Do you struggle to make big decisions and take decisive action to resolve personal issues? One of the great things about joining the military is that you learn how to make decisions quickly. Members of the military need to be able to think on their feet and quickly create solutions to problems.
When they enlist, recruits are taught a seven-step process for solving problems. This is a systematic approach to issues that recruits have to master as part of their basic training.
So, let’s take an in-depth look at the 7-step military problem solving process and how you can apply it to daily life.
Contents
- What is a Problem Solving Process?
- The Seven Steps to Solving Problems
- Step 1 – Identify the Issue
- Step 2 – Make a List of Facts and Assumptions
- Step 3 – Create Alternatives
- Step 4 – Analyze the Alternatives
- Step 5 – Compare and Contrast the Alternatives
- Step 6 – Make a Final Decision
- Step 7 – Evaluate the Results
- Tips for Using the Problem Solving Process
- Take your time
- Practice a range of problem-solving skills
- Apply your strengths
- Be flexible
- Keep a record of your experiences
- Focus on long-term outcomes
- Seek input
- Test and review your approach
- Like Learning How the Military Functions?
- 7-Step Military Problem Solving Process – Conclusion
What is a Problem Solving Process?
This is a specific method that you can use to find the solution to an issue. It should consist of several steps that you need to work through in a particular order. You will only be able to solve the issues when you have mentally worked through all the steps.
This type of lateral and analytical thinking helps you from jumping to a quick conclusion. It allows you to mentally or physically gather all of the connected information and look at it closely. This helps to make sure that you come up with the best solution for the particular situation.
The Seven Steps to Solving Problems
This is a very structured method that can be used to identify and overcome all types of obstacles. It can be used to help you assess the issue and create an effective solution for it. Here are the seven steps that the military has outlined for doing this.
Step 1 – Identify the Issue
Before you can solve the issue, you need to work out exactly what it is. This includes analyzing the nature of the issue and how it affects you. You need to mentally distance yourself from the situation a little so that you can see it more clearly.
Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help identify the issue:
- When did the issue occur?
- Who is involved?
- Where did it occur?
- Why did it occur?
- What does it affect?
- Who does it affect?
- What is the overall picture?
Step 2 – Make a List of Facts and Assumptions
When analyzing the situation, you need to gather as much information about it as possible. However, not all of the information you have may be accurate or reliable.
It is important to review all the potential “facts” and make sure they hold up to scrutiny. This will help to prevent you from making a final decision based on flawed information.
Step 3 – Create Alternatives
There are likely to be several different ways of tackling the issue. You should make a mental list of all the ways of dealing with the issue as well as the pros and cons.
You are sure to find that some options are inferior and can be discarded right away. At the end of this step, you should have at least three potential ways of tackling the issue.
Step 4 – Analyze the Alternatives
Once you have a list of options, it is time to carefully analyze them to work out which action to take. While you can allow your instincts to guide you to a certain extent, it is important to avoid making an emotional decision. The right decision should be a blend of rationality and instinct.
Step 5 – Compare and Contrast the Alternatives
You may find that there are few viable ways of resolving the issue. It is now time to create a list of pros and cons for each option. This will make it easier to see the issue and the different options more clearly.
Step 6 – Make a Final Decision
The option that has the most positives should be the one that you will pick. If you have two or three good options, you should keep the other options as backups.
You may need to refer to them again if your chosen option doesn’t work as hoped. Also, you may want to ask the people around you for advice at this point to see if they choose the same option.
Step 7 – Evaluate the Results
After you have used the chosen option, it is time to carefully evaluate the results. You may find that the solution didn’t go as planned. And the results were either better or worse than expected. Following this step in the plan will help you make better decisions the next time you are faced with the situation.
Tips for Using the Problem Solving Process
Once you have learned the 7-Step Military Problem Solving Process, you will be ready to put it to the test. You may also find that you can create your own method that works just as well. Here are some tips on finding and applying a method that works well for you.
Take your time
While it is necessary to make quick decisions in the military, this isn’t always the case in daily life. Taking a moment and stepping back from the situation may allow you to see it more clearly. Take your time and let the emotions ebb away. You may find that the situation isn’t urgent or stressful.
Practice a range of problem-solving skills
There are lots of different skills you can use to help resolve different types of issues. Different situations are likely to call for different types of skills. So, let’s take a closer look at the types of skills you can practice to resolve issues.
- Communication – if you are seeking help, you need to be able to explain the issue clearly.
- Active listening – this skill allows you to focus on what people are telling you.
- Creativity – this allows you to think outside of the box when resolving issues.
- Lateral thinking – this helps you to determine the quickest way to resolve an issue.
- Analytical thinking – being about to analyze issues helps you see them more clearly.
- Teamwork – two heads are better than one, and it can be useful to rely on other people.
Apply your strengths
The way you choose to resolve issues will depend on your particular strengths. Working out your strengths and how they can help you solve issues will make the process easier. It is also a good idea to experiment with different ways of resolving issues to see what works best for you.
Be flexible
There may sometimes be unexpected outcomes when you are working on ways of resolving issues. It is important to be able to think on your feet and tackle different types of challenges as they arise. You need to be able to adapt quickly to different situations and apply the best strategies at the time.
Keep a record of your experiences
You are likely to find that certain types of issues crop up regularly. If an issue was particularly difficult to solve, it is a good idea to write out the approach you took.
Also, make sure you keep a record of the results of the approach and things that could have been done differently. Investing in a journal just for this purpose is sure to be a big help.
You will then be able to refer to this if the issue arises in the future. Seeing the steps you took to solve the issue written down can allow you to evaluate them more clearly. You are likely to be able to spot things you missed at the time that you can adapt in the future.
Focus on long-term outcomes
Part of choosing the right option is foreseeing the impact it will have on other things. Even though the solution you choose may be right for now, it could have negative long-term effects. You need to be able to think ahead and make sure the option you choose will not backfire.
Seek input
No man is an island, and there is no reason why you should have to make important decisions by yourself. You are likely to have close friends or family members who have faced the same type of issue in the past. Seeking the input of these people can help make it much easier to determine the right decision.
In many cases, they may be able to guide you to the right decision-making technique. However, in some cases, these people may have disaster stories based on making the wrong decision. Often, knowing what not to do is just as valuable as knowing what to do.
Test and review your approach
Once you have mapped out the process you will follow, it is time to sit back and analyze it for a minute. If you are sure you want to go ahead, it’s time to get out your journal and make clear notes. Take careful records of the outcome and how you would approach the same issue in the future.
Like Learning How the Military Functions?
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7-Step Military Problem Solving Process – Conclusion
Learning the military method of solving problems can help you in various areas of your life. Mastering this technique will teach you how to practice critical thinking. This is essentially a calm and slow way of seeing the situation as clearly as possible.
Practicing the techniques outlined in the steps will teach you how to analyze different situations. When you can do this without focusing on your emotions, you are sure to see situations more clearly. Practice with small issues, and you are sure to find that solving big issues soon becomes a breeze.