Innovative Problem Solving

With over 26 years of experience in the fire service, I have developed numerous innovative problem-solving and conflict resolution techniques. It is one of my favorite challenges. This is mainly because others tend to avoid complex problems or difficult conversations. In the fire service, we do not have the luxury of leaving a complex problem to someone else to solve. Below, you will see a combination of what I have learned through experience and coursework related to problem-solving.

RPDM: The right tool for the right job:

Recognition Primed Decision-Making (RPDM) is a problem-solving method commonly used in the fire service. RPDM teaches firefighters to make quick decisions with limited information, relying on the experience gained from previous incidents. This can be very effective at times, but it can also be detrimental if an officer makes a decision without sufficient information and formulates an action plan based on incomplete or unreliable data.

Although RPDM has its pros and cons in emergency settings, using it in non-emergency situations is significantly more costly. For example, interpersonal problems are seldom emergencies. If this model, designed for emergency situations, is applied to a personnel problem, the results could be disastrous because important information was not taken into account.

Five step problem-solving loop

How can you determine whether a problem-solving process is effective or flawed?
Properly identifying the problem is a critical phase of the process.
Brainstorming and devising a plan are situational
Build and implement the plan.
EVALUATING - will be the key to determining efficacy.

Alternate problem-solving

Ask a group of children to solve the same problem. We may just be making it more complex than it actually is.

Or ask an involved party what they think. Sometimes it just takes a fresh perspective.

Don’t overcomplicate the process

Know your situation

"Sometimes we interchange urgent and important when solving problems."

Different settings call for different approaches.
An autocratic approach works well in emergency situations
A democratic style can help empower personnel
Mentoring can allow assisting an individual without giving them specific direction.

Autocratic

One person is in absolute power. There is no time to account for others' wishes or opinions.

Democratic

A more egalitarian approach, seeing all as equals.

Let curiosity be your friend

Acknowledging that there are things that you don't know. I call this leaving room for error. Often, people argue so ardently that even when they realize they are wrong, they don't feel like they can retract their stance.

Adam Grant promotes the practice of rethinking your own thoughts on matters.

Grant, A. (2021). Think again: The power of knowing what you don't know. Viking.

Try the WRAP process, as described by the Heath brothers in the book "Decisive."

W - Widen your options.
- Focusing is good for analyzing alternatives, but terrible for spotting them.
R - Reality test your assumptions.
- Consider the opposite side of your argument.
A - Attain distance before deciding.
- Perhaps our worst enemy in resolving conflicts is short-term emotion. Give yourself time.
P - Prepare to be wrong.
- Perform a premortem. Predict the possibilities of what could go wrong, and then ways to avoid ending up there.

Heath, C., & Heath, D. (2013). Decisive: How to make better choices in life and work. Crown Business.