Here's how you can overcome obstacles when responding to failure in problem solving.

Problem solving is process of achieving a goal by overcoming obstacles and challenges that lie in the path to the goal. No matter how well you plan to succeed there is always a good chance of failure. It is important to stay Cognizant of the fact and acknowledge the Murphy’s law that says “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” It does not mean to set yourself for failure rather to be prepared for it. Below things helped in my experience. - Accept the failure and control your emotions. Try to stay calm. - Retrospect and introspect. - Collect feedback. Open up to discuss with friend/team - keep yourself inspired and motivated - Learn from the failure. - Look for better strategy and approach - Stay optimistic and give your best shot

Failure is the best way to learn. Unfortunately, most everyone has been taught as children that failure is negative. A person may also have the personality type that leans towards perfection the first time all the time. This can be personally toxic and can carry over to others. Be transparent about the failure and share it with others so that they also don’t do it. Make it a teachable moment. I knew a delivery lead who once failed leading a $50 million project. He was then appointed QA delivery director to make sure other projects don’t do the same thing. If the mistake is constantly repeated, then there might need to be assistance on how to recognize the antecedents or a process in place to help prevent it.

Failure is inevitable. How you choose to handle it as an individual and organization makes the difference. Shame is a natural negative emotional outcome. If we make it a personal judgement or statement, it becomes toxic, and that doesn't go well for anyone. Instead, focus on what can team members to do learn from the failure and support each other. Good relationships are essential for solving problems, more important than intellect. Be non-judgmental in a failure analysis of how things didn't go well. Incorporate that into organizational learning - what was wrong in the analysis? Did we identify the wrong root cause? Did we miss by a millimeter or a kilometer? Use it as an opportunity to develop even more robust solutions.

When troubleshooting there are always multiple approaches that can be taken. So, begin with the last process required and determine if the problem occurs before the last process point. Back track until steps of process can be verified. Once establishing the known stopping or failure point, begin to troubleshoot either be code verification, physical part inspection, replacement or rewrite of this stage to ensure flaw or defective is now gone. As an engineer, or expert troubleshooter like myself, understanding of the entire system environment is the key to troubleshooting anything. Never trust anyone else’s results or troubleshooting, always verify before moving forward. Begin again, sometimes things can be intermittent, a good challenge.

Aside from rare moments of complete implosion of character or opting for a poor solution to pitch the cause is almost always this: problem solving too early. Have you listened to the story completely? Often there are layers of problems. What emotions are still hiding from the conversation? There may still be some venting to be done and realities to be discovered. Even greater — have you been asked to help produce a solution? This will sound something like, “what would you recommend?” If this hasn’t happened then solutions will fall on deaf ears. Rushing to help is a wonderful character trait! Get there and listen. Once all has surfaced, you’ll be asked to be a collaborator. This is when your solution is soaked in best.

Sometimes mistakes happen. Analysing where it went wrong is my favourite things, ONCE YOU HAVE ELIMINATED THE NEED FOR BLAME. If we are all analysing together and are honest about what more we all could have done then this is when you can truly learn lessons. Rarely does a failure come from a single source. If you are looking for compensation then this can be very tricky to get to the bottom of and almost impossible to learn lessons that lead to further collaboration and innovation.

Once a failure occurs, it's crucial to analyze its causes thoroughly. This involves looking into what went wrong and why it happened. Conducting a root cause analysis can help identify underlying issues, whether they stem from incorrect assumptions, lack of resources, poor planning, or execution errors. Understanding the causes allows you to learn from mistakes and avoid repeating them in the future. Identify Mistakes: Carefully examine what went wrong. Did you overlook crucial data? Was there a flaw in your logic? Learn from Others: Seek feedback from colleagues or mentors. Discuss the problem and see if they have insights into your approach.

Sometimes, unconventional or less obvious factors can lead to losses. Embracing diverse viewpoints and thinking outside the box can reveal insights that traditional analysis might miss. By exploring alternative approaches, such as seeking input from different team members or considering unconventional variables, we can uncover hidden reasons for failure and potentially prevent future losses. This open-minded approach encourages creativity and innovation, ultimately leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the factors contributing to setbacks.

Claramente, para sobrepasar la situación, es necesario hacer un analisis de la o las causas que llevaron al fracaso. Acá no es una cuestión de quien o quienes se equivocaron, sino de que se hizo bien y que se hizo mal, para poder enfocarse en posibles soluciones.

Armed with the insights from your failure analysis, it's time to adapt your strategies. This could mean altering your approach, trying different methods, or even redefining the problem itself. Flexibility and willingness to change are key. Experiment with new ideas, apply lessons learned, and be open to innovative solutions. Continuously refining your strategies based on feedback and outcomes will improve your problem-solving abilities. Think Outside the Box: Explore alternative solutions. Don't be afraid to get creative and consider unconventional approaches. Be Flexible: Be prepared to adjust your plan based on your analysis of the failure. Don't be wedded to a single approach.

Sometimes, thinking outside the box and approaching problems in unconventional ways can yield remarkable solutions.When tackling challenges, it's vital to be adaptable and willing to explore various strategies. By tapping into a new perspective that others may overlook, we can uncover hidden opportunities and innovative paths forward. Being open-minded and embracing creativity can often unveil unexpected avenues to success. Therefore, integrating fresh insights and unexplored angles into problem-solving can be the catalyst for revolutionary breakthroughs and transformative outcomes.

Adaptabilidade é fundamental para resolução de problemas, afinal nem sempre o que mapeamos nos processos podem funcionar quando aplicamos na prática, sendo necessário retroceder as análises de causa e alterações de estratégias para resolução de causa raiz.

I have always disagreed with the term “failure”. Also appreciated the: you win, or you learn! This is a more appropriate response to a situation that is not a clear win. Learning is a more complex process that involves analysis and self analysis. You need to understand the circumstances and communicate with the team, stakeholders and clients. That in terms leads to adapting the strategies of how to reach the goals, how to mobilize and develop your project team, how to develop the next Sprint, if you are in an Agile environment.

Setting boundaries and nurturing relationships with those who bring positivity and constructive feedback to the table will help you grow and thrive effectively.When seeking feedback, it's crucial to connect with individuals who provide constructive insights and valuable perspectives. Surround yourself with like-minded, growth-oriented individuals who can offer meaningful feedback and share in your journey of improvement. Avoid getting entangled with close-minded individuals whose negative energy can hinder your progress.

Embracing cybersecurity awareness and implementing proactive measures is essential for safeguarding our resilience and ensuring long-term success.Cybersecurity threats pose a significant risk to achieving our goals. Many individuals may not realize the impact of online vulnerabilities on their resilience efforts. Ignoring the importance of protecting personal and professional data can lead to devastating setbacks and hinder progress.

Building resilience is about developing the mental and emotional strength to bounce back from failures. It involves maintaining a positive attitude, staying motivated, and keeping a long-term perspective. Resilient individuals and teams view challenges as opportunities to grow and improve. Developing resilience can be facilitated by setting realistic goals, celebrating small successes, and fostering a supportive environment that encourages persistence and determination. Develop Grit: Persistence is key. Don't get discouraged by setbacks. Keep working towards finding a solution. Maintain Confidence: Believe in your ability to solve problems. A positive attitude is crucial for overcoming obstacles.

Un ejemplo que he visto, es que las personas con pensamientos positivos, ya sea por un camino más corto o más largo, terminan alcanzando el exito o la tarea deseada. Los buenos pensamientos y las buenas actitudes ante un problema, atraen buenas actitudes de nuestro entorno, tanto personal como laboral, lo que nos alimenta el espíritu para seguir mejorando.

Embracing failure, finding the root cause, and solving it should not be a one-time effort. To make this culture sustainable, it is essential to set simple but systematic processes in place. This ensures that priorities are set, efforts are combined, solutions are sustainable, and teams are recognized. A lean environment based on these three pillars—Measures, Operational Reviews, and Problem-Solving Activities—provides a simple framework to support a cultural shift.

Resilience is a must have in today’s life, and not only in the face of a project challenge. IMAO, it is connected with survival, as we are always tried with new challenges, but we cannot/or should not give up. Learn, adapt, strategize and move on.

Reflection can be a hard thing to do, but it is a necessary step in improvement. It allows for the opportunity to, when you are no longer under stress to fix things, to see the entire situation closer to what it was. The saying "hindsight is 20/20" is very true and allowing yourself to honestly review and progress is what can help you grow into who you would like to become. And remember to be gentle, but fair and firm with your reflection; you don't need to beat yourself up over the issue again, but you shouldn't shy away from your opportunity of growth.

👉🏼 Shift Your Mindset: Cultivate a growth mindset that sees failure as a learning opportunity rather than a defeat. 👉🏼 Conduct Regular Reviews: After each attempt, review what happened and why, involving all team members in the analysis. 👉🏼 Iterate and Experiment: Use the insights gained to try new approaches. Don't be afraid to make adjustments and try again. 👉🏼 Support and Encourage: Create a culture of support where team members feel safe to take risks and share their experiences of failure. 👉🏼 Focus on Well-being: Encourage practices that build mental and emotional well-being, such as mindfulness, regular breaks, and healthy work-life balance.