2 Why are problem solving preferences important?

Problem solving preferences are important because they can have a significant impact on your effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction in problem solving. By understanding your own preferences, you can recognize your strengths and weaknesses as a problem solver and develop them accordingly. Additionally, you can choose the best tools and methods for different types of problems and situations, and adjust your approach and style when necessary to suit the task, the environment, and the stakeholders. Furthermore, you can communicate your ideas more clearly to those with different preferences and appreciate the diversity of other problem solving styles.

3 How can you identify your problem solving preferences?

One way to identify your problem solving preferences is to use a self-assessment tool or questionnaire that measures various aspects of your problem solving style. For example, you can use the Kirton Adaption-Innovation Inventory (KAI) to assess your preference for adaption or innovation in problem solving. Adaptors tend to follow rules, norms, and conventions, while innovators tend to challenge them and seek novel solutions. Another example is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) which assesses your preference for sensing or intuition, thinking or feeling, judging or perceiving, and extraversion or introversion in problem solving. Sensing and thinking types tend to use logic and facts, while intuition and feeling types tend to use imagination and values. Judging and perceiving types tend to use structure and order, while extraversion and introversion types tend to use interaction and reflection.

4 What are the benefits of identifying your problem solving preferences?

Identifying your problem solving preferences can help you become a better problem solver in various ways. It can enhance your self-awareness and confidence, as well as expand your problem solving repertoire and toolbox by exploring different approaches and techniques. Additionally, it can help you collaborate more effectively with others who have different problem solving preferences and gain valuable insights from their feedback. Furthermore, it can enable you to solve problems more creatively and holistically by integrating different perspectives and dimensions of problem solving.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?