By: Hanif Hemani
As
companies evolve and grow, there’s no question that problems will sometimes
arise. It’s a natural part of the business process. And if these problems are
not addressed, they can multiply, fester and possibly have a negative impact on
a company’s bottom line and competitive edge.
The
most successful businesses have strong cultures that encourage workers to
identify issues and help find solutions. In today’s extended workplace, it’s
essential to make sure independent workers feel equally empowered as problem
solvers for your company.
A Critical Skill Set
A
recent article in Forbes identified
the top 10 skills employers are looking for in 2015 graduates. According to the
national study, the top skills employers want in new hires are people who can
work well on teams and decisively solve problems.
In
fact, a separate national study by The
Association of American Colleges and Universities shows that 93 per cent of
business leaders care more about a job candidate’s ability to think critically,
communicate clearly and solve complex problems than they do about the
candidate’s undergraduate major.
Establish a Strategy
Although
this skill set is in high demand, employers find that it is often in short
supply. According to The Journal,
this is a particularly tough challenge for today’s millennial generation of
American workers, who scored significantly lower than their international peers
in problem solving and critical thinking.
So
it’s important to develop and communicate a problem-solving strategy for employees
and independent workers alike. Some workplaces use specific methodologies, such
as Kaizen or Six Sigma, but experts say you
can get effective results by training workers to focus on these four abilities:
-
Identifying
problems
- Proposing
solutions
- Evaluating
options
- Implementing
solutions
For independent workers,
one of the chief stumbling blocks may be navigating organizational silos within
a company. Business Insider
suggests that leaders be mindful of these silos and other potential roadblocks,
so you can pave the way for your team to implement smart solutions.
Leverage Fresh Ideas
When
it comes to problem solving, independent workers often bring with them an
objective view of your business operations that is not filtered by internal
politics. They bring fresh eyes to what has become a common everyday landscape
for established employees. This can give you valuable insight and trigger new ideas
to improve processes and fuel innovation.
Working
together, your employees and independent contractors can fine tune their
problem-solving strategies for the benefit of your company and the bottom line.