It’s a hard fact for entrepreneurs…problems arise in absolutely any business and vary in complexity. But how you handle those problems will dictate the satisfaction of your customers and the overall success of your business.
Here are 5 steps you must take in order to properly solve any problem. Skipping any of them will hinder your success.
1. Identify the problem. Sure, this sounds easy but it might take a bit of detective work to truly hunt down a problem. If your website traffic has decreased, that’s a consequence of a bigger problem. Have you been adding content to your website? Have you been promoting your site? Follow the trail until you can identify the real problem.
2. Brainstorm possible solutions. This is not the time to talk yourself out of any solutions. Think big and write down absolutely every idea you have, no matter how grand. If you have a team, utilize them in this process.
3. Evaluate the possible solutions. Think first about the impact of each solution. If you’re trying to cut company costs, the solution to save $100 won’t have as high an impact as the solution that saves $1,000. Also think about the complexity of the solution: how much time and money will it take to implement? Anything that doesn’t meet these criteria can get crossed off the list.
4. Execute the solution. All the greatest ideas in the world mean nothing if you can’t execute the solution to your problem. Identify what steps need to be taken, who will handle what steps, and set a completion date.
5. Re-examine the solution. Has the problem disappeared since the solution was implemented? Has the problem lessened? If the answer is no, then you might not have the right solution. Go back to the proverbial drawing board and choose one of the other solutions and give it a try.
