We make decisions and solve problems continually. We start making decisions before we even get out of bed (shall I get up now or not?). Sometimes, we will have made as many as 50 decisions by the time we leave for work. Despite all the natural decision making that goes on and the problem solving we do, some people are very uncomfortable with having to make decisions. You may know someone who has a hard time making decisions about what to eat, never mind the internal wrestling they go through in order to take on major decisions at work. Likewise, we’ve probably all looked at a solution to something and said, “I could have thought of that.” The key to finding creative solutions is not just creativity, although that will certainly help. The answer rests in our ability to identify options, research them, and then put things together in a way that works. Having a process to work through can take the anxiety out of problem solving and make decisions easier.

This course will teach you how to:

• Apply problem solving steps and tools
• Analyze information to clearly describe problems
• Identify appropriate solutions
• Think creatively and be a contributing member of a problem solving team
• Select the best approach for making decisions
• Create a plan for implementing, evaluating, and following up on decisions
• Avoid common decision-making mistakes

Course Content

Lessons

Session One: Course Overview

Session Two: Definitions

Session Three: Making Decisions

Session Four: Getting Real

Session Five: The Problem Solving Model

Session Six: Case Study

Session Seven: The Problem Solving Toolkit.

Session Eight: Aspirinia

Session Nine: Swotting Up

Session Ten: Making Good Group Decisions

Session Eleven: Analyzing and Selecting Solutions

Session Twelve: Planning and Organizing