3 Easy Steps to Solve Any Problems in Your Small Business
As entrepreneurs, we deal with business problems often. They can be complaints from angry customers, delayed payments, unreliable suppliers, and many other issues to deal with. Our role is to be the problem-solver in the company, together with our dependable employees. While there are many complicated ways to solve problems, you might to go back to basics:
Identify the Main Problem
Seems pretty obvious? Not quite. Many entrepreneurs confuse the effects of the problems with the real problems. Poor inventory planning, for instance, could result in late deliveries or cancellation of orders. While this is the root cause, some may blame the logistics guys for not sticking to schedule or even your customers for being so impatient. You should retrace your steps to identify the main issues.
More importantly, Software Project Management reminds us not to look back to find who is guilty. Instead, let’s focus on fighting the problems.
Generate Alternatives
It’s time to brainstorm and find all the possible solutions. Follow the advice of Chess Grandmaster Emanuel Lasker: “When you see a good move, look for a better one.” Don’t scrap any ideas yet.
From that pool, start selecting the most practical solutions. You might want to set some criteria for your evaluation. For instance, speed might be more important than cost or vice versa.
Implement
Create your action plans, emphasize accountabilities, and set your timetable for implementation. You will realize that your plan is not 100% accurate and there are times you need to adjust or even abandon your plans. That’s why it’s important to have several options.
Part of implementation is monitoring the progress and impact of your solution. If you are still not satisfied, you can rework again.
