Problem Solving

[JoelR]

(This actually applies as much to general situations in the world as much as it does to community building).  

Community are asked to solve a lot of problems every day. Making these kinds of decisions is context dependent. If you go into every situation using the same tactics, you’re going to wind up frustrated when your playbook no longer works.

What are some ways to problem solve?  

• Adventurer: You make decisions quickly and trust your gut. When faced with a challenge, big or small, you’d rather do what feels right than spend your valuable time thinking through all the choices. You know who you are and what you want — so you aren’t afraid to go get it.
• Detective: You value information and are always looking for facts and data. You don’t decide based on how you feel — you want to see what the evidence says. You believe that the more you learn and soak in the details, the better you’ll do.
• Listener: You’ve got a whole village of people in your life whom you trust and who support you. When you are faced with a challenging situation or a complex decision, you rely on these people, asking for their input and opinions. You feel comfortable knowing you don’t have to decide by yourself.
• Thinker: You are thoughtful, resisting the pressure to make quick decisions. You carefully weigh options, wanting to understand the positives and negatives of each. You don’t need a lot of data, but you do need the time and headspace to feel like you have both a reason for the choice you’re making and a rationale for why it makes sense. Speed is not your goal; process is.
• Visionary: You don’t want to settle for the ordinary, and you like to go your own way. When faced with a clear set of options, you’re more interested in finding a different one, preferably one that hasn’t yet occurred to others. You keep everyone guessing — and often, you surprise those around you with your decisions.

Inspired by Cheryl Strauss Einhorn, founder and CEO of Decisive, a decision sciences company