5 Problem Solving Methods

A great solution to the wrong problem is still a failure.
Because here’s the harsh truth:

If you skip the diagnosis, the treatment won’t work.

When something breaks in your business,
a missed goal, a failed launch, a team breakdown…

The instinct is often to jump straight to a fix.

But without understanding the root cause,
you’re just putting a fresh coat of paint on
a cracked wall.

Here are 5 practical methods to help you fix the right
problem, not just the loudest one:

1. Pre-Mortem Analysis

Spot risks before they derail your plans.

Ask: “If this project failed… what went wrong?”
Then adjust your strategy to prevent those scenarios.

💡 Use this when launching, presenting, or rolling out
a new strategy.

2. The 5 Whys

Get to the root cause—not just the symptom.

Ask “Why?” five times in a row until you find
what’s really broken.

It’s uncomfortable.
But that’s where the insight is.

💡Use this for recurring issues in performance
or operations.

3. Decision Tree Analysis

Visualize outcomes before you commit.
Map each option, the risks, and likely results.

This brings clarity to complex decisions,
and removes gut bias.

💡Use this when making high-stakes calls
on hiring, funding, or growth.

4. Rapid SWOT

Cut through the noise and re-center your strategy fast.

Ask:

✅ What’s working?
❌ What’s holding us back?
📈 Where can we win quickly?
⚠️ What’s threatening us?

💡Use this when momentum stalls,
goals feel unclear, or your team seems off track.

5. Impact vs. Effort Matrix

Prioritize with purpose.

High impact, low effort? Do it now.
High effort, low impact? Cut it.

💡Use this when resources are stretched and
everything feels “important.”

Here’s the key takeaway:

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel every
time something breaks.

You just need a smarter way to break the problem down.

The best leaders don’t wait for clarity to show up,
they create it, by asking better questions, earlier.

Which of these methods will you try first?