Irrespective of whether you are a learner, an employee, an employer, or just any ordinary person, there is a possibility that at one point you might have to face some issues or problems depending on the area or career you are in.

With such problems, there is definitely need to solve them in a way that will not affect what you are doing, since this is part of life.

 However, it’s believed that it’s not only knowing how to go about it but also, making better decisions and becoming a better problem solver matters a lot, especially in this digital world. 

Duncan Mboya, an information security analyst says in life, we are bound to make decisions that will need to solve problems or challenges we face in our daily lives.

And for this reason, he says whether one wants to fix a problem within their working environment or start their own enterprise, you will probably have to come up with objectives and goals which will require them to solve such problems.

 He says that in today’s working environment, many employers are looking for those who are good at problem-solving, not just those who know how to do it.

"Being good at problem-solving is in big demand, something that is now a priority for those seeking jobs. 

Because of technology, there is a huge demand for personnel who are skilled and have the ability to resolve issues surrounding them,” he says.

To sharpen this particular skill, Mboya says knowing the approach is very crucial, which can also improve with time.

How to achieve this

Theopista Mukandengo, a data scientist in Kigali is of the view that to become a better problem solver, one ought to first identify the problem.

According to her, there is no better starting point than getting to know what needs to be fixed.

"This means that one will take their time to thoroughly go through the situation, get to understand the root of the problem, which will help them not only solve the problem but also become good at it,” she says.

Besides, she also believes that getting to understand where the problem is coming from puts you in a better position to become a better problem solver.

 So, she says taking the time to investigate the situation and collect information is important as it will help you be in a position to analyze your findings and thus come up with clear solutions

Speaking of solutions, Mukandengo says it’s also very important if one strives to find multiple solutions rather than dwelling on one.

She says this means that one is thinking outside the box. This, she says might mean looking for solutions in unusual places or from unusual sources including talking to a different set of colleagues, keeping an open mind, and so on.

Meanwhile, Mboya says that planning and implementing your solution is also vital as this will help build a good plan to execute your solution.

This also goes with determining if your solution was a success, which will help you reach a final decision.