Things don't always go smoothly in small business, do they? For example, perhaps there‘s been an unexpected drop in weekly sales, or over-spending on the monthly budgeted expenses, or you're running late in completing an important job for a customer . Or maybe you/ve heard one of your major accounts is talking with a competitor
Problem solving skills are a crucial capability for the small business owner - and yet problem solving is something that you may do instinctively, rather than using any particular method or structured approach. If you think there are times when you could do this better, then here are some problem solving tips to consider ....
- Step back and carefully assess the situation. How big a problem is it really? What priority is it, given other issues you might be facing - do you need to address it now?
- Before acting, investigate the situation. Make sure you have all the facts and information about the issue, so that you have a complete picture, rather than just a few pieces of the jigsaw. This way, you're much less likely to jump to the wrong conclusion - and you're more likely to have identified the caise of the problem.
- Take time to consider all of your options. The first solution that comes to mind is not necessarily the best one. Be willing to seek advice or counsel from others whom you respect, they may have faced similar problems
- If you've thought everything through, gathered all the information, weighed up all your options - when you do eventually decide what to do, act with confidence. This is not the time to second-guess or doubt yourself. Sometimes, the solution might not have been perfect - but as long as it moves things forward, then that's an improvement.You can always make some adjustments to your actions along the way.
- For more useful advice, visit Problem Solving Tips
