As engineers we constantly face problems, usually of the technical nature, but sometimes team or finance related challenges arise. As human beings, we constantly face all types of problems, career, financial, health, and others. The point I am making is, there probably isn’t a day that goes by that we aren’t trying to solve a problem.
In my career and life, I have found that oftentimes, a strategy as simple as rephrasing (or restating) the problem can help us to see it in a different way, allowing us to find a solution faster, or simply find one that we weren’t thinking of.
In this post, which is a preview of my upcoming session, How to Develop Analytical Thinking & Problem-Solving Skills for Engineering Professionals, I want to share three ways that you can rephrase a problem you are facing:
#1) Change the Verbiage
This sounds too easy to work, but it can work surprisingly well. Take a look at the problem you are faced with and re-state it is using different words or phrases. For example:
Initial Statement: How can I reduce my weekly screen time?
After Re-phrasing: How can I be more engaged with people while using screens less?
Analyzing the actual words forces, you to think through the problem statement, and really read between the lines. You will think more deeply about the problem you are trying to solve, by re-stating it.
If nothing else, this strategy gets you to think about the problem from a different perspective.
#2) Turn the Problem Upside Down
Another strategy for rephrasing or re-thinking a problem you are facing is to look at it from a completely different perspective. For example:
Initial Statement: How can we alleviate the concerns of these people that are against our client’s project?
After Turning it Around: How can we persuade these people to become supporters of our project?
You see what I did there? I am trying to turn the problem around and create an opportunity from the problem. This action may even help you to leverage your problems for the positive in them.
#3) Ask Yourself WHY
This strategy can be useful in all walks of life, not just problem solving, but it works here too.
Write out the problem statement in detail and ask yourself, “Why?” For example:
Initial Statement: How can I reduce my weekly screen time?
Why: Because I feel that my time on screens is reducing my time interacting with people face-to-face.
New Statement: How can I spend more time with people face to face?
You can continue to drill down by asking the Why question until you find the real root of the problem or challenge. This Why process can be very valuable, especially when you are lacking clarity around the real issue at hand.
So, as you encounter problems in your career and life, I hope you will use one or more of these strategies to solve your problems, and maybe even turn them into opportunities.
If you’re interested in your firm possibly joining the Civil Engineering Collective, please contact us here or call us at 800-920-4007.
I hope you’ll join us.
Anthony Fasano, P.E.
Engineering Management Institute
Author of Engineer Your Own Success
