1. Identify Your Problem

One of the best ways to solve a problem is by simply identifying it. A lot of times we feel bad and we can’t exactly figure out what’s causing all that sadness. This step might not be as simple as it sounds. It may take you a while until you discover the cause of your misery, but realizing that you have a problem is the first step you should take in order to feel better again.

2. Define Your Problem

After you’ve identified your problem and you realize you have to take some action in order to solve it, the next step to take is to define it. Make sure you are aware of all its details and complexity, so you won’t have any unpleasant surprises later on in your path. Don’t look only at what’s on the outside, the interior counts as well!

3. Make a Plan

The next thing you should do in order to succeed and solve your problem is to develop a strategy or to simply make a plan which will help you put things into perspective and find the solution in the shortest amount of time. Some plans might be a bit complicated and you shouldn’t get discouraged if you notice that your strategy is too complex; just be patient and put a lot of effort into it and I’m sure you’ll be able to solve your problem at the right time.

4. Break That Issue down into Smaller Problems

Another trick that will help you successfully solve all your problems is to simply break down the main issue into smaller problems, so you’ll be able to deal with each of them separately. Smaller problems are easier to solve than big, complex ones and they also might require less energy from you. By doing this, you will also feel more motivated to keep on trying to solve all your problems, since it’s better to enjoy a lot of small successes than just a big one.

5. Organize All the Information You Have

Once you’ve realized you have a problem, once you’ve identified it and once you’ve come up with a strategy to solve it, make sure you have all the information required in order to solve it. Do you know everything there is to know about that problem? What are the things that you don’t know yet? The more information you have, the better prepared you will be to solve it.

6. Implement Your Plan

Once you’ve taken all the extra precautions you need in order to be successful, it’s time to work on implementing your plan. Allocate all the resources you have on solving that problem if it is extremely important to you at that time. Once you’ll get started, make sure you monitor your progress, so you will know if what you are doing is in fact helping you solve your problem. If not, reevaluate your plan and look for other strategies that will help you reach your goal.

7. Evaluate the Results

Once you’ve managed to solve your problem, it’s extremely important to evaluate your results in order to determine if the solution you’ve chosen was the best you could have used in that situation. What did you learn from this experience? Were there any other alternatives you could have chosen to solve your problem that would have provided the same results in a shorter period of time? Make sure you learn from your experience, so you’ll be able to avoid any potential mistakes in the future.

People use different strategies to solve their problems. What are yours? Will you share with us any other tips on how to solve a problem that will help us be more successful? I can’t wait to hear from you and learn from your experience!

Sources: wikihow.com, psychology.about.com