you use when facilitating? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you! 

thank you very much for these excellent techniques

Certainly wonderful article, very detailed. Shared!

Your list of techniques for problem solving can be helpfully extended by adding TRIZ to the list of techniques. TRIZ has 40 problem solving techniques derived from methods inventros and patent holders used to get new patents. About 10-12 are general approaches. many organization sponsor classes in TRIZ that are used to solve business problems or general organiztational problems. You can take a look at TRIZ and dwonload a free internet booklet to see if you feel it shound be included per your selection process.

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7 Ways To Increase Accuracy in Quantitative Aptitude

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Whenever you attempt to give an examination, be it for placement or competitive exams. You must have seen that Quantitative Aptitude is included in the exam syllabus. Well, it’s one of the most crucial elements of the placement examinations like TCS, Wipro, Capgemini, Accenture, Infosys, IBM, Cognizant, Adobe, Cisco, Amazon, Samsung, Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Ola, Paypal, Microsoft, Oracle, etc and is required for many competitive exams too such as AMCAT, TCS CodeVita, NIMCET, CoCubes, Govt. Bank Exams like SSC , SBI PO , IBPS Clerk, PO Clerk, JEE, and  NEET. Knowing Quantitative Aptitude allows candidates like you to exhibit to employers their critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.

However, because of the length and intricacy of the calculations, many students fail to finish the Quantitative Aptitude portions on time. This is why candidates often look out for ways or methods they can increase their Quantitative Aptitude Accuracy.

In this article, we’ll tell you how to improve your quantitative aptitude by understanding and identifying the approaches and techniques.

If you want to excel in competitive exams, and interview rounds, You can explore our Quantitative Aptitude Online Course .

How to Increase Accuracy In Quantitative Aptitude

Here are 7 ways that will help you improve your accuracy rate while attempting Quantitative Aptitude – 

1. Have a Thorough Understanding of the Exam Syllabus 

The first phase of every major project has always been the most important. Because the first governs the general course of the journey. The Quants examination follows the same path. Without a doubt, it is a demanding endeavor with many ups and downs as well as substantial problems.

The  Quantitative Aptitude syllabus is extensive, diverse, and, in some cases, open-ended. It is also critical to recognize that the curriculum is neither restricted nor exhaustive. If you properly comprehend the syllabus, you may develop a fair schedule for your preparation that will need fewer hours, cover more topics, and enhance your overall accuracy rate by giving yourself more practice time.

2. Analyze Your Weak Areas & Improve Them Accordingly

It’s quite normal to have weaker areas when it comes to attempting Quantitative Aptitude. After all, different problem-solving methodologies or approaches might be necessary for varied areas. This is where you might get into the dilemma of whether to focus on refining Quant’s topics or on strengthening weaker concepts.

In this case, it’s better if you focus on your weaker areas. It’s known that focusing on topics that you’re not well versed in will cause you to stress during exam time which in turn makes you commit mistakes that will lower your total accuracy rate.

You should start with refining and focusing on your weakest areas. By doing so, you will gain confidence as their answers to subsequent questions improve. The goal is to ensure that candidates like you can grasp their fundamentals and gain confidence as they answer each following question with more accurate outcomes.

3. Understand the Question Properly Before Attempting It

You’ll also agree that Quants takes a lot of practice to master. The reason being so that students don’t really understand the question and answer it without understanding what it’s conveying. If you’re one of those people who do this, then you need to follow this method:

Pay special attention to the question’s specifics. Understand it and try to picture it in your head. After that, decide which concepts you can use. Is it required, for example, to utilize addition or the Remainder theorem? 

If you comprehend the problem and know which idea to apply, you may go to the next phase. Attempting to handle it in a single step may be difficult. Instead, look for a method that divides the problem into smaller bits and then solves it.

4. Use Tricks & Shortcuts Where it’s Needed

Remember when 90s kids used to use cheat codes while playing the game GTA so they can win the game easily? Yes, you also need shortcuts and cheat codes or tricks to solve the Quantitative Aptitude section fast.

These strategies offer students confidence that they are getting closer to a solution to an issue. Students today have a plethora of shortcuts and tactics at their disposal, and knowing which to use is half the battle.

Depending on the conditions, students may use a variety of quick approaches to solving the problem. When students learn how to attain what they want, they develop problem-solving skills and become more comfortable pursuing new solutions.

5. Time Management During Solving Solution Increase Solving Speed

Most students face the challenge of trying to solve problems within the time frame given during exams. They struggle to manage their time well during tests and make mistakes easily. 

The time-constrained setting is one of the aspects of Quantitative Aptitude exams, and students must finish all of the problems in that time; failure to do so may result in making incorrect decisions to save time. Keep track of how much time you spend answering a single question when preparing for or giving mock tests.

The Quantitative portion obviously takes longer to finish than the other sections. As a result, many candidates run out of time and are unable to achieve the sectional cutoff. In such cases, students can practice boosting their solving solution speed by learning Vedic and speed mathematics and memorizing tables, squares, and cubes.

Related Article – Must Do Questions for Companies like TCS, CTS, HCL, IBM …

6. Evaluate Yourself by Creating Exam Like Situation

Students can easily get afraid when they’re thrust into exam like environment suddenly which lowers their confidence. If you’re one of those students, you need to create an exam-like environment yourself beforehand to get a feel of the real situation.

All of your exam tactics will be futile unless you regularly test yourself under genuine exam settings. You must train your brain to adjust to time constraints and deal with the stress that comes with it.

Create test-like situations at home and try to solve as many problems as you can in the allotted time. After taking the test, critically examine the answers and calculate an accuracy percentage based on them (the number of correct answers). If the proportion is greater than 70-80% at any given time, you are on the correct track. If your percentage is lower than that, you need to practice more.

7. Practice the Basics

When you see or read something only once, you don’t learn it, at least not enough to remember it forever. It may hold your attention for a few more encounters, but you will quickly forget about it and go on to something else.

While age has an effect on our memory, there is still a lot we can do to assist us to recall more when we want to study. Rote learning has been used as a memorizing strategy for decades. The appropriate type of repetition can considerably help your memory. To prepare for Quantitative Aptitude placement examinations, you must put what you’ve studied into practice.

The first stage is to practice a large variety of basic mathematical questions. You may feel apprehensive when visiting and reviewing these topics, but if you have a firm grasp of them, you will easily pass the test.

Here are some typical subjects to get you started:

• Divisibility tests
• Profit and loss statements
• Compound Interest and Simple Interest
• Interpretation of Data
• Arithmetic progressions, geometric progressions, and the Number System Sum
• LCM, HCF (Highest Common factor and Least Common Multiple)
• Probability

This will assist you in learning basic formulae and remembering concepts so that you may work more efficiently on their applications.

In India, quantitative aptitude is an essential and important aspect of aptitude exams. It assesses numeric abilities as well as logical and analytical abilities. By answering these Quants questions, one may put their handling tactics and problem-solving skills to the test. A well-planned preparation for the Quants exam would benefit in saving more time during the examination, as the expression says “A stitch in time saves nine.” Nothing is difficult to handle if you prepare ahead of time and utilize the proper method at the right time.

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How to Improve Your Problem-Solving Skills for JEE

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May 11, 2023, 16:45 IST

IIT JEE is one of the toughest engineering entrance exams in our country. This exam is conducted after the 12th board's exam, which not only tests students' conceptual knowledge of core subjects like Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics but also tests problem-solving skills and logical, analytical, and critical thinking skills.

To secure a good rank in the IIT JEE exam, you must tighten your seatbelts and study very hard, it is not an easy game, but surely not impossible. You can easily secure good grades and top rank, But how can one do that?

Well, apart from the main subjects, problem-solving skills for IIT JEE are very crucial to work on as it is key to succeeding in the IIT-JEE exam . Problem-solving skills are not a skill that one is born with, instead, they can be cultivated, can be learned, and improved with practice and consistent efforts.

If we talk about questions in JEE exam, they can be solved by using numerous approaches, but you have to select the one which is best suitable for the problem, which saves time and results in the correct answer.

Below are given some of the best problem-solving tips for JEE which might be helpful in preparing for the IIT-JEE exam-

Tips for Effective Problem-Solving Skills

• Be Clear with the Theory

Firstly, be very clear with all the concepts and formulations of the subjects. Acquire all the necessary knowledge regarding the subjects and their important topics.

As building a base is very important in any exam, otherwise, you will face problems later. So, before solving questions, try to grab all the detailed knowledge of concepts and key areas.

• Read the Data carefully

The key is to thoroughly read the problem and keep an eye on the data given in the problem. Note down all the crucial data given in the problem, it will make it easier to understand and organize the problem.

When you read a problem, read the data in numeric form, and you will automatically fit in the key pieces in your brain, and related formulae will come to your mind easily and effectively.

• Mental Math

Focusing on mental math is one of the greatest ways to enhance your problem-solving abilities for the IIT JEE exam . Mental math is the fastest way to solve any question, and it also gives you a direction to work on fast calculations.

Some tricks like vedic maths concepts, heuristics, and tips can really cut your calculation time. If you choose the long traditional way of solving answers, you will not be able to complete your paper on time.

• Don't panic with larger problems

There are times, when the problem is lengthy in language form, don't panic, just grab the important data parts and try to assemble them into easy-to-grab information pieces.

There is always a simpler expression to the problem, sometimes even the lengthy-looking problems end up being very simple and easy to solve.

• Make Mind Maps

Try to develop a mind map while reading the question, it will save time and will surely help in selecting the best solving strategy.

Mind mapping opens up potential possibilities for solving the question, you also gain clarity and keep yourself calm in a stressful situation.

Using Mind maps is mostly about creativity and spontaneity, which uses heuristics and mnemonic techniques to help solve questions easily.

For beginners, you can make use of flowcharts and can depict the central idea behind the problem.

• Theorems and Formulae on Tips

Before solving any question, you must be thorough with all the important formulae and algorithms in each subject. You can write down all the formulae and reactions in chemistry and revise them regularly on time.

As you should spend the least amount of time remembering the formulae, it must be on your tips always. This will save enough time to solve and do the calculation part. This way, you can solve questions in less time and in an effective way.

• Quality Practise

When you practice the question, make sure you set a daily goal to solve this much of questions. For example, you can set a daily goal of 50 questions daily, and slowly you can increase this when you feel you are grabbing the core of the topic.

In addition to this, make sure the sums you are solving are of standard quality according to the syllabus of the exam. Solve previous years IIT JEE question papers for added benefit.

It will greatly enhance your speed and accuracy.

• Always Use a Stopwatch

You must record the time taken to solve a problem with a stopwatch. During practice, always use a stopwatch it will be of great help for JEE aspirants. For example, it will take less time for you to solve a sum on day 10 of practice, as compared to that on day 1, so it will help you in taking note of how much have you improved and thereby reduces the time.

Setting a time limit also helps in keeping a track of questions solved and will prepare you for performing best in the final exam.

Problem-solving skills are very crucial in any exam, in an exam like IIT JEE, where most of the questions are in numerical form,which directly tests your arithmetic and logical ability,you must develop your critical thinking skills,which will surely help you in solving questions faster, and in an effective way.

JEE Exam FAQ

Q1. Why problem solving is so important?

Ans. Problem-solving is very crucial as it makes us use our logic, creativity, take a new path/ approach, imagination, and resilience while solving paper, it is also very important in daily life.

Q2. What are the challenges in problem-solving?

Ans. There come a lot of challenges, such as - assumption, which can hinder the mindset which helps in solving a question using a different approach.

Second, it is the functional fixedness that comes in the way it restricts us from solving using a new technique and makes it difficult to proceed with the answer.

Q3. How can I be confident in the JEE Examination?

Ans. You must be determined enough for the IITJEE goal, if you have a clear vision and great willpower, nobody can stop you from clearing the exam. Just consistently prepare for the exam with daily practice, and you can easily crack it.

Don't listen to any negative talk, stay away from negative people, and focus on your goal.

Do not compare yourself with others, everyone is different.

Make a proper schedule and try to stick with it.

Q4. Is coaching necessary for the IIT-JEE exam?

Ans. No, you can easily clear the exam without any coaching, however, it is not an easy thing, you must work very hard as it is an entrance exam with a lot of fo competition, so make sure you study daily and consistently.

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How To Improve Speed And Accuracy in JEE

Speed and accuracy have a really complex relationship. Perhaps they are the most vital things to take care of while attending a highly competitive exam like JEE Main or Advanced. If you don't have the required pace, you will be snatched off your opportunity and left with the regret of how you could not attempt an easy question. On the other hand, accuracy is quite subtle when it comes to making you regret. You are going to realize your mistake after leaving the hall, or sometimes after the result comes out. But speed and accuracy -- they just do not get along. Precision requires time, and speed is all about reducing the amount of time. So let me be honest here, it's not easy to manage both of them at once, in fact, it's one of the hardest jobs - but maybe not as hard as cracking the exam with an acceptance rate of 2% and 12 lakh candidates.

Did I Make You Nervous? Don't Be.

Nervousness and stress are the arch-enemies of speed and accuracy. When you are nervous, your brain cannot function it its expected ability. On the other hand, when you are confident and stress-free, your brain produces Dopamine, which improves your concentration and problem-solving skills, eventually improving your speed and accuracy.

The Art Of Time Management

Time management is necessary for learning or revising as well as for acing the exam. When done correctly, it is nothing short of an art. During revision, you need to make a compact plan for how you are going to handle each and every topic. You have to stick to your own routine. Procrastination is not an option. When you have a specific deadline for finishing a topic, your brain will start working faster. Your subconscious mind will be trained to respond to the urgency, and nothing will be able to distract you at that time.

During your exam, you have to take a similar approach, only less aggressive. This is not a training for your brain, so precision matters. Your strategy should be well-planned, but cautious. Start with the easier problems and make your way up to the harder ones. If you practiced time management during your mock tests and revisions, speed should not be an issue for you, and the extra cautiousness would take care of the accuracy.

The Cognitive Approach To Problem-solving

During your revision, gradually increase the level of problems' difficulty, and try to reduce the usage of pen and paper. Initially, you might face problems, the answers might not be accurate, but as you continue, the improvement in speed and accuracy will be noticeable.

Soon you will be confident enough to do short mind calculations and skip steps to solve the problems quickly. But don't be overconfident. Always be extra cautious during your exam.

Creative Thinking Makes A Difference

No one will check if you solved the problem in a traditional step by step method, so you have the chance to be creative while solving a problem. During revision and mock tests, always try to find a better and quicker way to solve a question. You will discover a lot of reliable shortcut methods that were never taught to you. Your problem-solving speed would increase as you keep thinking creatively.

Now, here is the important part, don't try this during the exam, unless really necessary. Stick to the methods that you are 100% sure about. Your brain has already been trained to function faster, don't be deliberate to prove that during your exam.

Smartness Is As Important As Knowledge

You have to be smart while solving the problems. Unconventional ways are not discouraged at all. Learn some calculations beforehand. Memorise some square roots, cube roots, derivatives, and integrations. Skim through the shortcut techniques, memorize multiplication table up to 20, apply elimination technique when necessary. These techniques might not be good for learning, but they will prove really helpful in JEE. So practice these during your revision and apply only when they are the most viable options.

Don't Get Stuck

Never, and I repeat, never get stuck in a single problem during the exam. Once you make a time management strategy at the beginning, you would have an idea how much time you can spend on a single problem. So stick to the plan and avoid being stuck at a particularly difficult problem. Move on, solve the other problems, and come back to it later if you are left with enough time for a revision.

Practice - The Ultimate Advice

Okay, don't skip the paragraph - I know you are tired of hearing people advising you to “practice, practice and practice”. But trust me, this reminder is necessary, as practicing problems on the same concepts for 2 years is a really frustrating job. Just think about it for a moment, how much have your problem-solving speed improved since the first day you started studying for JEE? No matter how much boring this advice may sound, it always proves to be the most important one.

Prepare through mock tests with proper timing, and every time try to finish quicker than the last time. If you are taking offline mock tests, and your plan is to appear for the online JEE exam, be careful with the time management. The shading process does eat up a lot of time. Be careful about silly mistakes. Try to identify if there is a pattern in what kinds of mistakes you are making, and rectify them.

Double-checking, Something We All Love To Hate

After answering the 90 questions, you will not feel too enthusiastic about the idea of going through all of those questions and rough works once again, searching for some silly mistakes which you are sure you didn't make. But double checking is the key to achieving accuracy. The options given for an MCQ can often be misleading and too close to reason out. Keep your rough work organized to make the process less frustrating. You will thank yourself later for saving at least 8 to 12 marks, which is enough to make a significant difference in your rank.

So, that was all for this article. Do your best to establish a friendship between speed and accuracy; the result will be worth the effort. Best of luck.

Harshita Srivastava IIT Kanpur 13 September 2019