Every Day is Problem-Solving Day

Problem Solving Block

At the center stage of our day-to-day activities we have various issues to take care of. Most of these issues, involve activities that lead us into problem solving. This can be seen from the many engagements we have with friends, families and employers. Even in employment, the most sought after skill is Problem Solving. As an employee, the interview process is a procedure to ensure that an employer gets the right person who will be able to solve various problems as per the job description demands. In order to stand out in such a process, a candidate for a job opening is better off using the STAR Method in answering and responding to behavioral and competence based question. It is a precise answering process that depicts your ability and attitude towards work.

Problem Solving is not just a skill but a competence that everyone should be able to exhibit. It makes an individual more accepted and sought after in times of challenges. As a Competence, Problem Solving depends on an individual’s attitude. How you react to various situations and events will reveal your attitude to your co-workers, family or even friends. As a Skill, Problem Solving is depicted by the urge to confirm the evidence and challenging any other presented would-be solution.

People with this competence:

• Always pursue different view points by sampling and checking other alternatives.
• They speculate intelligently by asking “what if” questions to probe different scenarios.
• They are open to collaboration as they are aware of the complexities involved in problem solving tasks.
• They are always keen and concern themselves in a cause-effect pattern to be able to determine the Root Cause of the problem to prevent it from re-occurring again.

In Problem Solving, a Root-Cause Analysis (RCA) as well as MECE tool has been used by various global companies in aligning their flow of work as well as the sequence and order in manufacturing. In RCA method, an individual can turn a problem, defects or complaints into opportunities for continuous and permanent improvement until the root cause of the problem is identified. This method relies on the 5 WHYs and 1 HOW, founded by Sakichi Toyoda founder of Toyota Company. The 5 Whys aid in finding answers to the root cause of the problem while the 1 How helps to eliminate the root cause and prevent the problem from re-occurring.

This method is currently being used in the installation of KAIZEN (getting more for less) as well as in LEAN manufacturing due to resource constraints and in the field of CONSULTING. In consulting, with big players like McKinsey, BCG and Bain, most of their employees must be able to exude the following four competencies:

• Fact reading which is the ability to accurately comprehend data and work with it efficiently.
• Root Cause Analysis, the ability to get to the underlying causes by avoiding irrelevant facts.
• Fact-based conclusion by drawing logical conclusions from relevant facts.
• Client interpretation by focusing on the actual project requirement to solve the client’s problem.
• Estimation skill which is a qualitative skill of quickly performing a mental math to identify trends and compare aspects logically.

MECE tool lays down a strong structure for case interviews. It is a tool used to segment group information into logical manner. This is done by segmenting information into either mutually exclusive or collectively exhaustive. In using MECE tool, an Issue Tree for case structure is developed to help avoid dependencies between different branches of the tree so that sub-problems can be properly identified and isolated.

In conclusion, these tools can as well mislead if you pursue a wrong branch in identifying the root causes of a problem. So, it is better to really understand and probe using intelligent questions so that little time is used in problem-solving events.

As an acknowledgement, I would like to thank the Bridge Africa team for this online module course and would want to recommend any youth to seek their guidance in making them develop various skills among which Problem-Solving skill is great.

The Bridge Africa http://www.thebridgeafrica.com/about.html

Insight of Generous Networking from The Bridge Africa

The current employment landscape has changed. From the traditional ways of sending or dropping your resume to the need of validation from your networks for your CV to get the keen attention it needs by recruiters. Since the process of reviewing resumes is tedious, most employer and hiring agents find it easier when a potential candidate is referred to them. About 75% of most job openings are not advertised in the media but through networks. But the greatest challenge is that networking sounds intimidating and scary at the same time.

Most graduates find it difficult to maneuver their way in getting internships, industrial attachments and employment. The same applies to entrepreneurs who need valuable associates to help them propel their ventures. To scale up a job hunt and enterprise growth, we need to check out for meet up events that provide networking among different professions. It is in such events that we showcase our abilities and what our ventures are up to. Therefore, networking means building a relationship so that you can be comfortable in asking for ideas, advice and referrals. With such visibility, we can speed up the process and success of our intentions as people love doing business with people known to them.

Peoples skills is fundamental in engaging strangers in a non-selfish manner. Networking requires rising above your fears and stepping out of your comfort zone to approach strangers. In this age and era, networking has proved to be a must do for all future leaders in manufacturing, business and employment. I have come to learn that it is important to network and meet potential employers or rather meet potential referees.

This is because most employers would rather employ people they know or referred to them by someone from their network. Referrals act as new validation credential that will be able to speed up your interviewing process as employers need someone who can be entrusted with valuable resources. Hiring managers will always want to know whomever they are hiring as the normal interview process may not reveal your potential.

In any networking event, always have an objective. Aim to build a genuine and lasting relationship. This can only be possible by seeing the world from the other person point of view. On how to collaborate with the persons you are trying to create a relationship with and how useful you can be to them. By creating an alliance with the people, you meet, in the long run, the relationship will be hinged upon exchange and not transactional in nature since the later can be hired.

For any meaningful engagement, an individual will need to develop skills for asking and generous sharing. In asking, you need to be genuine and ask deep and open-ended questions for you to connect authentically. In sharing, you need to be open and speak out on your areas of interest, sharing what you know, what you would like to learn and your fears. In this case, do not expect anything in return but instead ask for what you can do for the other parties.

Human beings treasure what they can measure and measure what they treasure as it is highly relevant in networking. We need to follow up, stay in touch and track results for a healthy and productive relationship. During networking events, introduce yourself in a manner to suggest you need a connection from them and not just talking and mere meeting. To connect, you need to introduce yourself with an elevator pitch that is short, authentic and conversational.

We may be shy to start a conversation, but this does not mean we cannot overcome the fear and approach strangers in any event.  In such a case, always start by asking others to talk about themselves as people like talking about themselves with ease. Always listen to people deeply and avoid the inner voice that may distract you from having a fruitful conversation. Try and overcome the idea of overrating others to be superior as this will make you feel intimidated, afraid that someone may find you deficient of interpersonal skill and lastly be comfortable with yourself. 

Highlights on Structured Communication: A course by Bridge Africa - UReady

In a fast-paced world, where competition is strife, you need to be different for you to remain relevant. Being different also brings with it some risk, of being feared or ignored but depending on how you use your language of fascination, you can turn things around and be sort by many in your field of profession.

This brings me back to a course on structured communication. I must say I have learnt a lot that I never knew and was never taught in my undergraduate communication classes. It is a gem, a precious gift taught to me by Bridge Africa. I have realized why some people excel faster than their peers even though they did the same course and graduated at the same time. I am now able to distinguish various brands by just how people or companies communicate and reveal themselves to their audience.

Having learnt of an Ivy League, a sign of prestige well-kept and cherished by some companies and institutions of higher learning, I have realized and appreciated why they have various test stages to ensure that they get the right candidates in their organizations. The difference is not much, but in communication.

Yes, structured communication is the difference. Learning to be an effective communicator is key to an individual’s success, in any sector or field of profession. With proper communication structure, one can design and tune it to different audience. Different audience need different mode of rendition for them to understand you and how you deliver it will create a big difference on the impact of your message.

Going through the Minto Pyramid Principle, I realized that complex information can be broken down to simple and succinct message. A message when delivered can grab attention even for the busiest executive. It made me learn the language of consultancy. One in which you always must defend a single point every time as the mode of communication is always in response to a question raised by the main point. I must appreciate the works of Barbara Minto to have had such a eureka moment in demystifying complex information. By following the principle, you structure the information up-front before presenting it, which gives the listener a framework to interpret the information given to prevent any wrong decoding of the intended message. In short in brings out logic in thinking and writing.

To become an A-class communicator, I need to be a good communicator to appreciate the mental exercise and not the linguistic aspect of it. It involves logical structuring of thoughts with which you can grasp attention of a busy executive and deliver your elevator pitch without him being distracted. Since in such communication, you need to defeat three enemies of communication starting with distraction.

Distraction is the scissor that cuts the word between you and your listener. It makes it difficult for one to connect with audience. So, this calls for our brand to structure our communication in a unique way as it helps one appear different to combat distraction while communicating. Competition as has been highlighted in the beginning only makes us different and not better as being better may be superseded by some best forms of brand available. To avoid being ignored, your language in communication should be successful enough as your audience expect you to be distinct. Lastly, if you appear like a commodity before your clients you seem vulnerable, this is called commoditization. As such, your personality and language in communication is very important in the success of your career or business.

To wrap up, most employers will always get you on board if you package and brand yourself uniquely. You must be able to communicate well in a structure that will make you stand out among the rest. It is during interviews that a lot is expressed by yourself and understood by the panel. You therefore need to always answer three questions while communicating and giving a response to your audience. The why, what and how. Knowing how best to tackle them will make the difference of being clear and being understood without ambiguity hence being a favorite choice or not.                               

Minto Pyramid Principle and Structured Communication

Communication involves speaking and writing through which we reveal ourselves to the world. About our potential, wealth or poverty deep within us. Communication can either make us prosperous or miserable. Good articulate and structured communication can catapult an individual high a career ladder as was the case with President Barrack Obama that revealed him to the world in 2004 and made him ascend to presidency in 2008. This shows how prosperity in personal branding and the need of designing a thought process can really make us acceptable and loved by a diverse group of people.

The Minto Pyramid Principle has helped me to appreciate the essence of structured communication. It emphasizes on producing a good draft in a short time from a complex source. It captures every detail and allows for a proper top-down representation and summary of information. It explores on the use of magic number 7 with either 5 points or 9 points for comprehension and easier summary.

In most cases, the rule of 3 has been on conventional use as human minds easily conceive and recall it fast. Pyramid ideas start conversation by thinking logically to present a message. It highlights a logical writing and thinking for problem solving. This is a concept widely used by top executive in communicating their ideas as it is logical and argumentative manner.

The Pyramid structure involves grouping to clarify and simplify a problem. The presentation starts with a conclusion, a top-down thinking structure by executives who want to drive an idea first in a presentation. The main point is followed by other smaller ideas to justify it. In this mode of presentation, executive’s attention will be drawn to the idea as justification follows. It also saves the time for most executives as they always have a short attention span due to several engagements they must think through. Therefore, by highlighting recommendations and logic ideas first, it allows them to focus their energy on the areas of interest.

Minto Pyramid structure emphasizes on starting with the solution and coherence to support the argument and with the evidence at the bottom. The Pyramid Principle is not only valuable for communicating with executives but also effective in communicating with anyone whom you wish to persuade with logical argument.

As an entrepreneur, I would use structure to communicate with prospective investors or board members. It also relates to organizational leaders who can use it with their peers to communicate about a project to stakeholders about any proposals and progress.

In conclusion, a structured communication process starts with thought processing, by thinking through the intended message and how it will be received. The delivery process to the recipient could be words, actions or signals. The receiving process should be clear enough for the intended recipient to understand. By getting all the three processes right, it leads to effective communication. I believe from my own point of view, the corporate gates with this course on effective and structured communication.

Growth Mindset an Equalizer for Success

“Talent isn’t passed down in the genes; its passed out in the mindset” Carol Dweck

We have all heard success stories from prominent persons and leaders in the business sphere in our country and our global village.  The same stories applies to sports and athletics. Kenya is known globally for athletes. Most of this individual participating in the competition did not just make it to their levels of success due to talent, but the effort and time taken in training and stretching beyond limits. Julius Yego, the javelin champion gained his prowess through self learning and watching videos on YouTube. It would be fallacious to conclude that it is only Kalenjins who make the best athletes. Hellen Obiri is not, yet she has flew our flag high in global athletic competition. This depicts an open mindset that is ingrained in Growth Mindset, and yes, talent cannot be passed in the genes but through mindset of needed efforts to excel and exceed your own expectations

One of the leading Kenyan business mogul, Chris Kirubi made it to where he is now through learning, commitment, perseverance, hard work and above all great efforts, even after being orphaned at a younger age. By beating all odds, he rose above poverty, helping his siblings and staying focused of what difference he aimed to make. Most orphans will feel like the world has come to a halt when they lose their parents.

This and many more stories of almost a near despair, are talks of what efforts can bring out of a proper mindset and most importantly a Growth Mindset. A mentality of infinite opportunities. One that has limitless horizon, one that you can only be your impediment if you fail to stretch it more and more towards your goals.

Universities are churning thousands of graduates to the thinning job market with few job opportunities to be offered. A Growth Mindset is able to offer a level ground to all this fresh graduates struggling and unaware of what is awaiting them in the job market to at least get themselves in some engagements that can add value to them by experience and gaining relevant skills. Some risk takers end up starting their own ventures and still excel from the efforts because with GRIT (Greatness Requires Internal Toughness), they can only be tough on their efforts to break their ceiling.

“Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.” Kevin Durant

A Growth Mindset goes hand-in-hand with the willingness to learn, if you hunger for new knowledge and learn new skills, you will be able to be atop of your peers in getting new opportunities. The ability to venture into unknown spheres and learning along the way is what we should be able to teach ourselves, our peers and people around us. Uready self learning portal attest to the mental transformation that comes with the ability of wearing the growth mindset towards success.

For Generation Y and Millennial, most inventions and technological advancements have made things easy. Willingness to learn implies to your ability to get out of your comfort zone and try new things. Things that will add value and move you a step forward to your success. It is the effort you put and continually do, which is now perseverance that your goals become achievable.

To wrap it up, an individual can learn anything anywhere and implement it at the comfort of their surrounding. Daring to start and committing to gradually improve is the stamina needed to achieve the success we all have wished for and this boils down to a Growth Mindset and Effort. A Growth Mindset does not focus on failures, it assesses the failure, learns and perfects going forward. It does not concern itself much with it but rather worries less about it. This way you are able to focus your optimism towards your goals.  Everyone can adapt to a growth mindset through interactions, reading and learning about other people’s story. As for myself, Bridge Africa has made it easy for many youths to gain an opportunity to propel their dreams forward.