5.4: A Problem Solving Approach
We ended our conflict discussion with descriptions of how conflict can benefit us when we approach it with care. We also previewed another way to approach tense, complex, and potentially contentious situations – a problem-solving focus. In this section, we will get a better sense of what it means to use a problem-solving approach.
Read this text, which explains the problem-solving process to help manage the challenges you and your team face. This approach to conflict resolution can be a game-changer!
Watch this video on how to adopt a problem-solving approach. This approach is one of many options, but the key here is that we become solution-minded.
Watch this video on the SPACE problem-solving tool. The steps include building a stage to contain and display the problem, populating the stage with accurate, relevant data and information, arranging your data according to what you can control (your "what is state"), choosing actions you can perform to alleviate the problem (your "could be" state), and executing or committing to a plan. The most valuable part of this technique is making problems and issues visible to create a collaborative work environment built on problem-solving and teamwork.