how to improve coding problem solving skills

Great article regarding problem solving skill, informative and motivating both.

Codility Tests

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Technical Screening Tools

I was very happy to discover this great site. I need to thank you for your time just for this fantastic read!

Sharifa Ismail Yusuf

I learnt from this article that one of the key skills a developer need to have is the \"problem solving skills\". Developers also need dedication, time, create time to practice so they can improve their problem solving skills constantly. I do ask for help from others and learn from past solutions and apply them to new problems. From what I have learnt so far, I will try my best to start focusing on building and practicing Flexibility, critical thinking, communication and team work. Solve a lot of problems on a lot of different platforms. Solve problems on context other than work. To start carring out the above, I will schedule time in a week or everyday to conciously practice problem solving skills and other related problem solving skills.Thanks alot for this wonderful article!

dewayne sewell

Ive learnt the skill of problem solving is like a muscle, where it is important to keep exercising it to stay strong. It is important to be aware of the soft skills necessary for effective problem solving also, such as communication, critical thinking, team working that can leverage your technical hard skills to find a solution faster/more effective. Two things I will aim to do is; 1. To solve problems on different platforms so I don’t get too comfortable on only one and stagnate. This not only challenges the brain to see things from a new perspective, but to start the habit of continuous learning and skill building. 2. Reach out to others for help / discuss problems and my solutions for feedback and advice and sharing ideas.

Pakize Bozkurt

Problem solving skills is a crucial thing to make easier or better your life. In fact as a human being we do it in every day life. I mean, we have to do it for living. There are many ways to how to do it. The best way is we should ask right questions. First of all, we should ask some questions, such as; \' Are we aware of the problem?, Are we clarify the problem? Do we go into problem rational? Do we have reasons? or Do we have evidences? Do we do check them out? etc. I am from Philosophy teacher background. I like solving problem whatever in my work or daily life. Secondly, we should have more perspectives . Although our brain is lazy, it is always in a starvation for knowledge.For this there are many enjoyable things to do it. I highly recommend to read book every day which kind of you like it and playing game or solving puzzle. I love solving Sudoku, puzzle and reading book or article. Finally, solving problem is our invatiable needed. Having flexibility, critical thinking, communication and teamwork are easy way to improve us to how we can do our work better and good life. Massive thank for this amazing article!

I read this amazing article. Normally, everyone knows that but we dont use most of time this informations. Which one is the best way to use? Really it does not matter, every one is like a gold opinion. We can use this ideas for the daily life. I have already used that learn from past solution and ask to someone who knows very well. This is so helpful for me. Sometimes google is the best option for ask to someone. Google can be the best teacher for us as well. Soft skills like a team work or solving problem and critical thinking can be important than typing code. We can learn typing code but we can not learn critical thinking and solving problems from google very well. Thank you for this article.

Ipsa iure sed rerum

Excepturi quo volupt

Thanks for this !

Fahil kiima

Thanks a lot for the ideas on problem solving,I really had a problem with that and now going to use what you\'ve informed us about to better my problem solving skills. Thanks.

Alan Codinho

Nice overview

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How to Solve Coding Problems with a Simple Four Step Method

I had fifteen minutes left, and I knew I was going to fail.

I had spent two months studying for my first technical interview.

I thought I was prepared, but as the interview came to a close, it hit me: I had no idea how to solve coding problems.

Of all the tutorials I had taken when I was learning to code, not one of them had included an approach to solving coding problems.

I had to find a method for problem-solving—my career as a developer depended on it.

I immediately began researching methods. And I found one. In fact, what I uncovered was an invaluable strategy. It was a time-tested four-step method that was somehow under the radar in the developer ecosystem.

In this article, I’ll go over this four-step problem-solving method that you can use to start confidently solving coding problems.

Solving coding problems is not only part of the developer job interview process—it’s what a developer does all day. After all, writing code is problem-solving.

A method for solving problems

This method is from the book How to Solve It by George Pólya. It originally came out in 1945 and has sold over one million copies.

His problem-solving method has been used and taught by many programmers, from computer science professors (see Udacity’s Intro to CS course taught by professor David Evans) to modern web development teachers like Colt Steele.

Let’s walk through solving a simple coding problem using the four-step problem-solving method. This allows us to see the method in action as we learn it. We'll use JavaScript as our language of choice. Here’s the problem:

Create a function that adds together two numbers and returns that value. There are four steps to the problem-solving method:

• Understand the problem.
• Devise a plan.
• Carry out the plan.

Let’s get started with step one.

Step 1: Understand the problem.

When given a coding problem in an interview, it’s tempting to rush into coding. This is hard to avoid, especially if you have a time limit.

However, try to resist this urge. Make sure you actually understand the problem before you get started with solving it.

Read through the problem. If you’re in an interview, you could read through the problem out loud if that helps you slow down.

As you read through the problem, clarify any part of it you do not understand. If you’re in an interview, you can do this by asking your interviewer questions about the problem description. If you’re on your own, think through and/or Google parts of the question you might not understand.

This first step is vital as we often don’t take the time to fully understand the problem. When you don’t fully understand the problem, you’ll have a much harder time solving it.

To help you better understand the problem, ask yourself:

What are the inputs?

What kinds of inputs will go into this problem? In this example, the inputs are the arguments that our function will take.

Just from reading the problem description so far, we know that the inputs will be numbers. But to be more specific about what the inputs will be, we can ask:

Will the inputs always be just two numbers? What should happen if our function receives as input three numbers?

Here we could ask the interviewer for clarification, or look at the problem description further.

The coding problem might have a note saying, “You should only ever expect two inputs into the function.” If so, you know how to proceed. You can get more specific, as you’ll likely realize that you need to ask more questions on what kinds of inputs you might be receiving.

Will the inputs always be numbers? What should our function do if we receive the inputs “a” and “b”? Clarify whether or not our function will always take in numbers.

Optionally, you could write down possible inputs in a code comment to get a sense of what they’ll look like:

//inputs: 2, 4

What are the outputs?

What will this function return? In this case, the output will be one number that is the result of the two number inputs. Make sure you understand what your outputs will be.

Create some examples.

Once you have a grasp of the problem and know the possible inputs and outputs, you can start working on some concrete examples.

Examples can also be used as sanity checks to test your eventual problem. Most code challenge editors that you’ll work in (whether it’s in an interview or just using a site like Codewars or HackerRank) have examples or test cases already written for you. Even so, writing out your own examples can help you cement your understanding of the problem.

Start with a simple example or two of possible inputs and outputs. Let's return to our addition function.

Let’s call our function “add.”

What’s an example input? Example input might be:

// add(2, 3)

What is the output to this? To write the example output, we can write:

// add(2, 3) ---> 5

This indicates that our function will take in an input of 2 and 3 and return 5 as its output.

Create complex examples.

By walking through more complex examples, you can take the time to look for edge cases you might need to account for.

For example, what should we do if our inputs are strings instead of numbers? What if we have as input two strings, for example, add('a', 'b')?

Your interviewer might possibly tell you to return an error message if there are any inputs that are not numbers. If so, you can add a code comment to handle this case if it helps you remember you need to do this.

Your interviewer might also tell you to assume that your inputs will always be numbers, in which case you don’t need to write any extra code to handle this particular input edge case.

If you don’t have an interviewer and you’re just solving this problem, the problem might say what happens when you enter invalid inputs.

For example, some problems will say, “If there are zero inputs, return undefined.” For cases like this, you can optionally write a comment.

// check if there are no inputs.

// If no inputs, return undefined.

For our purposes, we’ll assume that our inputs will always be numbers. But generally, it’s good to think about edge cases.

Computer science professor Evans says to write what developers call defensive code. Think about what could go wrong and how your code could defend against possible errors.  

Before we move on to step 2, let’s summarize step 1, understand the problem:

-Read through the problem.

-What are the inputs?

-What are the outputs?

Create simple examples, then create more complex ones.

2. Devise a plan for solving the problem.

Next, devise a plan for how you’ll solve the problem. As you devise a plan, write it out in pseudocode.

Pseudocode is a plain language description of the steps in an algorithm. In other words, your pseudocode is your step-by-step plan for how to solve the problem.

Write out the steps you need to take to solve the problem. For a more complicated problem, you’d have more steps. For this problem, you could write:

// Create a sum variable.

Add the first input to the second input using the addition operator .

// Store value of both inputs into sum variable.

// Return as output the sum variable. Now you have your step-by-step plan to solve the problem. For more complex problems, professor Evans notes, “Consider systematically how a human solves the problem.” That is, forget about how your code might solve the problem for a moment, and think about how you would solve it as a human. This can help you see the steps more clearly.

3. Carry out the plan (Solve the problem!)

The next step in the problem-solving strategy is to solve the problem. Using your pseudocode as your guide, write out your actual code.

Professor Evans suggests focusing on a simple, mechanical solution. The easier and simpler your solution is, the more likely you can program it correctly.

Taking our pseudocode, we could now write this:

Professor Evans adds, remember not to prematurely optimize. That is, you might be tempted to start saying, “Wait, I’m doing this and it’s going to be inefficient code!”

First, just get out your simple, mechanical solution.

What if you can’t solve the entire problem? What if there's a part of it you still don't know how to solve?

Colt Steele gives great advice here: If you can’t solve part of the problem, ignore that hard part that’s tripping you up. Instead, focus on everything else that you can start writing.

Temporarily ignore that difficult part of the problem you don’t quite understand and write out the other parts. Once this is done, come back to the harder part.

This allows you to get at least some of the problem finished. And often, you’ll realize how to tackle that harder part of the problem once you come back to it.

Step 4: Look back over what you've done.

Once your solution is working, take the time to reflect on it and figure out how to make improvements. This might be the time you refactor your solution into a more efficient one.

As you look at your work, here are some questions Colt Steele suggests you ask yourself to figure out how you can improve your solution:

• Can you derive the result differently? What other approaches are there that are viable?
• Can you understand it at a glance? Does it make sense?
• Can you use the result or method for some other problem?
• Can you improve the performance of your solution?
• Can you think of other ways to refactor?
• How have other people solved this problem?

One way we might refactor our problem to make our code more concise: removing our variable and using an implicit return:

With step 4, your problem might never feel finished. Even great developers still write code that they later look at and want to change. These are guiding questions that can help you.

If you still have time in an interview, you can go through this step and make your solution better. If you are coding on your own, take the time to go over these steps.

When I’m practicing coding on my own, I almost always look at the solutions out there that are more elegant or effective than what I’ve come up with.

Wrapping Up

In this post, we’ve gone over the four-step problem-solving strategy for solving coding problems.

Let's review them here:

• Step 1: understand the problem.
• Step 2: create a step-by-step plan for how you’ll solve it .
• Step 3: carry out the plan and write the actual code.
• Step 4: look back and possibly refactor your solution if it could be better.

Practicing this problem-solving method has immensely helped me in my technical interviews and in my job as a developer. If you don't feel confident when it comes to solving coding problems, just remember that problem-solving is a skill that anyone can get better at with time and practice.

If you enjoyed this post, join my coding club , where we tackle coding challenges together every Sunday and support each other as we learn new technologies.

If you have feedback or questions on this post, feel free to tweet me @madisonkanna ..

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Problem-Solving. How to Boost Your Ability to Solve Programing Tasks and Challenges

8 Steps to Improve Your Problem-Solving Skills as a Rookie Programmer

1. make sure you understand the problem, 2. break down the problem into smaller ones, 3. plan the solution first, 4. solve programming problems on various preparation platforms.

One of the most popular tech interview platforms with a huge community and over 1650 problems for you to practice. Supports 14 programming languages including Java.

Interview Cake

Another well-known website with all kinds of content for programmers, including programming tasks, articles, tips and lots of interview questions.

HackerEarth

Besides programming problems, this platform allows you to test yourself in mock interviews, as well as to participate in coding competitions and hackathons.

5. Use CodeGym to practice and learn how to approach programming problems

6. play coding games to practice problem-solving while having fun, 7. extend your knowledge of design patterns, algorithms, and data structures, 8. get feedback, 4 major applied programming techniques for problem solving, 1. debugging, 2. code refactoring, 3. using data structures & algorithms, 4. using version control systems.

Expert advice

• Data Engineering
• Machine Learning
• RESTful API
• React Native
• Elasticsearch
• Ruby on Rails
• How It Works

How To Improve Your Programming Skills As Developers and Non-Developers

Find the best ways for you to learn and improve your programming skills based on your goals, familiarity with programming, and your profession..

Whether you’re a developer, designer, or even a marketing specialist, learning how to code and improving your programming skills can be critical to your career growth. With that said, the path you take to improve your technical knowledge will differ based on your background and familiarity with programming.

In this blog post, we'll dig into why people from all sorts of backgrounds—especially developers—want to get better at programming and what “getting better at programming” means. We’ll then outline the best ways to learn programming depending on your backgrounds and goals.

Why improve your programming skills? What does that mean?

Overview of different ways to improve your programming skills, will working with a mentor help improve my programming skills.

From personal to work projects, from passion to career, from curiosity to practicality, there are many reasons why you may want to improve your programming skills. While a common reason people choose to learn programming is to become a developer, that is not the only reason. Non-developers, such as designers and business owners, might also want to learn programming to add to their skill set.

In this article, we’ll look at three groups of people who may want to improve their programming skills:

• Developers from all levels of seniority
• Students and aspiring developers
• Non-developers (e.g. designers, marketers, business analysts, etc.).

To help you figure out how to improve your skills, we want to expand on what improving your programming skills might mean. We ran a survey to better understand what people mean when they say they want to “improve their programming skills” and will use that as a starting point.

As shown above, the top three scenarios people need help with to get better at programming are:

• Get hands-on guidance to solve specific tasks or eliminate blockers
• Learn basic programming skills

Deepen my understanding of technical concepts

The first scenario applies to both developers and non-developers , the second scenario to students, aspiring developers, and non-developers , and the third scenario to mid-level and senior developers .

Let's dig deeper into each scenario to see which scenario fits your needs best.

Get hands-on guidance to help me solve specific tasks or eliminate blockers

Developers, regardless of seniority, usually look for targeted learning that caters to specific problems or blockers they’re facing. They seek out coding mentors to show them how to identify and solve problems so that they can do it themselves in the future.

I can watch how they solve my issue and then when I have a similar issue I can solve it by myself. - Robert, bachelor’s student in Computer Science

What about non-developers? Their intentions are almost identical to that of developers, regardless of whether they’re business analysts, marketing specialists, UX designers, or even CEOs. They have specific projects they’re working on and the project requires programming skills that are beyond their current abilities. Rather than simply outsourcing their projects, these users want to learn programming languages that’ll give them more autonomy and power to deliver projects and strengthen their careers.

By working with my mentors I learned how to approach the problems and find solutions to them. - Philip, Founder and Product Manager

Learn basic coding skills

Another major user group is aspiring programmers who identify as students, at the beginning of their coding journey. Oftentimes, these are students who are:

• getting a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science
• taking online classes, or
• in coding bootcamps.

All of the above provide coding lessons and coding training. However, many students still look for mentor, despite having professors, peers, and sometimes, even mentors to assist them in their coding bootcamps. Jared, a current coding bootcamp student, explained why he sought mentorship outside of his bootcamp:

We’re assigned a mentor but we’re usually only able to talk with them once a week. It’s hard to get help immediately when I’m stuck. Another thing is that my mentor doesn’t always know what I’m struggling with and they only assist with projects and concepts that are taught in the syllabus. I feel like mentors here can identify what I really really need to know to be able to become a good developer in the real world.

What 1-on-1 mentorships provide that other structured courses don’t provide include:

• Personalized diagnoses from senior developers
• Individualized coding training based on one’s existing knowledge
• Track your progress, provide you with extra resources, and tailor your learning experience as you grow

In other words, students use mentorship as an additional resource to enhance their learning experience. The mentorship relationship often extends beyond their programs as students eventually become developers, and continue to grow and learn through long-term mentorships .

Last but not least, a lot of developers want to deepen their understanding of technical concepts. Some of the questions and requests developers post include:

• Would like to meet weekly to discuss process in iOS dev, clarifying principles in Swift
• Help learning Vue.js and advanced JavaScript, also help with backend
• Need someone to personally coach me DS Algorithms in Java

As you can see, many programmers in this category already have some understanding of the tech stacks and technology they’re working with but want to take their skills to the next level.

For mid-level developers, structured courses are unhelpful as they’re looking to dive deep into specific areas not typically covered by online classes or bootcamps. Through working directly with coding mentors, the learning process can be tailored to each developer’s needs.

With all that said, we want to highlight some ways to help you improve your programming skills, depending on which stage of the coding journey you’re at and what your goals are.

Different people learn differently. Depending on your skill level, goals, and availability, you may want to consider coding training that is structured, semi-structured, or unstructured. Generally speaking, structured learning is most suitable for aspiring developers, semi-structured learning is more fitting for non-developers, and unstructured learning is more effective for mid to senior level developers. We’ll talk more about which approach may fit you better and what resources are available to you.

Structured Learning

If you don’t have any coding foundation and want to become a developer, structured and comprehensive coding training that has dedicated instructors, detailed projects, and hard deadlines may be the most effective for you. These programs are highly intensive, require high levels of commitment, and can be quite pricey. Your options include:

• Four-year or two-year degrees from universities and community colleges
• Coding certification programs
• Codesmith: Full-time Software Engineering Immersive (USD $19,350)
• Tech Elevator: Coding Bootcamp Program (USD $15,950)
• Hack Reactor: Coding Bootcamp (USD $17,980)
• The Tech Academy: Mobile App Developer Bootcamp ($9,540 - $11,900)
• Devmountain: iOS Development Course ($7,900)

If becoming a software developer and pursuing full-time programming careers are not your goals, a comprehensive bootcamp may be an overkill. Instead, you can choose semi-structured learning that aligns with your needs and goals.

Semi-Structured Learning

If you simply want to learn one or two programming languages or tech stacks, online courses are a good alternative as they often focus on specific topics and languages. Most online courses are semi-structured, meaning you will be given a syllabus and structured lessons, but no dedicated instructors, hard deadlines, and sometimes, not even hands-on projects. You’ll have more freedom but less guidance and built-in accountability. If this sounds like something you prefer, here are some examples:

Data Science

• Harvard University’s online courses

Frontend Development

• FreeCodeCamp
• Khan Academy

Backend Development

• University of Michigan’s online courses

Coding courses online are accessible and flexible. However, there are some possible downsides:

• The courses can sometimes be outdated
• There is little to no accountability
• May be too theory-heavy with little focus on application
• No available mentors to reach out to when questions arise

If you do choose semi-structured courses, we’d suggest finding a mentor to help guide you along the way. You can take full control over your learning by asking a coding mentor to explain concepts that are hard to grasp, keep you accountable, and provide you with hands-on guidance on how to apply the theories in real-world settings.

Unstructured Learning

If you’re starting from scratch, we wouldn’t suggest going the unstructured route. While there is a plethora of coding resources available, it can be hard to know where to start. Without a solid foundation or a good grasp of the help or answer you’re looking for, finding the right books, blog posts, and YouTube videos can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Even worse, you could go down a rabbit hole that may be misleading.

With that said, unstructured learning is the most common way experienced developers continue to grow their programming skills. Developers are known to be resourceful, community-oriented, and driven learners. If you already have the foundations you need and know what you’re looking for, here are some generic resources you may find useful:

• Stack Overflow
• Awesome Learning Resources (lauragift21)
• Awesome Learning Resources (GDGAhmedabad)
• Learn to code (ashleymcnamara)
• ProjectLearn: Project Based Learning (Xtremilicious)
• r/learnprogramming
• r/ProgrammingBuddies
• r/cscareerquestions
• DevProjects
• Conferences and webinars

With a solid enough foundation, you can find any resource that’ll help you learn. However, as you grow as a developer, you'll also have less time dedicated to learning new technologies. This is where coding mentors could be helpful.

Richa, a senior developer with 13+ years of experience said:

I am a developer and trying to learn more tech stacks. Now there's just not enough time to schedule a time for dedicated learning like I used to do during my learning days 13 years ago. Pair programming sessions at Codementor have reduced that learning time dramatically for me.

Communities like Stack Overflow, dev.to, and GitHub are crucial to the continuous growth of every developer and coding mentors can help you navigate through the programming knowledge shared in these communities.

We’ve briefly discussed the benefits of having a coding mentor in your coding journey throughout the process but what is coding mentorship? Coding mentors are senior developers who act as your advisor and coach to help you learn new technologies, personal skills, and career guidance.

Here are some hard and soft skills that coding mentors can provide:

• Help kickstart your programming professional development
• Understand your unique pain points and cater to your individual needs
• Impart knowledge and wisdom through their working and coding experience
• Hold you accountable to achieve your goals
• Discover and hone your leadership skills
• Boost your confidence and problem-solving abilities

Regardless of whether you decide to take the structured, semi-structured, or unstructured route to learn how to code and reach your goals, having a coding mentor (or two!) can help you grow technically, personally, and professionally.

There is no right way to go about learning how to code just as there is also no right track for those who choose to learn to code.

If you’re figuring out which learning style is the best for you, one of the most important things is to identify what your goal is. Once you’ve identified your short term and long term goals, you can mix and match the learning styles that fit your needs the best.

If you’re unsure what you need to achieve your goals, finding a mentor is a great place to start. Mentors can help you identify and clarify your goals. They would also provide you with the best resource to help you learn according to your skill level and learning style.

There is no cookie cutter approach and no shortcut to improve your programming skills. Getting the results and reaching the goals you have takes strategizing and the right kind of help. We hope this article will help you find what suits you best.

If you have any questions, thoughts, or experience to share about honing your programming skills, leave a comment below!

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How to improve your programming skills in 2021 [The Full Guide]

What will be covered here?

In this article, I'd like to cover a bunch of methods and practices that you can apply immediately to improve your programming skills. This article can be useful for software engineers, both beginners and experienced.

How to navigate this guide?

Here's the table of content of what you'll find below. If you're only interested in something specific go there right away. I've tried to structure the guide in a modular way so that each topic is standalone.

How to become a skilled programmer

Sprint vs Marathon

Acquiring the right skillset, learning new programming languages, learning programming fundamentals, improving your debugging skills.

How to ask for help from experienced programmers

Find a mentor

Pair programming, code reviews.

The mental side of becoming better at programming

Taking care of your mental and physical health as a developer

Fighting the imposter syndrome, best practices for productivity for developers.

Fast ways to become a better programmer

Coding challenges and competitive programming

Online courses, reading programming blogs, side projects and personal projects, making a personal portfolio website, improving your github profile.

How being part of a developer's community can make you a better coder?

What are the recommended communities for developers?

#100daysofcode, attending meetups, contributing to open-source projects, 1. how to become a skilled programmer.

Breaking into the tech industry is a challenge. No doubt about that. especially for an entry-level job where the demand is growing and so do the requirements.

For many of the great tech companies on earth, it is no longer enough to have an academic degree. In fact, many of the high-end companies don't even consider that for technical positions.

The good news is that today everyone can become a software developer. The know-how is out there available in online courses, coding challenges, video tutorials, and a handful of programming blogs and magazines. However, getting hired as a programmer is definitely not an easy task, even for people that have an academic background in computer science or software engineering.

I'll start with my conclusion by saying that learning software development is more like a marathon than a sprint . It a full-time effort that requires the discipline to improve a bit every day . So the key to success is consistent improvement in baby steps.

When most people think about the skillset a developer needs to have they refer to what tech stack they should master or what programming languages they should know. Although it is true, many experienced programmers would mention a wider range of skills that are necessary beyond writing good code, clean code, or any other hardcode coding skills.

Being a good programmer requires a broad scope in terms of skillset. Some of the key skills for success would be:

• Mathematical orientation . The degree of math you need to know is highly dependent on the project you are working on. However, programming is mostly about dealing with numbers and building logic around them. Mathematics is one of the most important tools for programmers to develop sophisticated applications, APIs, algorithms, and more. Without some knowledge in mathematics, it's quite difficult to improve. A good way to start would be this course by freeCodeCamp Math for Programmers .
• Problem-solving skills . Being a better programmer means being a better problem-solver and logical thinker. In fact, Solving problems is the core of computer science. Programmers must first understand how a human solves a problem, then understand how to translate this "algorithm" into something a computer can do, and finally how to "write" the specific syntax (required by a computer) to get the job done.
• Programming languages . I'll start by saying that different types of developer roles require different languages. Assuming you already know at least one language, one way to go is to dive deeper into a book about it and learn it thoroughly. Reading books is often overlooked but in fact, there's an abundance of knowledge there. Another strategy to improve is to expand your horizon to a new language. More about it below, keep reading.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills. Wait, What? Yes, you read it right. Many software developers don't just code all day. According to thenewstack , software developers spend 22% of their time just doing code maintenance. They also spend a higher percentage of their time writing new code or improving existing code (39%) and a much lower percentage of their time on operational tasks and in meetings (14%). Looking at this data means that writing code isn't everything. Being a better developer means you'll need to manage your time carefully. At this point, you may be too focused on writing code and not enough on learning other important skills that every developer needs.
• Accuracy and attention to detail. Well, this comes to one of the biggest emotional challenges that every developer experiences in the form of debugging. If you started programming already, you should know what I'm talking about. It can be disorienting, so when it does something different from what you expect, it's hard to figure out why. In many cases, debugging isn't technically difficult by itself. It's finding the bug that can drive you crazy. More about debugging below.
• Teamwork skills. Simply put, teamwork helps solve problems. Collaboration within a group can help solve difficult problems and improve your critical thinking. Brainstorming is a good opportunity for the team to exchange ideas and come up with creative ways of doing things. By working together, teams can find the solutions that work best by reviewing and reading code of each other. Nowadays, it doesn't matter where you're going to work, most likely you're going to be part of a team.
• Self-development skills to keep up to date with fast-changing trends. The tech world is ever-changing. Being on top of the latest developments in software is a "must-have". There are many ways you can stay updated but the main challenge is to manage your time efficiently. You may want to pick a specific blog to follow or you can use a coding news aggregator for that purpose. Another option can be to subscribe to newsletters .

How to choose a new programming language to learn is quite complicated. Since it will take quite an effort, there are a lot of things you may want to consider. With that said, luckily there are some best practices that I'd like to share with you.

It all comes down to whether you know what you want to build or not.

If you don't know what you want to build

It can happen but it's quite rare. In this case, I would recommend you to go and read blogs about how to choose your next programming language. It very unlikely that after a few posts you won't get some idea about it. alternatively, you can go to StackOverflow or Quora to find people who have had the same question.

Another option is just to choose one without overthinking about it. Pick a language that's very popular, whether it's JavaScript, Java, Python, HTML, whatever. Just start with something. This is called action bias. Once you'll start learning you will gain motivation.

If you know what you want to build

Luckily there are some best practices that you can use to guide your learning journey. The optimal way in many cases is just to follow the popular language for whatever is it that you want to build.

• For web development (frontend): JavaScript, HTML and CSS. You'll also need to check different popular web dev JS frameworks such as React, Vue.js, and Angular.
• For backend development: Python, C#, or JavaScript. It's also quite handy to know SQL.
• For data science or machine learning: Python or R.
• For game development:  It depends if you're aiming for 2D or 3D games. For 2D it's best to choose JavaScript (with Phaser Construct 3 as a framework) or C# (with Unity 2D or MonoGame).
• For Android development: Firstly Java was the official language for Android app development, but now it was replaced by Kotlin as officially declared by Google in 2019.
• For iOS development: Objective-C and Swift are two main programming languages used to build iOS apps. While Objective-C is an older programming language, Swift is a modern, fast, clear, and evolving programming language.

Functional Programming

Functional programming (also called FP) is a method of thinking about software development by creating pure functions. It avoids concepts of shared state, mutable data that are observed in Object-Oriented Programming. It emphasizes the application of functions, in contrast with the procedural programming style that emphasizes changes in state.

Even if you don't work in a functional language, the solutions offered by the functional way of thinking can help you solve difficult problems and understand the world of computing.

Object-oriented programming (or OOP)

OOP stands for Object-Oriented Programming. Procedural programming is about writing procedures or functions that perform operations on the data, while object-oriented programming is about creating objects that contain both data and functions.

Object-oriented programming uses classes and objects, Procedural programming takes on applications by solving problems from the top of the code down to the bottom. This happens when a program starts with a problem and then breaks that problem down into smaller sub-problems or sub-procedures.

Object-oriented programming languages reduce development time because you can reuse code and develop models based on previous objects. Objects also separate themselves to prevent accidental overwriting or influence from other programs. It's clean and efficient.

Data structures

Data Structure is a way to store and organize data so that it can be used efficiently. There are many types of data structures such as Array, Pointer, Structure, Linked List, Stack, Queue, Graph, Searching, Sorting, Programs, etc.

Algorithms and data structures are basically the foundation of everything even though you'll probably never write one of your own once you're past the beginner stage. Knowing them, or at least having known them, will make you a better developer in the end.

Design patterns

A design pattern is a general repeatable solution to a commonly occurring problem in software design. A design pattern isn't a finished design that can be transformed directly into code. It is a description or template for how to solve a problem that can be used in many different situations. The most common design patterns are Creational/Singleton, Decorator, Command Design Pattern, Factory Design Pattern, and The Observer Pattern.

Design patterns can make your designs more flexible, more resilient to change, and easier to maintain. If you've encountered design patterns only in passing, in a nutshell, they're general object-oriented solutions that you can use in your own designs.

Debugging itself is a very difficult process because of the involvement of humans. Another reason due to which it is considered difficult because it consumes a large amount of time and resources too.

There are so many strategies and tips for this online, here are a few of my favorites:

• Make it a habit to dig deeper and find more information about the issue before starting to debug a non-trivial issue.
• Increase code reading skills. Reading source code that other people wrote can help you become familiar with navigating in larger codebases.
• Learn from the bug. Don’t repeat the same mistakes.
• Take a shower / go to sleep.
• Try talking with a friend or colleague about the bug.
• Buy a rubber duck and explain what is it that you're trying to debug.
• Learn the basics of the tools you use often. Especially your IDE.
• Familiarize yourself with common error messages.
• Don't use it if you don't understand It.
• Practice writing all sorts of testing such as unit testing, integration testing (which is essentially taking components that have been unit-tested and building a program structure), regression testing, etc.

2. How to ask for help from experienced programmers

Have you ever heard of a professional athlete that doesn't have a coach? It's simply impossible to achieve tremendous results over time without having someone to watch and guide you. The journey of becoming a better developer is no different. Finding a mentor can dramatically help you improve your coding skills.

A mentor is a big word, but in reality, it's a person with whom you create a relationship for the purpose of improving and learning new things. It can be a friend, colleague, or even a total stranger dev that you admire.

How do you get someone to be your "mentor"?

First, you'll need to find a person that you feel comfortable approaching with this topic. In case it's someone you don't know then make sure you do your homework on who they are and what they care about. Most chances that they are at least as busy as you. There's nothing more frustrating than getting a cold email from someone who clearly knows nothing about you and didn't even search about you on Google.

Once you've found that person, the ideal way would be to now make an approach. If you know them, it should be easier. In case you don't know that person, it can start with a simple email or a DM on Twitter asking for feedback. One of the most effective ways to start such a relationship is to work on some side project, and then ask for feedback about it. You'd be surprised how many people would be willing to help.

Once you've got your first meeting or email exchange, try to make it as actionable as possible. Narrow down the questions you have in mind and focus on those ones only. Ideally, by the end of the meeting, you already have a bunch of ideas and things you may want to improve. At this point, I'd ask the potential mentor whether I can follow up in a couple of weeks to show the progress made. If I got a positive response that a great way to start! It means that we now have some sort of a relationship that I can foster.

From that point, it's a matter of your passion and ability to move this relationship forward and try to make it stable. As a final note, keep in mind that although both sides to this relationship earn from it, it's still time-consuming. So please do your best to be mindful of your mentor's time.

That's a thing most developers encounter for the first time in a job interview. The thing is that pair programming can be used not only to evaluate the skills of a developer but also for two devs to learn from each other.

Say you have some project in mind, you cab always choose to go for it by yourself. Instead, try to add a partner to work on this with you. Obviously, having a partner doesn't mean you'll be coding together with the same pieces of code. But if you two are working well together and looking to improve you may want to try doing some pair programming. You'd be surprised how many new things you can learn from your partner by doing so.

Those who code as part of a team have probably experienced code reviews. However, many developers nowadays are solo developers. That means that in most cases no one will ever look at your code. If you're a solo developer, I'd definitely advocate that you find either a mentor or someone who's passionate about what you're doing. If you can find such a person you can both review each others' code and create an ongoing mutual improvement process.

3. The mental side of becoming better at programming

Physical and mental wellbeing is a big topic, and it would probably require another set of posts to cover just this thing. However, when I wrote this article I found it highly important to mention this aspect of improving as a developer.

The journey to becoming a better developer is long and can sometimes be tough. Having to learn new complex concepts, deal with problem-solving, debugging and more can come with a price. There's an increasing amount of developers who experience occupational burnout or other forms of difficulties.

That brings me to one of the very first points of this article - becoming a better developer is not a sprint, it's a marathon. That means, it takes time, consistency, and perseverance. It's much better to improve 1% every week over time than trying to squeeze your improvement process into a specific time frame.

So if we understand that it's a long-term play, we also understand that without the proper conditions to win in this long-term play, we won't be able to make it. Physical and mental health is an important part of this. So here's how to deal with stress as a developer .

If you got here and never heard of the term imposter syndrome that's perfectly fine. Most likely you've experienced this feeling but did not know that it's called that way. Developer imposter syndrome sees both junior and senior developers dwelling on the knowledge and coding languages that they don't know. They struggle to recognize their value, and negatively compare their skills against the skills of others.

I've seen many people suffer from that feeling and get into an endless overthinking process. You might be suffering from it if you've been thinking one of the following thoughts lately:

• "I simply don't know enough."
• "Every other developer in my team knows better than me."
• "I have to learn harder."
• "It's probably not the best way to build what I'm trying to build."

There are many ways to fight this situation. The first and most important step is to recognize if you feel that way or not. Once you're aware of it, you've already made a big step! You shouldn't be so hard on yourself. You know it, but no one is great at everything all the time.

Another good practice to fight imposter syndrome is to share your feelings with close people or with your network on social media. The support and empathy you'll get can help cope with it.

Earlier last year, during the COVID pandemic, I've written on this topic. My tips in general are:

• Set a daily goal
• Embrace accountability
• Plan your breaks
• Be transparent with your team
• Separate your work station and the rest of your life
• Get some exercise
• Welcome meaningful human interactions

For more detail, read the full post on productivity best practices for remote working developers .

4. Fast ways to become a better programmer

Participating in coding challenges is an excellent way to refresh your memory of basic and advanced concepts before seeking a new job, preparing for a job interview, etc. I believe that’s the first thing we think about when the coding contests come to mind. However, you might find it interesting (or not) that many programmers actually love participating in such challenges just for fun. Yes, you read it right, and it has a name -- competitive programming!

Here are two valuable resources on this topic to help you explore it better:

• Top 5 Coding Challenge Websites Ranked by Data
• The Best Coding Challenges Websites To Practice Problem Solving by Catalin Pit

Noaways, online courses have become more common and accible than ever. Tons of resources are being offered for free on YouTube and other platforms. Up until a few years ago  most of the content was hosted on established sites like Udemy , Coursera , edX and Khan Academy . However, now there are plenty of indie educators that are providing awesome online courses in reasonable prices and sometimes even for free.

If you're more into the indie creator stuff make sure to check these awesome teachers:

• Kent C. Dodds
• Flavio Copes
• Traversy Media

Wow this is one of my personal topics! One of the great things about the development ecosystem is that so many developers are also blogging. There are magazines, blogging platforms, coding news readers, indie blogs and more.

Finding written content is not a problem at all. The issue is actually the opposite! There is too much content that makes it nearly impossible to clear the clutter and find high-quality articles without having to spend much time and energy.

I'm not objective, but for me daily.dev is the ultimate solution as it is an all-in one coding news reader . It collects, ranks and display the best programming news in a feed. That way you can get all the best articles at a glance without spending a minute on searching for it. Want to see news on web development? No problem. Machine learning? You got it. Easily select your desired topics, and daily.dev will take it from there.

Reading an article a day is the perfect example of the "marathon" nature of improving as a developer. So it is highly recommended to start and making it a habit.  

​One of the most popular ways for developers to boost their knowledge is by building side projects. A side project (or a personal project) is practical way for you to try out new technologies, programming languages and frameworks.

If that sounds appealing the first step would obviously to come up with an idea. If you google it, there are endless resources on how to find an idea for a personal project.

We've covered this topic in our blog in the past so you may want to check out these resources:

• How To Get Programming Project Ideas
• How To Balance Your Job With Your Side Projects As A Developer

A personal portfolio website is a wonderful way to show your skills and the different stages of your journey as a developer. In most cases a developers' personal portfolio contains:

• Bio or some info about you
• Blog posts or essays that you've written
• Projects you've built
• GitHub repos that you contributed to or maintained by you
• Links to you social media accounts
• And basically anything else you would like to showcase!

One of the befits of making a personal portfolio is that it can motivate you to fill it with high-quality media and assets. After all you have your name and reputation on it!

Although improving your Github will not necessarily contribute directly to your effort of becoming better at programming, it's important for your personal brand. In the world we live in today, it's not enough to have the technical skills. Potential employers want to know more about you, your history and character.

Your GitHub profile will most likely be one of the top results on Google when someone searches for your name. So having a proper presence there is worth your while.

Learn more about creating a killer GitHub profile README .

5. How being part of a developer's community can make you a better coder?

I'll start by saying that the answer to this question is yes. Being part of a community for developers can dramatically help you become a better developer. The main reasons are:

• Through communities you get to learn new things
• It's easier to stay updated on the lastest trends in programming
• You get motivational support and possibly also some recognition
• You can discover amazing opportunities for both your career and life
• You get to meet awesome people

The definition of a developers community is a bit vague. But if you ask most developers this question these are the main site you want to check out:

• Dev.to - it's an online blogging platform. It's like a social network for developers where people get together to share knowledge. If you haven't heard of them make sure to give it a try.
• freeCodeCamp - it's an educational community that strives to make it easier for people to learn how to code. The best thing about freecodeCamp is not only it's super high-quality content, but also the fact that they are non-profit.
• Stack Overflow - I guess I don't need to say much about it. They are one of the most prominent developer communities out there. If you're not active on Stack Overflow I highly recommend that you start.
• Indie Hackers - although this community is not tailor-made for developers it's still an interesting place to be in. That's true especially for people who try to build new software businesses and side projects.
• Hashnode - this community is all about blogging as a developer. They offer some of the most appealing features for developers who blog. Make sure to check them out!
• Discord - there are plenty of Discord servers for developers. If you're into chatting, search for it on Google and you'll find some good servers right away.

#100DaysOfCode is one of the most popular personal challenges that people take on themselves to improve their programming skills. That applies mostly for beginners but not necessarily.

There's a whole ecosystem and community channels around it. If you feel like giving it a try go and check the official #100DaysOfCode website .

Part of staying in the loop and learning new concepts is by listening to how other people are doing it. Events are all over the place and it's quite difficult to find the best ones for you.

As an initial step, I'd suggest you to visit meetup.com and search for topics you're interested about. That's a solid way to discover local groups that talk about it.

Additionally, if you into more consistent learning, we recently launched The Monthly Dev . It's a TED-like monthly online events. We meet online once a month to listen to world-class speakers. If a fun way to connect with other devs, learn new stuff and get inspiration.

The open-source community is always open for contributions. For you it means that you can actually influence a library that many other developers are using around the world. I personally find it super cool.

The main issue is finding the right open-source projects you can try as a beginner. The best resource for this in my opinion is the repo MunGell/awesome-for-beginners . It provides a list of the exact projects and issues that you can take right away as a beginner.

I hope you enjoyed reading all these tips. I did my best to write it concisely, the same way I'd love to get it, if I was the reader. As you could see, improving your programming skills is a long-term effort and in comprised of several themes. There's the technical side of getting better at coding but it's not everything. You also may want to be active in developer communities and practice habits that will improve your wellbeing and productivity.

Why not level up your reading with daily.dev?

Tutorial Playlist

Programming tutorial, your guide to the best backend languages for 2024, an ultimate guide that helps you to start learn coding 2024, what is backend development: the ultimate guide for beginners, all you need to know for choosing the first programming language to learn, here’s all you need to know about coding, decoding, and reasoning with examples, understanding what is xml: the best guide to xml and its concepts., an ultimate guide to learn the importance of low-code and no-code development, top frontend languages that you should know about, top 75+ frontend developer interview questions and answers, the ultimate guide to learn typescript generics, the most comprehensive guide for beginners to know ‘what is typescript’.

The Ultimate Guide on Introduction to Competitive Programming

Top 60+ TCS NQT Interview Questions and Answers for 2024

Most commonly asked logical reasoning questions in an aptitude test, everything you need to know about advanced typescript concepts, an absolute guide to build c hello world program, a one-stop solution guide to learn how to create a game in unity, what is nat significance of nat for translating ip addresses in the network model, data science vs software engineering: key differences, a real-time chat application typescript project using node.js as a server, what is raspberry pi here’s the best guide to get started, what is arduino here’s the best beginners guide to get started, arduino vs. raspberry pi: which is the better board, the perfect guide for all you need to learn about mean stack, software developer resume: a comprehensive guide, here’s everything all you need to know about the programming roadmap, an ultimate guide that helps you to develop and improve problem solving in programming, the top 10 awesome arduino projects of all time, roles of product managers, pyspark rdd: everything you need to know about pyspark rdd, wipro interview questions and answers that you should know before going for an interview, how to use typescript with nodejs: the ultimate guide, what is rust programming language why is it so popular, software terminologies, an ultimate guide that helps you to develop and improve problem solving in programming.

Lesson 27 of 34 By Hemant Deshpande

Table of Contents

Coding and Programming skills hold a significant and critical role in implementing and developing various technologies and software. They add more value to the future and development. These programming and coding skills are essential for every person to improve problem solving skills. So, we brought you this article to help you learn and know the importance of these skills in the future. 

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Topics covered in this problem solving in programming article are:

• What is Problem Solving in Programming? 
• Problem Solving skills in Programming
• How does it impact your career ?
• Steps involved in Problem Solving
• Steps to improve Problem Solving in programming

What is Problem Solving in Programming?

Computers are used to solve various problems in day-to-day life. Problem Solving is an essential skill that helps to solve problems in programming. There are specific steps to be carried out to solve problems in computer programming, and the success depends on how correctly and precisely we define a problem. This involves designing, identifying and implementing problems using certain steps to develop a computer.

When we know what exactly problem solving in programming is, let us learn how it impacts your career growth.

How Does It Impact Your Career?

Many companies look for candidates with excellent problem solving skills. These skills help people manage the work and make candidates put more effort into the work, which results in finding solutions for complex problems in unexpected situations. These skills also help to identify quick solutions when they arise and are identified. 

People with great problem solving skills also possess more thinking and analytical skills, which makes them much more successful and confident in their career and able to work in any kind of environment. 

The above section gives you an idea of how problem solving in programming impacts your career and growth. Now, let's understand what problem solving skills mean.

Problem Solving Skills in Programming

Solving a question that is related to computers is more complicated than finding the solutions for other questions. It requires excellent knowledge and much thinking power. Problem solving in programming skills is much needed for a person and holds a major advantage. For every question, there are specific steps to be followed to get a perfect solution. By using those steps, it is possible to find a solution quickly.

The above section is covered with an explanation of problem solving in programming skills. Now let's learn some steps involved in problem solving.

Steps Involved in Problem Solving

Before being ready to solve a problem, there are some steps and procedures to be followed to find the solution. Let's have a look at them in this problem solving in programming article.

Basically, they are divided into four categories:

• Analysing the problem
• Developing the algorithm
• Testing and debugging

Analysing the Problem

Every problem has a perfect solution; before we are ready to solve a problem, we must look over the question and understand it. When we know the question, it is easy to find the solution for it. If we are not ready with what we have to solve, then we end up with the question and cannot find the answer as expected. By analysing it, we can figure out the outputs and inputs to be carried out. Thus, when we analyse and are ready with the list, it is easy and helps us find the solution easily. 

Developing the Algorithm

It is required to decide a solution before writing a program. The procedure of representing the solution  in a natural language called an algorithm. We must design, develop and decide the final approach after a number of trials and errors, before actually writing the final code on an algorithm before we write the code. It captures and refines all the aspects of the desired solution.

Once we finalise the algorithm, we must convert the decided algorithm into a code or program using a dedicated programming language that is understandable by the computer to find a desired solution. In this stage, a wide variety of programming languages are used to convert the algorithm into code. 

Testing and Debugging

The designed and developed program undergoes several rigorous tests based on various real-time parameters and the program undergoes various levels of simulations. It must meet the user's requirements, which have to respond with the required time. It should generate all expected outputs to all the possible inputs. The program should also undergo bug fixing and all possible exception handling. If it fails to show the possible results, it should be checked for logical errors.

Industries follow some testing methods like system testing, component testing and acceptance testing while developing complex applications. The errors identified while testing are debugged or rectified and tested again until all errors are removed from the program.

The steps mentioned above are involved in problem solving in programming. Now let's see some more detailed information about the steps to improve problem solving in programming.

Steps to Improve Problem Solving in Programming

Right mindset.

The way to approach problems is the key to improving the skills. To find a solution, a positive mindset helps to solve problems quickly. If you think something is impossible, then it is hard to achieve. When you feel free and focus with a positive attitude, even complex problems will have a perfect solution.

Making Right Decisions

When we need to solve a problem, we must be clear with the solution. The perfect solution helps to get success in a shorter period. Making the right decisions in the right situation helps to find the perfect solution quickly and efficiently. These skills also help to get more command over the subject.

Keeping Ideas on Track

Ideas always help much in improving the skills; they also help to gain more knowledge and more command over things. In problem solving situations, these ideas help much and help to develop more skills. Give opportunities for the mind and keep on noting the ideas.

Learning from Feedbacks

A crucial part of learning is from the feedback. Mistakes help you to gain more knowledge and have much growth. When you have a solution for a problem, go for the feedback from the experienced or the professionals. It helps you get success within a shorter period and enables you to find other solutions easily.

Asking Questions

Questions are an incredible part of life. While searching for solutions, there are a lot of questions that arise in our minds. Once you know the question correctly, then you are able to find answers quickly. In coding or programming, we must have a clear idea about the problem. Then, you can find the perfect solution for it. Raising questions can help to understand the problem.

These are a few reasons and tips to improve problem solving in programming skills. Now let's see some major benefits in this article.

• Problem solving in programming skills helps to gain more knowledge over coding and programming, which is a major benefit.
• These problem solving skills also help to develop more skills in a person and build a promising career.
• These skills also help to find the solutions for critical and complex problems in a perfect way.
• Learning and developing problem solving in programming helps in building a good foundation.
• Most of the companies are looking for people with good problem solving skills, and these play an important role when it comes to job opportunities 

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Problem solving in programming skills is important in this modern world; these skills build a great career and hold a great advantage. This article on problem solving in programming provides you with an idea of how it plays a massive role in the present world. In this problem solving in programming article, the skills and the ways to improve more command on problem solving in programming are mentioned and explained in a proper way.

If you are looking to advance in your career. Simplilearn provides training and certification courses on various programming languages - Python , Java , Javascript , and many more. Check out our Post Graduate Program in Full Stack Web Development course that will help you excel in your career.

If you have any questions for us on the problem solving in programming article. Do let us know in the comments section below; we have our experts answer it right away.

Find our Full Stack Developer - MERN Stack Online Bootcamp in top cities:

About the author.

Hemant Deshpande, PMP has more than 17 years of experience working for various global MNC's. He has more than 10 years of experience in managing large transformation programs for Fortune 500 clients across verticals such as Banking, Finance, Insurance, Healthcare, Telecom and others. During his career he has worked across the geographies - North America, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific. Hemant is an internationally Certified Executive Coach (CCA/ICF Approved) working with corporate leaders. He also provides Management Consulting and Training services. He is passionate about writing and regularly blogs and writes content for top websites. His motto in life - Making a positive difference.

Recommended Resources

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• PMP, PMI, PMBOK, CAPM, PgMP, PfMP, ACP, PBA, RMP, SP, and OPM3 are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Problem-Solving Skills for Software Developers: Why & How to Improve

Problem-solving skills go hand-in-hand with software development. Learn some great problem-solving techniques and tips for improvement here!

Software developer jobs today require that you possess excellent problem-solving skills , and for good reason. Unfortunately, there seems to be a sort of talent gap when it comes to this one skill required of all software developers.

Troubleshooting and problem resolution are both informally and formally taught, but you mostly find that software developers have to learn problem-solving skills on their own. This is true for self-taught developers , obviously, but also even for those with software engineering degrees or who’ve graduated from coding boot camps.

This is why it’s necessary to acquaint yourself with the problem-solving process, whether you are a newbie or an experienced developer. In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about problem-solving so you can 10x your software development career.

What are Problem-Solving Skills?

As a developer, what do we mean by problem-solving? Let’s attempt a simple definition.

In software development, problem-solving is the process of using theories and research to find solutions to a problem domain, while testing different ideas and applying best practices to achieve a desired result. Problem-solving also has to do with utilizing creativity and logical thought processes to identify problems and resolve them with software.

Becoming a great software developer hinges more on learning algorithms than programming languages or frameworks . And algorithms are simply step-by-step instructions to solve a given problem.

Read More : How to Build a Software Engineer Portfolio (With Examples & Tips)

Why are impeccable problem-solving skills crucial?

Making good use of a computer language can be likened to being a skilled writer. An effective writer must know how to construct sentences and use grammar appropriately. There’s more to writing than just knowing all the words in the dictionary, and that’s how it works for developers, too.

You have different tasks to work on as a software developer, including perhaps designing, coding, and troubleshooting. Much of your time will be spent on identifying problems, spotting and correcting bugs, and making sense of codebases from before you started working there. Being ingenious at problem-solving is essential in creating incredible solutions to issues that arise throughout software development.

To demonstrate ingenuity, let’s consider Google’s autocomplete tool as an example.

The autocomplete tool is built to suggest related terms in the search bar as you type. The idea behind the tool is to reduce more than 200 years of time spent typing daily and to help users save time by up to 25% while typing.

Here’s what had to be done:

• To activate real-time completion of suggestions, the UI experience and JavaScript had to be implemented.
• Next, since users could type just about anything, the autocomplete suggestions had to be compiled into a sensible list dependent on user input.
• Then, Google had to create a back-end sustainability system for this function. Doing this meant massively increasing its infrastructure to accommodate all forms of data query and HTTP requests.
• Finally, the user interface had to be refined by software engineers in order to make sure that every user enjoyed a worthwhile experience. So they employed Google Trends to power the auto-completion tool while using algorithms to take out explicit or offensive predictions in line with Google’s auto-completion policy.

This is just one of Google’s innumerable problem-solving examples, but it’s clear to see that solving problems involves more than just telling a computer to do stuff. It’s about your ability to come up with parameters rightly tailored to target users so they can meet their goals.

So why must developers focus on problem-solving at work?

Software developers work with a wide range of people and departments, and it’s common to discover that some clients and teams find it difficult to define what they want. As a problem solver, it’s up to you to help them identify their needs and communicate their thoughts in an effective way.

Of course, you’ll need time and practice to develop your problem resolution ability. That’s because it’s less about solving problems faster but more about coming up with the best solution . And then you’ll need to deploy that solution.

Read More : Common Interview Questions for Software Developer Jobs (Non-Technical)

Types of problem-solving skills

Now let’s talk about four types of problem-solving skills for developers:

1.  Parallel thinking

As a software developer, parallel thinking is a crucial skill necessary to perform optimally. This makes it possible for you to carry out two tasks that complement each other at the same time (like an optimized form of multitasking skills). Being able to reorder tasks to boost parallel execution can help to improve your output and save valuable time .

2. Dissecting broad and/or complex goals

When it comes to building software, you will need to effectively outline the steps and tasks necessary to achieve your goal. Developers must learn to break large and complex tasks into smaller assignments because this is an important skill that will help you create results with precision.

3. Reimplementing existing solutions

You don’t always need to reinvent the wheel. Part of being an effective software developer comes with being able to use already existing tools before even thinking of creating new solutions. Developing problem-solving skills is very much connected to finding solutions that already exist and reusing them.

4. Abstraction

Keep in mind that goals tend to evolve. So if your client comes up with new ideas, that will mean changing your design goals and reordering your tasks. A good programmer must learn to create solutions in such a way that does not require a complete redesign from scratch.

You also have to become adept at abstracting problems so that your solutions can get them resolved so long as they aren’t entirely different from the original issue. You don’t necessarily have to abstract every aspect to avoid more complications being created. This calls for balance by abstracting only where necessary without making narrow decisions.

Read More : Learn 8 Great Benefits of Working From Home

4 Important Tips & Strategies for Improving Problem-Solving Skills

To keep your problem-solving skills and techniques from growing weaker over time, you need to exercise them non-stop. As they say: practice makes perfect!

To train the problem-solving side of your brain, these four tips and strategies can help you improve your abilities:

1. Make problem-solving a part of your life

Never restrict yourself to working on problems only during work hours. Don’t make it a chore, but, instead, do things that make problem-solving look fun. The game of chess, solving puzzles, and playing video games that compel you to think critically will help strengthen your problem-solving skills, and you can tell your significant other you are advancing your career! 🙂

When you come to a complex problem in your life, whether it’s budgeting for a home or renovating the downstairs bathroom, approach it both creatively and critically. Ask yourself: What would a great software engineer do in this situation?

2. Use different platforms to solve problems

Proffer solutions to a set of problems without restricting yourself to one platform. Using different platforms and tools regularly helps make sure you become flexible as a problem-solver. And it makes sense, because there really is no universal solution for the different problems that pop up in your line of work. Trying out different platforms to solve different problems helps you to keep an open mind and enables you to test out different techniques when looking to find solutions.

Read More : 12 Common Mistakes Keeping You From Landing Your First Developer Job

3. Be open to assistance from external sources

Part of being a good software developer comes with being able to ask for help and also accept all forms of feedback. You might need a different opinion or a new set of eyes to help find the most fitting solution to some problems. It makes sense to view building problem-solving skills as more of a team effort rather than a personal journey.

Have an open mind and heart to function not only as an individual but also as a collective. It’s a utopian working environment where everyone supports each other to become better versions of themselves. So if you come across an issue that keeps you stuck, get help! You may find someone who has a more refined framework or method you never knew existed or would have thought of using. You could then learn from them and add their solution to your toolkit.

Get feedback often, as well. This could be the catalyst to making improvements to your processes and evolving them into something truly refined.

4. Tackle new problems using lessons from past solutions

As you practice and finesse your ability to identify problems and find solutions, you’ll begin to notice patterns. It’s more like developing your toolbox armed with a wide range of solutions that have proved useful in the past. So when problems emerge, you will notice how easy it is to take some of those old solutions and apply them to the new problem.

The more you attempt to apply creativity in solving problems, the more you grow your skills. In the long run, that will help you find the right solutions faster and apply them to a wide range of problems more naturally. It’s all about improving the effectiveness and efficiency with which you tackle new problems while applying only the best possible solutions.

Read More : How to Stay Motivated at Work

3 Complementary Skills to Improve to Become a Good Problem Solver

Developing software is mostly about problem-solving at the very core before even writing your first lines of code. You have to identify problems that can be solved using software. Then you have to go on to understand how people try to solve such problems in real life.

It’s up to you to come up with a framework that allows you to take both the problem and the solution and convert them into computer code. And you have to do this in such a way that makes the software even more efficient and effective than a human.

While going through this process, developers also have to handle other problems such as deadline deliveries, checking for bugs and fixing them, and collaborate across teams. So, supporting skills must not be overlooked.

Software developers must build interpersonal skills and collaboration skills . Being able to empathize, accept feedback, handle criticism, listen intently, and show respect for others are all important characteristics and abilities necessary for teamwork, and, thus, necessary for solving problems on the job.

Read More : 5 Ways to Stand Out & Get Noticed in Your Current Development Job

Communication

No one is an island, and that’s true when you consider how software engineers work. Building software requires keeping up with clients and teammates and other departments. You can’t afford to be a Lone Ranger, at least not 100% of the time, and that’s why employers always look for good communication skills.

Being a good software developer also involves how well you can break down very complex concepts to laypeople. You want to be the kind of person who fixes a problem and is able to explain how you were able to do it. It’s all about your ability to be clear and articulate about every aspect of your work. And you want to be able to communicate not just verbally but also in written form.

To build your communication skills as a developer, you can learn from more experienced people and observe how they interact with their clients. And, don’t forget, with more and more companies becoming global enterprises and going remote, it’s important to brush up on your intercultural communication skills , as well.

Logical thinking

The difference between elite software developers and average ones is often said to be logical thinking. The ability to process thoughts logically is important, because you’ll often spend most of your time finding and fixing bugs rather than writing code.

Problems can show up from just about anywhere, even from what seems to be the most insignificant errors. So, your ability to detect software issues and solve these problems using deductive thought processes is a vital ingredient to your success as a software developer.

Read More : Questions to Ask at Interviews for Software Engineering Jobs

Problem-Solving Stages & Practices

There are countless problem-solving processes and various schools of thought regarding the best way to approach problems whenever they arise. To solve that problem, we’ve pooled some of these frameworks together to come up with a comprehensive approach to problem-solving.

Step 1 – Define the problem

You have to first start with problem identification. Knowing what you are dealing with is important, because you don’t want to risk spending valuable time applying wrong solutions. Avoid making automatic assumptions. Even when the symptoms look familiar, you want to investigate properly because such signs could be pointing to something else entirely.

Problems in software development come in different sizes and scopes. You could be having trouble getting some aspects of the product to respond in the desired way. Or maybe you’re having issues trying to decipher a codebase section where you can no longer communicate with the original developers. Sometimes, the problem could come in the form of an unfamiliar error message and you’re at loss.

Once you’re able to define the problem, make sure to document it.

Step 2 – Analyze the problem

Now it’s time to carry out problem analysis . Before deciding what problem resolution methods to adopt, it’s necessary to find out all there is to the issue, which builds on our first step. This will make it easier to come up with ideas and solutions later on.

Problem analysis isn’t always a walk in the park. There are times when the problem involves a very small mistake such as failing to import a package correctly or a small syntax error. Other times, however, it could be such a huge error, like the entire program acting differently than what you want. There might be no alarms or blinking red lights to tell you what the exact problem is.

If you encounter such situations, you can find answers by articulating the problem. Document what you intend to do, what you’ve done, the original intention for the program, and where you currently are. Communication comes in handy here, of course, not just in your documentation, but also in how you relay it to your teammates.

Read More : Got a Busy Developer Schedule? Here’s How to Keep Learning & Make Time

Step 3 – Brainstorm

This step has to do with generating ideas, and you can benefit from discussing the problem with a team and then coming up with ways to get it fixed. Keep in mind that problem-solving at work involves interacting with a diverse group of people where the individuals have unique skill sets and experiences.

Many developers tend to neglect the previous steps and rush straight into brainstorming. That’s definitely not a good way to go about problem-solving. The idea is not to skip the important steps in the process.

Once you get to the point where ideas need to be generated, do not discard any, because this step relies on a wide range of ideas. Only after gathering as many perspectives as possible should you then begin reviewing and narrowing down to the best possible solution.

Step 4 – Make a decision

At this point, all viable solutions have to be analyzed before selecting the most appropriate one to implement. Picking the best possible solution depends on its ability to meet certain criteria. It must be suitable, feasible, and then acceptable.

What it means is that the solution must be able to get the problem solved. It should also be easy to see how such a solution fits into the equation. And then every member of the team involved in the brainstorming process has to unanimously accept the solution.

Read More : How to Network as a Software Engineer

Step 5 – Implement

After identifying and choosing the solution, the next logical step is to plan out the implementation process and then execute it. Coming up with a detailed plan is crucial if the solution is to be a success.

Now this plan must detail all the necessary steps required to implement the solution. It will also explain the length of time and stages of work required. Once all of that is put in place, you can then move forward with the execution. The idea is not just to execute a solution but to do it the right way.

Implementation using automated tests can help to keep unexpected issues from arising in the future. Some other problem-solving practices or approaches begin the process with this step. So, whenever any changes are made to the project, tests asserting that the changes will perform as required will be written first before the changes are then made.

Step 6 – Evaluate

No problem-solving process can be deemed comprehensive enough if there is no room for evaluation. Whatever the solution may be, it has to undergo strict evaluation in order to see how it performs. That will also help determine whether the problem still exists and the extent to which such an issue keeps recurring.

In the event that the problem persists despite the implementation of a detailed plan, then the developer and team may even have to restart the problem-solving process. However discouraging that may sound, at least you’ll have caught it early enough. And, this also proves the process worked.

Read More : How to Become a Software Engineer: Education, Steps & Tips for Success

Final Thoughts

Developing problem-solving skills is quite necessary for software developers. To be a successful problem solver, you will need lots of years down the line to practice what you study.

Always remember that you are a problem solver first before anything else. There is more to building software than just understanding the tech behind it and writing lines of code. It’s all about improving your ability to identify problems and find solutions, and that will need lots of experience on your part.

Never shy away from problems, but learn to think critically and logically in any situation. By applying the six-step strategy for problem-solving at work discussed in this piece, you will be more equipped to come up with the most effective and efficient solutions.

We hope you enjoyed reading our guide on how to solve a problem as a software developer and ways to improve skills as a problem solver! If you have any questions, feedback, or other great problem-solving techniques or methods, let us know in the comments below 🙂

The Arc team publishes insightful articles and thought leadership pieces related to software engineering careers and remote work. From helping entry-level developers land their first junior role to assisting remote workers struggling with working from home to guiding mid-level programmers as they seek a leadership position, Arc covers it all and more!

Further reading

Ready to Take On a Senior Role or Leadership Position as a Developer?

Here Are 43 of the Best Online Developer Communities to Join in 2024

Here’s When You Can TRULY Call Yourself a “Senior” Software Developer

Time Management Skills for Developers: Best Tips, Tools, and Strategies

Software Engineer Degree: Pros, Cons & Alternatives

Key Analytical Skills for Developers (& How to Continually Improve Them)

DEV Community

Posted on Aug 10, 2022

How to develop strong problem solving skills as a software developer

Introduction.

It is generally known that problem solving is an essential skill for software engineers.

Good problem solving skills involve being able to think creatively and analytically, breaking down problems into smaller parts and using a systematic approach to find solutions. Strong problem solving skills are essential for a successful career in software development. In this article we will review some approach.

Various Methods

Trial and error method.

The trial and error method is a common problem-solving technique in which potential solutions are tried out one by one until a working solution is found. This method can be used for both simple and complex problems.

Divide and conquer

Another approach is to use a more systematic method, such as divide and conquer or reduction. Divide and conquer is a software engineering technique for solving complex problems by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable pieces. This allows for more efficient and effective problem solving by breaking down a complex problem into smaller, more manageable sub-problems. Once these sub-problems have been solved, they can be combined to solve the larger, more complex problem.

One common example of divide and conquer is the use of recursion. Recursion involves breaking a problem down into smaller sub-problems, solving each sub-problem, and then combining the solutions to the sub-problems to solve the larger problem. Another common example is the use of algorithms, such as the quick sort algorithm, which break a problem down into smaller pieces, solving each piece, and then combining the solutions to the pieces to solve the larger problem.

Once a solution is found, it is important to learn from the experience and use that knowledge to improve future problem solving skills. This includes understanding what went wrong, what could have been done better, and how similar problems can be avoided in the future. By taking these steps, software developers can become more effective problem solvers.

Problem solving skills is important in its own way. As a software developer, you should try to develop all of these skills in order to be successful.

Analytical skills:

Analytical skills are the ability to collect and analyze data, identify patterns and trends, and make decisions based on that information. They involve both logical and creative thinking, as well as the ability to pay attention to detail. Strong analytical skills are important in many different fields. Some examples:

• Being able to break down a problem and identify the various components
• Being able to identify patterns and trends
• Being able to see relationships between different pieces of data
• Being able to make decisions based on data
• Being able to solve complex problems

Creative thinking

Creative thinking in computer science is all about coming up with new and innovative ways to solve problems. It’s about thinking outside the box and coming up with creative solutions that nobody has thought of before.

It’s important to be creative in computer science because it’s a constantly evolving field. If you’re not constantly coming up with new ideas, you’re going to fall behind. Creative thinking is what keeps computer science moving forward.

If you want to be successful in computer science, you need to be creative. It’s not enough to just learn the basics. You need to be constantly thinking of new and better ways to do things. So if you’re not a naturally creative person, don’t worry. Just keep working at it and you’ll get there.

Logical reasoning

Logical reasoning is a process of making deductions based on given information. In computer science, this process is often used to solve problems and to create new algorithms. To reason logically, one must first identify the premises and then use them to reach a valid conclusion.

Practice is one of the best ways to improve your problem solving skills. You can do this by working on coding challenges, participating in online coding contests, or simply trying to solve problems you encounter in your daytoday work. Collaboration is another great way to improve your problem solving skills. When you work with others, you can learn from their experiences and share your own insights. This can help you develop a more well rounded approach to problem solving.

If you're a software developer, congratulations! You have chosen one of the most mentally demanding professions there is. And if you want to be successful, you need to have strong problem solving skills.

My last tip: get comfortable with being stuck! It's normal to feel stuck when you're trying to solve a problem and don't be afraid to ask for help. We all need help from time to time, and there's no shame in admitting that you need help.

So there you have it! Follow these tips and you'll be well on your way to developing strong problem solving skills as a software developer.

Like this article? Join the discussion in our Discord channel .

Top comments (26)

Templates let you quickly answer FAQs or store snippets for re-use.

• Work Lead Dev
• Joined Jul 12, 2022

For students , don't underestimate the mathematics. You definitively don't need a master degrees in maths to be a successfull developer BUT , mathematics train your brain to think. All this theorems you probably never used in real world , all thoses equation you resolved in high school helped your logical reasoning.

Finally, to get better at resolving problem you definitely should resolve problem :P The more you resolve , the better you get !

• Joined Mar 14, 2022

I agree with you! I mentioned it, practice and practice.. About maths it is also another alternative

• Joined Sep 21, 2021

Science shows that there really is no knowledge transfer between unrelated fields. There is essentially no way to get overall better at thinking. You either can relate what you know already to the thing or you can't. In first case it's experience, not brain trained to thinking, in second it depends on if you learned how to learn.

Logical reasoning is a small part that everyone does even without thinking, but it doesn't transfer if you don't use abstractions to relate what you don't know with what you do know.

You can get better at resolving problems overall, but it's a tiny improvement if you don't focus on learning how to solve problems. Solving problems on it's own gives you experience you can use at solving similar things. But it won't help with different problems.

That being said if you can relate math you learned to problems you need to solve it can sometimes make something impossible into something very easy. That on it's own is a good reason to get good at maths. The other one is training on how to read information dense domain texts.

• Location Yenagoa, Nigeria
• Joined Feb 1, 2021

You're right, solving mathematical problems help increase logical reasoning, and I believe that's a major reason we do maths in Computer Science. Working with numbers is a top-tier ability if you want to become a successful "software engineer". Thanks.

You're right, solving mathematical problems help increase logical reasoning, and I believe that's a major reason we do maths in Computer Science. Working with numbers is a top-tier ability if you want to become a successful "software engineer". Thanks

• Location India
• Joined Aug 17, 2019

Just like Neil deGrasse Tyson said, It is not about finding the value of x, It is about process for finding the x.

• Location Munich, Germany
• Work Software Development Team Lead
• Joined Oct 4, 2019

I have to disagree, especially on the Maths->Logics path. I found it's a lot easier to go into Logics without Maths, even though the basic principles are similar (since both are just formal languages).

• Education Computer Science
• Work Senior Software Developer at Syskron GmbH
• Joined Jan 30, 2021

What he meant is that math trains your brain. Either way it’s math or not it’s necessary to think structured to solve programming problems. I have seen so many bad code written my mathematics (no offense 😃)

• Email [email protected]
• Location Living in the path between home and office
• Education The school of life and entry points
• Work 📖 Researching and learning everything about API Security and Business Logic
• Joined Jun 22, 2022

• Location Nashville
• Education Bootcamp Grad
• Work Fullstack Developer
• Joined Mar 5, 2017

You have to joke so you don't cry.

• Email [email protected]
• Location Budapest, Hungary
• Education engineering
• Work software developer @ itemis
• Joined Dec 25, 2021

what a cool drawing!

Hahaha @apimike humor is important!

I just said that math was a way , and because it's basically taught in every school of the world (contrary to other knowledge) it's important to embrace it and understand that what you are taught is not how to multiply 2 number but actually how to think.

I realized it way too late, I always hated math when I was young because I wasn't able to figure out the point of what I was taught.

The misconception is , that you have to be good at math to be a good developer. Indeed that completely false (unless your are developing for some specific field).

• Joined Nov 24, 2020

Being a successful software developer, one needs to be open to learning and unlearning. I've learnt and unlearnt and am grateful I did. Most of the time I share with colleagues and friends, I got to find out the knowledge that was most neglected, tends to be a challenge for someone else.

It's a mentally demanding field. It's not just a job, it's a way of life.

• Location Scotland, United Kingdom
• Joined Nov 13, 2020

this is spot on

Thanks for the article, it resonates.

I read most of the comments and can't stay quiet. From my years of experience, math can be a really powerful tool when it comes to solving problems. Ofcourse is only one of the tools out there that can empower a programmer. Another tool I found to be crucial are flow charts. Being able to construct them the right way can help a lot.

e. g. This problem I solved it using only math. And I have used many concepts of math and physics for game development. To understand algebra, arrays, matrixes, vectors, magnituds, forces, inertia, acceleration, etc... Can be crucial on the development of certain softwares. But it all depends the area in which you are coding.

• Location Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Education Dep. of Computer Science & Engineering(CSE), BAIUST
• Work Unemployed

A newbie here. I've a different problem . i.e. I face difficulty while implementing the code but I know the theory & logic behind it. Any suggestion/advice for me anyone ?

Hiiii maybe I will write an article about it ! Nice idea :)

• Email [email protected]
• Joined Apr 23, 2019

a great read

• Joined Jul 9, 2020

I wonder if there is literature about how to improve and train your problem solving skills. Could you recommend books about this topic?

Personnaly I don't know books on this topic, but if you have got something share it with us :)

• Joined Mar 11, 2022

this article and that comments below are good

• Email [email protected]
• Location Philippines
• Education Javascript Development with Clever Programmer
• Work Software Consultant at Servio Australia
• Joined Aug 29, 2020

Thank you. "Divide and conquer" works for me.

• Location Rwanda
• Joined Jul 30, 2022

I think, being open-mind is a way to simulate our brain when it comes to creative thinking. btw nice article

• Joined Sep 17, 2021

I have a short, simple rule: be creating and imaginary as much as possible. That's to say whatever others do you can do differently and/or more crazily.

• Joined Mar 13, 2023

Software quality assurance consulting services are specialized services offered by qualified experts who evaluate and examine software systems for flaws, weaknesses and potential threats. These qa company haberforever.com/ help companies improve the quality and reliability of their software products by providing extensive knowledge and skills in software testing methodology, automation technology and industry best practices.

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How to improve coding skills: 15 things you can do today

Table of contents

Whether you’re an old hat at programming or you’re just getting started drafting your first scope of work templates or signing the first contract template , the truth is you can’t stand still. You must always be on the lookout for ways to improve coding skills.

In this article, we share 15 practical tips you can start using today (plus one you probably didn’t think of) to become a better coder.

Fun + Practical Ways to Improve Your Programming Skills

Step away from the screen.

1. Go read a book

The world of programming is an ever-changing one, and because of this, many novice coders tend to overlook books in favour of online tutorials. But the fundamentals hardly ever change, and the best coding books often delve into a level of detail the online tutorials can only dream of.

At the start of your coding journey? Here are the must-haves for your bookshelf:

• Code Complete
• Absolute Beginner’s Guide to C
• Java: A Beginner’s Guide
• Ruby: Programming, Master's Handbook: A TRUE Beginner's Guide!

2. Listen to a podcast

Coding-related podcasts offer a great way to stay on top of trends, learn about new techniques and web design tools , and hear from more experienced programmers about their career trajectory. Learning by listening is also an enjoyable and effective educational approach, and gives you the chance to engage with the content in a different way - away from the cat videos and clickbait distractions.

Here are some of our favourites:

• Shop Talk Show
• JavaScript Jabber

Learn from others, for example:

3. Join a community, share and listen

A surefire way to improve your programming skills is to speak with (and listen to) those already working in the field. Join Stack Overflow and ask questions, or sign up to Reddit and visit one of the many relevant Subreddits (the programming one is a good place to start). Share your code and ask for advice - you’ll be blown away by the eagerness of the community to help.

4. Contribute to GitHub

As far as improving your coding is concerned, joining and contributing to GitHub is non-negotiable. No matter how experienced you are, you’ll almost always learn something new when you add your two-cents to an Open Source project. Whether that’s from observing someone else’s code, or from receiving feedback on your own, it’s a brilliant learning curve and a huge confidence booster all rolled into one.

5. Pop the hood on your favorite website

Got a favorite site? Curious about how it does its thing? Get into the habit of looking at the source code and try to piece together the frameworks and processes used by the programmer. It’s a great way to learn and a brilliant source of inspiration. And if you see something you don’t understand, simply return to the communities mentioned above armed with a bunch of new questions. Win-win.

6. Follow coders you admire on social media

If you happen to know who was responsible for a site or an app you love, find them and follow them on social media. It’s another opportunity for you to ask questions, only this time you’ll get the answers straight from the horse’s mouth. Plus, you can build a solid network of coding professionals on which you can rely when you need help.

Learn by doing, for example:

7. Work on real projects to become a better programmer

Newsflash: Your programming won’t improve as quickly as you’d like if you’re not actively working on real projects.

So, how do you find these projects? Well, you could check out freelancing sites and pitch your services to small businesses. Or you could cold email local agencies with freelance proposals and offer to lend a hand when they’re busy. Working on something at the moment? Experience effective project management with Bonsai by signing up for a free trial today .

However you do it, the fact remains: It’s only when you have some skin in the game that your focus levels go up a notch and your problem-solving skills rival those of Sherlock Holmes.

8. Can’t find real projects? Build and launch something of your own

If you’re not yet confident enough to pitch for real projects - or you don’t have the portfolio to back up a sparkling pitch - don’t let that stop you from rolling up your sleeves and getting to work.

Most experienced developers have done work on spec just to prove their capabilities. Building your own site or app helps you learn AND gets you noticed.

9. Do something new each day

Absolutely no-one becomes a coding guru overnight. It takes hard work, practice, and determination. However, if you want to add a little jet fuel to your development, you should take some time out each day and challenge yourself with something new.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be complicated. Maybe it’s learning a new language feature or mastering a shortcut. Whatever you choose, over time these little challenges will add up to significant improvements.

10. Play a coding game

If all you do is read about coding, then code until your eyes are square, you can lose the love of it pretty quickly. You need another way to learn - one that’ll inject a bit of fun into proceedings.

Enter: Coding games. Gamified learning lets you hone your programming skills and boost your confidence as you crack puzzles and progress through the levels.

Change your mindset and workflow, for example:

11. Choose a learning method that works for you

We all approach learning differently. You might enjoy getting to grips with the basics by reading a book, or you could require the structure and direction of an online course. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The important thing is that you choose the method that works best for you. Sites like Codeacademy are a good place to start if you’re a more hands-on learner, while the books outlined in tip one will appeal if you prefer brushing up on theory.

12. Embrace the ‘15-Minute’ rule to get better at coding

When you’re stuck on a piece of code, grab your phone and set the timer for 15 minutes. If the alarm goes and you’re no closer to a solution, it’s time to ask for help. Turn to one of the communities described earlier, hop on social media, or ask a co-worker. Because the longer you stare at a problem, the larger it looms and the more frustrated you’ll become.

The 15-minute rule helps you avoid these frustrations and puts you on the path towards learning and mastery.

13. Learn to take criticism

To keep improving as a programmer, one of the most valuable things you can learn is how to take criticism.

Spoiler alert: You can’t take it personally.

If you stick your fingers in your ears every time someone points out an error or suggests a better way of doing things, you’ll never grow as a developer.

14. Use a debugger (or talk to a rubber duck) to improve coding skills

You’ve probably heard the saying “mistakes are proof that you’re trying”. So when you’re faced with an error or your code fails to compile, the best thing you can do is control how you react.

Try not to become frustrated or angry. Instead, use it as an opportunity to learn. Use a debugger to step, line by line, through your code until you identify the mistake. Or pick up a rubber duck (other inanimate objects are available) and calmly explain your code and its goals until you figure out why it’s not working. Maybe there’s a typo or a problem with a variable.

Rubber duck debugging is helpful as it forces you to be slow and deliberate when explaining your code, to the point where you’re likely to happen upon the error yourself. And you’ll almost always learn better when you discover the solution for yourself instead of having it gift-wrapped by someone else.

Specialize to improve further, for example:

15. Niche down to become a better coder

Programming is such a vast and varied discipline that it’s unlikely that you’ll ever know absolutely everything. Instead of trying to become a jack of all trades, find an element that you enjoy and focus on improving that ten-fold.

For instance, spending time working to improve your coding skills in Java could make you a far more employable and sought after candidate in the future than if you studied a little bit of Java, a little bit of PHP, etc.

Bonus Tip: Give a talk, do a webinar or write a blog

You’ve guessed it. We’ve now reached the point in the article where we drop a Latin proverb:

Docendo discimus. "By teaching, we learn."

When you learn something new, don’t keep it to yourself. Teaching others is yet another step to improving your programming skills. Why? It helps you consolidate that knowledge and proves that you truly understand it.

So, host a webinar, stand up and speak at a meetup, or crack your knuckles and write a blog post. It’s a great way to network, builds your confidence, and demonstrates your abilities to clients and employers.

Take the Time to Improve Your Coding Skills

You know the old adage: Practice makes perfect. You just need to make sure you’re leaving yourself enough time each day to improve your programming.

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15 Tips to Improve Logic Building Skills in Programming

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“In some ways, programming is like a painting. You start with a blank canvas and certain basic raw materials. You use a combination of science, art, and craft to determine what to do with them.” – Andrew Hunt

Yes, programming in itself is a very beautiful art. Sometimes we may face some problems while trying to program, but we can definitely overcome them. So, in this article, we will be sharing the top 15 tips and techniques that can help you to make your programming skills more strong, and rectify some common programming problems and this will also help you in the logic-building process.

How to Improve Your Logic-Building Skills in Programming?

Here are the ways in which you can improve your logic-building skills in programming. So let’s get started!!!

1. Concepts are Building Blocks for Programming

While trying to crack the logic of any coding problem, many of us think that we never came across such algorithms or theorems while studying and therefore are not able to solve the problem. In order to solve any problem, we should know the concepts of that topic, then only we would be able to apply them and solve the problem. Theoretical knowledge and concepts can be gained by reading articles, blogs, documentation, and watching videos based on that topic. You can also refer to the articles on GeeksforGeeks for building your concepts. We should also know the application of concepts and practice some important problems based on that topic.

2. Be Consistent

Many times it happens that we take up a challenge to solve a question for some number of days and then discontinue in the middle after some days!! It is a popular saying that practice makes a man perfect!! The same is the case with building programming logic. Make it a point to revise, or read an article or solve a question daily despite being very busy with remaining activities. Practicing consistently will help a lot in the overall logic-building process. In order to motivate yourself, you should always contemplate the reason why you started, reward yourself, and make programming fun by solving some quizzes and experimenting with the programs to see different outputs.

3. Pen and Paper Approach

After seeing any problem, we generally start coding the same on our IDE. So, when we are asked to write code on paper in interviews, we fail to do so. Always try to write the pseudo code or algorithm of the code before implementing them. It will help you in writing the code and the next time whenever you approach a similar problem you will be able to recollect more easily. It will also help you in getting syntactically strong.

4. Revision is Very Important

Many of you might be facing this issue that you learn a particular concept but after a few days or months when another question with the same logic or concept appears, you are unable to solve it. This is because you haven’t revised the concepts. Always make it a point to write down the important concepts and logic of questions that are important and keep them revised again and again. This will help you in recollecting the concepts easily.

5. Do as Many Questions as You Can 

It happens with most of us that there comes a single question and most of us get stuck there for 4 to 5 days and still are not able to crack it. Always try to practice lots of questions in order to develop your programming logic skills. This will help you in improving your logic building. If you are stuck on a single question, don’t spend a lot of time after a single question instead look for the concepts hidden behind the question.

6. Puzzle Solving

In many coding competitions, problems are not directly asked based on a concept. Instead, it generally involves a story woven around it, and we have to figure out the logic for solving the program. In such cases, sometimes we are unable to solve the problem. Try solving puzzles such as Sudoku to develop your logic and thinking ability because programming is nothing but solving complex problems with the help of good logic. 

7. Follow Step-by-Step Approach

We don’t start running since the day we are born. Similar logic applies to coding also. We should not directly jump to difficult questions. We should go from Basic to Advance questions. You can take the ratio of questions such while choosing 10 questions you can divide them into 5 easy, 3 medium, and 2 hard questions. You can find these questions on many good websites. Sometimes, people solve a lot of easy questions from all the sites, but they are not able to solve medium-level questions. Instead, make a balance of all the levels. This will help in clearing the coding tests while placements as most of the questions are from easy to medium level.

8. Find a Programmer’s Community

Sometimes we get bored while solving problems by ourselves with no one to teach or guide us. In such cases, you can always try discussing solutions or complex questions with fellow programmers and friends. This will always help you in finding new logic for the same problem and will help you in optimizing your code. This will also improve your confidence and communication skills!!

9. Go through the Editorials

It happens a lot of times that we are not able to solve some questions, so we just leave the question or understand the editorial and move forward without implementing it. After programming any question, go through the editorial section and the top submissions of the code. Here you will be able to find optimized and different logic for the same code. Try to implement the solutions in the editorial section after understanding them, so that the next time you find such a question you will be able to solve it.

10. Take Part in Coding Challenges

Most people are aware of coding challenges and if you want to build your logical skills then you must keep taking part in the same. Taking part regularly in coding challenges is very useful as it makes you familiar with the logical mindset. In a coding challenge, there are numerous types of questions that provide you with a lot of exposure. Also, taking part in such challenges allows you to see solutions of various codes provided by different coders and helps you if stuck at some point. 

11. Learn New Things Regularly

Programmers should never stop learning or being stuck on one topic. They must keep on solving multiple topics as it will help them to expand their area of knowledge by building technical skills. The aim should be solving new problems daily and not being stuck to the old pattern or algorithm in order to achieve success. However, at times some topics are a bit tough and take numerous attempts to solve, in that case, stop solving that and go on to the next one as sometimes new problems are helpful in solving the old ones. 

12. Understand Mathematical Concepts

Mathematics is an important aspect of programming and understanding properly will help you in making numerous visuals or graphs, coding in applications, simulation, problem-solving applications, design of algorithms, etc.

13. Build Projects

Project building is another task that will enhance your logical building skills in programming. It challenges your ability to tackling with new things by using different methods and tactics. It is recommended that you must build one project in order to get a proper clarity of the subject and assess yourself in order to work ahead efficiently.

14. Notes Preparation

Notes are saviors and if one does that regularly then nothing can beat them from achieving their goal. While making notes you must write down every trick, concept, and algorithm so that if you need it again it is easily available. So if you are solving any problem then make sure to note down the library functions it will also be helpful for your future interviews. Noting down basic algorithms such as merge sort, binary search, etc. will help you if you are stuck somewhere. 

15. Patience is the Key

Most of the time we leave programming after some days just because we are unable to solve the questions. Let’s always motivate ourselves by saying let’s just try one more time differently, before we decide to quit!!!

If you’ll patiently work on your programming logic skills and follow the tips which we have shared with you, no one can stop you from being a good programmer and you will surely crack all the coding tests and interviews!!!

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This blog is a guest contribution from Harsh Goel, Founder @ InterviewCamp.io – Online Bootcamp for Technical Interviews

Machine Learning or Blockchain might be the next big thing, but interview problem-solving is the skill of the decade.

Here is a step-by-step plan to improve your data structure and algorithm skills:

Step 1: Understand Depth vs. Breadth

We all have that friend who has solved 500 coding problems. They love to wear it as a badge of honor. But when it comes to interviews, they fail miserably. This is a very common scenario. It’s what we call the “Breadth-Only” approach. They are solely focused on solving as many problems as they can.

The Breadth-Only approach has a problem—you don’t build a strong foundation. Interviews require deep problem-solving knowledge and the ability to code fast and accurately. You only develop these skills with focused preparation.

Here’s a counter-intuitive approach that works better:

Focus on less problems, not more

This is comforting, right? Who wants to focus on 500 problems when you can focus on 100?

But here’s the key—you want to learn them in depth. This is where depth comes in.

When you analyze a problem in depth, it means:

• You can code it quickly
• You can code it with correct syntax, which means you are good at the language
• You can write clean code in one go, because it’s second nature to you
• You can apply the same code to a new problem quickly 
• You know the data structure you are using and can implement it if asked to

To achieve this, you need to focus on a few representative problems (around 100 works well.) Solve them a few times and you’ll start seeing patterns. You also start getting better at the coding part.

So you’ve covered Depth, congratulations! You have acquired a solid base. 

You can now go all out and solve as many problems as you want. And best of all, you won’t need to code many of them. Figure out a solution, and if it’s similar to one of your core problems (which it often is), you’re done. No need to actually code and debug it because you’re already good at that.

Step 2: Start the Depth-First Approach—make a list of core questions

Identify a list of ~100 core problems. Many sites give you 100 curated problems.

Here’s another way:

Get these two books:

• Elements of Programming Interviews
• Cracking the Coding Interview. 

Collectively, they give you a good variety of hand-picked problems.  If you want a structured course for this, check out InterviewCamp.io

Step 3: Master each data structure.

Now that you have finalized your list, start with the basics. Know every data structure.

Learn how to use each data structure in your language. 

Also, learn how to implement them. Yes, implement them by hand. Many people ignore this, but it’s extremely important. Interviewers can ask you about data structure internals. Many problems modify data structures or re-engineer them for a specific use case. To utilize them fully, you need to know how they work.

For example:

Interviewer: “So you initialized an array-backed list. Good. Now let’s say you reach its capacity, what happens when you try to add another element?”

Candidate: *blank* “What do you mean capacity? I can keep adding elements to this list.”

Interviewer: *facepalm*

In this case, the candidate had been using Python, and there’s no concept of list capacity. You just keep adding elements. But that’s not what happens under the hood. You need to know what data structures back a list, and how that works.

Here’s another example:

Let’s say you’re asked to Implement a Queue using just Stacks (a popular question). This is a modified data structure. If you haven’t implemented either of those before, you’ll have trouble getting started.

Now, this doesn’t mean you need to know every implementation’s code. Some data structures are pretty hard to implement – for example, deleting a node from a Binary Search Tree is not trivial to code. But you should know how it works.

Further Reading

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Here is a list of data structures to master :

• Arrays and Lists
• Linked List
• Hash Table & Hash Set
• Binary Tree
• Binary Search Tree

How to go about it? Let’s say your core problems are divided by data structure. You can master each data structure when you start each section. Or, you can master them all at the beginning. Do what works for you.

( Check HackerEarth Data Structure & Algorithm practice )

Step 4: spaced repetition.

Alright. You made a list of questions and you started solving them. Here’s a common question we get:

“I solve many questions but can’t solve them a week later! How do I remember solutions?”

The key is to not remember solutions. The key is to practice them. When you see a problem, you should immediately be able to break it down and re-create the solution. This is different from rote learning. You’re recognizing different components, breaking them down and solving the problem.

The best technique we’ve seen – solve the problem again in 3 days. Then in a week. Then in a month. It will become second nature to you.

Step 5: Isolate techniques that are reused. Isolate actual code blocks.

This is where the Depth-First approach gets exciting. As you solve these problems, you’ll start to notice patterns. 

Let’s say you solved 5 problems that used Binary Search. You can isolate the Binary Search code and practice it over and over. You know it will be used in similar problems. 

And this is one of many techniques you can isolate. Here are some other common ones:

• Depth First Search
• Recursion + Memoization
• Hash Table + Linked List combination
• Searching a Binary Tree etc.

Now, you have a collection of techniques you can apply to new problems.

Step 6: Now, it’s time for Breadth.

Let’s say you’ve mastered your core problems. Using common data structures is second nature to you. You can now look beyond your core set. Because you’ve implemented so many techniques already, you don’t even have to code all the new questions.

During this time, try to solve realistic interview problems. Once you get good, there’s a tendency to focus on really hard problems. The thought process is – “if I can solve these really hard problems, then interview problems will be a piece of cake!”. That’s not usually the case. Techniques in really hard problems often have nothing to do with interview-level problems.

Step 7: Practice on paper

We recommend practicing on paper at some point in your prep. When you code without an IDE and Stack Overflow, it takes you away from your comfort zone. 

Here are some benefits of practicing on paper:

• You’re forced to plan your code before writing. You can’t just go back and retype.
• You will start learning correct language syntax and data structure usage. With an IDE, code used to write itself.
• You can take a paper and pen anywhere with you to practice.

And more importantly, it is a realistic simulation of a whiteboard interview.

Congratulations, you’re now a pro! Let’s get those interviews rolling.

Also read – Top 7 algorithms and data structures every programmer should know about

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How Coding Can Help You Master Problem Solving

• Published: April 26, 2023

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, problem solving skills have become increasingly valuable. One of the most effective ways to develop and enhance problem solving abilities is through learning to code. Coding, or computer programming, involves creating algorithms, writing code, and debugging software to create functional and efficient programs. In this article, we will explore the ways in which coding can improve problem solving skills and foster the development of logical and analytical thinking.

Enhancing Problem solving Skills through Coding

Coding is one of the skills that can help children with problem solving. With coding, children can approach problems creatively and innovatively, and enhance their problem solving skills. Here is some ways in which coding can improve problem solving skills:

Breaking down complex problems into manageable tasks

Coding requires programmers to break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable tasks. This process of decomposition is a vital aspect of problem solving, as it enables individuals to approach large, seemingly insurmountable challenges by dividing them into a series of smaller, more easily solvable problems. As a result, coding can help individuals develop the ability to think systematically and strategically when faced with complex problems in various aspects of life.

Unlocking the Power of Computational Thinking

At the core of coding lies the necessity for logical and analytical thinking. Programmers must understand the relationships between different elements of a problem, analyze data, and apply logical reasoning to design effective algorithms. By engaging in the process of coding, individuals can strengthen their logical and analytical thinking skills, making them better equipped to tackle problems across various disciplines.

Debugging and iterative problem solving

One of the most essential aspects of coding is debugging, which involves identifying and fixing errors in the code. Debugging requires a methodical and iterative approach to problem solving , as programmers must test their code, identify issues, and refine their solutions until they achieve the desired outcome. Through this process, coders develop persistence, resilience, and the ability to learn from their mistakes – all of which are valuable problem solving skills.

Pattern recognition and abstraction

Coding often involves identifying patterns and creating abstract representations of problems to simplify and streamline the problem solving process. Recognizing patterns can help individuals see connections between seemingly unrelated concepts, enabling them to develop innovative solutions to problems. By engaging in coding activities, individuals can improve their pattern recognition and abstraction skills, enhancing their ability to solve complex problems across various domains.

Algorithmic thinking

Algorithmic thinking is the ability to design and implement a structured set of instructions to solve a problem. It is a crucial component of coding and involves identifying the most efficient and effective method to solve a given problem. Developing strong algorithmic thinking skills can help individuals become more effective problem solvers, as they learn to approach problems in a systematic and organized manner.

Collaboration and teamwork

Coding often involves working in teams, where individuals must collaborate and communicate effectively to solve problems. By working together, programmers can leverage the diverse perspectives and expertise of their teammates to develop innovative solutions to complex challenges. Through this collaborative process, individuals can improve their problem solving skills, learning to navigate interpersonal dynamics and capitalize on the collective intelligence of their team.

Example: Solving a real-world problem through coding

Imagine a group of students participating in a coding competition, where they are tasked with developing an app that helps users find and sort local recycling centers based on the types of materials accepted. To tackle this problem, the students must apply their problem-solving skills throughout the entire process:

• Breaking down the problem: The students divide the challenge into smaller tasks, such as collecting recycling center data, designing the user interface, creating sorting algorithms, and implementing geolocation functionality.
• Logical and analytical thinking: The students analyze the available data and apply logical reasoning to determine the most effective way to sort and present the recycling centers to the user.
• Debugging and iterative problem-solving: As the students develop their app, they will undoubtedly encounter bugs and errors. They must test, debug, and refine their code until it works as intended, showcasing their persistence and resilience.
• Pattern recognition and abstraction: The students may notice patterns in the data, such as common combinations of materials accepted at recycling centers. They can use this information to create abstract categories or filters, simplifying the user experience and streamlining the sorting process.
• Algorithmic thinking: The students need to design algorithms for sorting the recycling centers based on various factors, such as distance, materials accepted, or user ratings. By doing so, they develop their algorithmic thinking skills.
• Collaboration and teamwork: Working together on this project, the students must communicate effectively, delegate tasks, and learn from each other to achieve their goal.

In conclusion, learning to code offers numerous benefits in terms of improving problem-solving skills. From breaking down complex problems into manageable tasks to fostering logical and analytical thinking, coding can help individuals develop a more comprehensive and versatile approach to problem-solving.

What is The Benefits of Coding?

With Codiska , kids can learn to code in a fun and interactive way, while developing problem-solving, critical thinking, and mathematical skills. By engaging in coding activities, such as the recycling center app project example, individuals can strengthen their problem-solving abilities, making them better equipped to tackle challenges in various aspects of their personal and professional lives.

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Enhancing Problem-Solving Skills in Java Programming: A Comprehensive Guide

Avinash bidkar, introduction.

Problem-solving skills lie at the heart of successful Java programming. In the realm of software development, the ability to dissect complex challenges, design efficient solutions, and implement them through code is paramount. This article delves into the art of honing problem-solving skills within the context of Java programming. By combining logical thinking, algorithmic strategies, and effective coding practice, developers can elevate their problem-solving skills in Java programming and create elegant, robust solutions.

Understanding Problem-Solving in Java Programming

Problem-solving in the realm of Java programming refers to the systematic approach of identifying, analyzing, and solving coding challenges. In a software developer course, you’ll learn that it involves breaking down intricate problems into manageable components and devising logical strategies to tackle them. Logical thinking and algorithmic understanding play a pivotal role in this process, allowing developers to construct well-structured and optimized solutions. Such skills are indispensable for crafting software that is not only functional but also efficient.

Guidelines for Enhancing Problem-Solving Skills

Here’s a rundown of the guidelines to enhance your problem-Solving skills.

• Breaking down complex problems: Start by breaking down a complex problem into smaller sub-problems. This approach simplifies the overall challenge and makes it easier to develop individual solutions for each component.
• Developing a systematic approach: Establish a systematic approach to problem-solving. Define the problem, identify the required inputs and desired outputs, and outline the steps needed to bridge the gap.
• Understanding before coding: Resist the urge to immediately dive into coding. Spend ample time understanding the problem statement, its nuances, and potential edge cases. A solid understanding is the foundation of an effective solution.
• Utilizing pseudocode and flowcharts: Before writing actual code, create pseudocode or flowcharts to outline the logical flow of your solution. This helps in visualizing the process and identifying potential flaws early on.
• Incremental development and testing: Build your solution incrementally, testing each component as you progress. This approach allows you to catch errors early and refine your solution iteratively.

Effective Coding Practice for Problem-Solving

Regular coding practice is essential for honing problem-solving skills. Engage in a variety of coding challenges that span different difficulty levels and problem domains. Online coding platforms, such as LeetCode, HackerRank, and CodeSignal, offer a wealth of practice problems and allow you to benchmark your skills against a global community of programmers. Mastering problem-solving skills in Java programming involves a combination of understanding the language's features, algorithms, and data structures, as well as practicing systematic approaches to tackling challenges.

Applying Algorithms for Efficient Solutions

Algorithms are step-by-step instructions for solving a specific problem. Learning and implementing various algorithms can greatly improve your problem-solving capabilities. Start by understanding the fundamental algorithms such as sorting, searching, and graph traversal. As you become more comfortable, move on to more advanced algorithms like dynamic programming, greedy algorithms, and divide-and-conquer techniques. Regularly practicing these algorithms through coding exercises will help you develop a toolkit of strategies to approach different types of problems effectively.

Strengthening Logical Thinking Abilities

Logical thinking is the foundation of problem-solving. It involves breaking down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts and understanding the relationships between different elements. To enhance your logical thinking skills, practice solving puzzles, brain teasers, and mathematical problems. Additionally, try to analyze the structure of various programming challenges and identify patterns and dependencies. Cultivating this skill will enable you to devise creative and efficient solutions to intricate programming problems.

Learning from Real-world Examples

Real-world examples provide practical insights into applying problem-solving skills in Java programming. Let's explore a few examples:

Example 1: Finding the factorial of a number: Break down the problem into smaller steps, creating a loop to multiply consecutive integers.

Example 2: Implementing binary search: Utilize the divide and conquer strategy to narrow down the search space and efficiently find the target element.

Example 3: Solving the Fibonacci sequence: Employ dynamic programming to optimize recursive calculations and generate Fibonacci numbers efficiently.

Overcoming Common Challenges

When solving programming problems, you're likely to encounter common challenges such as bugs, runtime errors, and inefficiencies. Embrace these challenges as opportunities to learn. Debugging is a crucial aspect of problem-solving. Cultivate a systematic approach to identifying and fixing errors by using tools like debugging environments and print statements. Additionally, optimize your code by analyzing time and space complexity, identifying bottlenecks, and making informed decisions to improve efficiency.

Putting Problem-Solving Skills to the Test

Practicing problem-solving skills is essential for improvement. Utilize coding platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, and Codeforces to access a wide range of programming challenges. These platforms often categorize problems by difficulty, allowing you to gradually progress from easy to more complex tasks. Set aside dedicated time for consistent practice, and challenge yourself by attempting problems that initially seem daunting.

Collaborate with fellow programmers, engage in coding competitions, and participate in online forums to gain exposure to different problem-solving approaches.

An essential talent for Java programmers is the ability to solve problems. Developers can become skilled problem solvers by following logical rules, practicing code often, learning algorithms, and cultivating logical thought. The secret to maximizing the potential of problem-solving abilities is constant learning combined with practical experience. As you set out on this path, keep in mind that every obstacle you overcome will help you get closer to mastering Java programming and being able to create unique, effective solutions.

How can I improve my problem-solving skills in Java programming?

Enhance your problem-solving skills in Java by practicing algorithmic challenges, breaking down complex problems into smaller tasks, and leveraging data structures effectively. Regular coding practice and participating in coding competitions can also contribute to your skill development.

What strategies can I employ to tackle challenging Java programming problems?

Approach difficult Java programming problems step by step, analyze the problem requirements thoroughly, devise a clear plan, and implement it incrementally. Utilize debugging tools and collaborate with peers to gain different perspectives on problem-solving techniques.

Are there any specific resources for practicing Java problem-solving?

Numerous online platforms offer Java programming challenges and exercises, such as LeetCode, HackerRank, and Codeforces. These resources provide a range of problems to solve, helping you refine your problem-solving skills and Java proficiency.

How do I optimize my Java code for better problem-solving outcomes?

Optimize Java code by choosing efficient data structures, minimizing unnecessary iterations, and employing dynamic programming or memoization techniques when appropriate. Regularly review and refactor your code to improve its clarity and performance.

Q. Can problem-solving in Java programming benefit my overall programming proficiency?

Enhancing your problem-solving skills in Java translates to improved programming proficiency in general. The analytical mindset and structured problem-solving techniques you develop will prove valuable across various programming languages and domains.

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• Problem Solving

How to Improve Problem Solving Skills

Last Updated: January 27, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Erin Conlon, PCC, JD . Erin Conlon is an Executive Life Coach, the Founder of Erin Conlon Coaching, and the host of the podcast "This is Not Advice." She specializes in aiding leaders and executives to thrive in their career and personal lives. In addition to her private coaching practice, she teaches and trains coaches and develops and revises training materials to be more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. She holds a BA in Communications and History and a JD from The University of Michigan. Erin is a Professional Certified Coach with The International Coaching Federation. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 235,488 times.

The ability to solve problems applies to more than just mathematics homework. Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills are a part of many jobs, ranging from accounting and computer programming to detective work and even creative occupations like art, acting, and writing. While individual problems vary, there are certain general approaches to problem-solving like the one first proposed by mathematician George Polya in 1945. [1] X Research source By following his principles of understanding the problem, devising a plan, carrying out the plan, and looking back, you can improve your problem-solving and tackle any issue systematically.

Define the problem clearly.

• Try to formulate questions. Say that as a student you have very little money and want to find an effective solution. What is at issue? Is it one of income – are you not making enough money? Is it one of over-spending? Or perhaps you have run into unexpected expenses or your financial situation has changed?

State your objective.

• Say that your problem is still money. What is your goal? Perhaps you never have enough to go out on the weekend and have fun at the movies or a club. You decide that your goal is to have more spending cash. Good! With a clear goal, you have better defined the problem.

Gather information systematically.

• To solve your money shortage, for example, you would want to get as detailed a picture of your financial situation as possible. Collect data through your latest bank statements and to talk to a bank teller. Track your earnings and spending habits in a notebook, and then create a spreadsheet or chart to show your income alongside your expenditures.

Analyze information.

• Say you have now collected all your bank statements. Look at them. When, how, and from where is your money coming? Where, when, and how are you spending it? What is the overall pattern of your finances? Do you have a net surplus or deficit? Are there any unexplained items?

Generate possible solutions.

• Your problem is a lack of money. Your goal is to have more spending cash. What are your options? Without evaluating them, come up with possible options. Perhaps you can acquire more money by getting a part-time job or by taking out a student loan. On the other hand, you might try to save by cutting your spending or by lowering other costs.
• Divide and conquer. Break the problem into smaller problems and brainstorm solutions for them separately, one by one.
• Use analogies and similarities. Try to find a resemblance with a previously solved or common problem. If you can find commonalities between your situation and one you've dealt with before, you may be able to adapt some of the solutions for use now.

Evaluate the solutions and choose.

• How can you raise money? Look at expenditures – you aren’t spending much outside of basic needs like tuition, food, and housing. Can you cut costs in other ways like finding a roommate to split rent? Can you afford to take a student loan just to have fun on the weekend? Can you spare time from your studies to work part-time?
• Each solution will produce its own set of circumstances that need evaluation. Run projections. Your money problem will require you to draw up budgets. But it will also take personal consideration. For example, can you cut back on basic things like food or housing? Are you willing to prioritize money over school or to take on debt?

Implement a solution.

• You decide to cut costs, because you were unwilling to take on debt, to divert time away from school, or to live with a roommate. You draw up a detailed budget, cutting a few dollars here and there, and commit to a month-long trial.

Review and evaluate the outcome.

• The results of your trial are mixed. On one hand, you have saved enough during the month for fun weekend activities. But there are new problems. You find that you must choose between spending cash and buying basics like food. You also need a new pair of shoes but can’t afford it, according to your budget. You may need to a different solution.

Adjust if necessary.

• After a month, you decide to abandon your first budget and to look for part-time work. You find a work-study job on campus. Making a new budget, you now have extra money without taking too much time away from your studies. You may have an effective solution.

Do regular mental exercises.

• Word games work great. In a game like “Split Words,” for example, you have to match word fragments to form words under a given theme like “philosophy.” In the game, “Tower of Babel,” you will need to memorize and then match words in a foreign language to the proper picture.
• Mathematical games will also put your problem solving to the test. Whether it be number or word problems, you will have to activate the parts of your brain that analyze information. For instance: “James is half as old now as he will be when he is 60 years older than he was six years before he was half as old as he is now. How old will James be when his age is twice what it was 10 years after he was half his current age?”

Play video games.

• Play something that will force you to think strategically or analytically. Try a puzzle game like Tetris. Or, perhaps you would rather prefer a role-playing or strategy game. In that case, something like “Civilization” or “Sim-City” might suit you better.

Take up a hobby.

• Web design, software programming, jigsaw puzzles, Sudoku, and chess are also hobbies that will force you to think strategically and systematically. Any of these will help you improve your overall problem solving.

Expert Q&A

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• ↑ https://math.berkeley.edu/~gmelvin/polya.pdf
• ↑ https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/N_R/Problem-solving
• ↑ https://asq.org/quality-resources/problem-solving
• ↑ https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/evaluate/evaluate-community-interventions/collect-analyze-data/main
• ↑ https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCT_96.htm
• ↑ https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/problem-solving.html
• ↑ Erin Conlon, PCC, JD. Executive Life Coach. Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.
• ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5930973/
• ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/oct/13/mental-exercises-to-keep-your-brain-sharp
• ↑ https://www.apa.org/monitor/2014/02/video-game
• ↑ https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05449-7

About This Article

To improve your problem-solving skills, start by clearly defining the problem and your objective or goal. Next, gather as much information as you can about the problem and organize the data by rewording, condensing, or summarizing it. Then, analyze the information you've gathered, looking for important links, patterns, and relationships in the data. Finally, brainstorm possible solutions, evaluate the solutions, and choose one to implement. For tips on implementing solutions successfully, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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If you have worked in the programming field, or even considered going into programming, you are probably familiar with the famous words of Apple founder Steve Jobs:

“Everyone in this country should learn to program a computer, because it teaches you to think.”

Python is one of the most popular programming languages and can teach us a lot about critical thinking. But if you are in programming, you also know that there are important reasons to keep your programming skills up to date, especially with Python . In this article, we’ll consider some of the most important ways you can update your programming skills—and it isn’t just about learning more Python. Critical thinking is essential to programming and a great way to build your skills.

Why programmers need more than programming skills

According to HackerRank,

“Problem-solving skills are almost unanimously the most important qualification that employers look for […] more than programming languages proficiency, debugging, and system design.”

So how can you apply this to developing Python proficiency?

Obviously, the most important way to build programming skills in Python is to learn Python. Taking Python courses is a great place to start, and building toward more advanced Python learning will help you build technical skills. But programmers need more than just technical skills. You need to understand the best way to solve problems. While most people solve problems through brute force, but, this is not the best way to reach a solution. Instead, Python programmers need to develop a methodology for problem solving that will lead them to a well-crafted solution.

Improving Python Programming Skills in Four Steps

There are a few key steps, and they are listed below. However, it is not enough just to read them — you need to actually make them the part of your programming “life.”

• Evaluate the problem. Understand the programming issue you are attempting to overcome and all of the parts of the problem. In Python programming, a key skill is simply evaluating what needs to be done before you begin the process of programming a solution. Therefore, in any Python challenge, the first step is to study the problem in order to ascertain what you need to research and what skills you need to develop in order to begin to approach a solution. Frequently, if you find that you are able to explain the problem in plain English, it means that you understand it well enough to start to find a solution.
• Make a plan to handle the problem. In Python programming, as with any other type of programming problem, don’t simply launch into your programming without making a plan to handle potential problems logically from beginning to end. You want to begin from a position of strength, not simply start hacking and hoping for the best. Therefore, consider where you are starting and where you want to end up in order to map out the most logical way to arrange steps to reach that point.
• Make the problem manageable by dividing it up. When you are programming Python, it can be intimidating to tackle a major project of a major problem all at once. Instead, try dividing your next programming task into smaller steps that you can easily achieve as you move step by step through the programming or problem-solving process. This will not only make it easier to reach your goals but will also help you to celebrate small victories on your way, giving you the motivation to keep building on your successes. One of the best ways to achieve success is, to begin with, the smallest, easiest division to complete and use that success to build toward increasingly large and complex problems. Doing so will often help to simplify the larger tasks and make the overall project easier. As V. Anton Spraul said, “Reduce the problem to the point where you know how to solve it and write the solution. Then expand the problem slightly and rewrite the solution to match, and keep going until you are back where you started.”
• Practice your skills every day. Lastly, the most important way to develop your Python programming skills and how to troubleshoot Python code is to practice all the time. That doesn’t mean you have to seek out problems just to try to fix them. There are other ways to practice the same skill set in other ways. Elon Musk, for example, plays video games and Peter Thiel plays chess to build problem-solving skills that apply in many areas of life.

When Your Programming Skills Are not Enough

While all the tips above will certainly work if you actually apply them, you can rest assured that you will stumble upon many difficult tasks, which you won’t be able to crack without some assistance. Asking for help is one of the most efficient strategies of problem-solving. You can hire a tutor to help you gradually increase your programming skills, analyze your mistakes, etc. However, if the matter is urgent, you can choose another path — start with delegating your coding assignments to specialized services, and let experts help you with your homework here and now. Later, you can use the assignment done by professionals as tutorial material for other similar assignments. Let’s face it, if studying materials were of better quality and answered the current programming trends more accurately, students would need much less extra assistance.

If you are studying Python programming or trying to problem-solve in Python for a course, your biggest challenge is probably making it through your programming homework. Fortunately, if you have programming challenges, you can pay someone to do a programming assignment for you. Professional homework services like AssignmentCore have programming experts who can help with any type of coding project or Python assignment. There is a team of experts who are on stand-by to leap into action as soon as you have a Python challenge that you need an expert’s eye to complete so you can get ahead of the competition.

Author Bio:

Ted Wilson is a senior programming expert at AssignmentCore , a leading worldwide programming homework service. His main interests are Python, Java, MATLAB languages, and web development. He is responsible for providing customers with top-quality help with programming assignments of any complexity.

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How to improve your problem solving skills and build effective problem solving strategies

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Effective problem solving is all about using the right process and following a plan tailored to the issue at hand. Recognizing your team or organization has an issue isn’t enough to come up with effective problem solving strategies. 

To truly understand a problem and develop appropriate solutions, you will want to follow a solid process, follow the necessary problem solving steps, and bring all of your problem solving skills to the table.  

We’ll first guide you through the seven step problem solving process you and your team can use to effectively solve complex business challenges. We’ll also look at what problem solving strategies you can employ with your team when looking for a way to approach the process. We’ll then discuss the problem solving skills you need to be more effective at solving problems, complete with an activity from the SessionLab library you can use to develop that skill in your team.

Let’s get to it! 

What is a problem solving process?

• What are the problem solving steps I need to follow?

Problem solving strategies

What skills do i need to be an effective problem solver, how can i improve my problem solving skills.

Solving problems is like baking a cake. You can go straight into the kitchen without a recipe or the right ingredients and do your best, but the end result is unlikely to be very tasty!

Using a process to bake a cake allows you to use the best ingredients without waste, collect the right tools, account for allergies, decide whether it is a birthday or wedding cake, and then bake efficiently and on time. The result is a better cake that is fit for purpose, tastes better and has created less mess in the kitchen. Also, it should have chocolate sprinkles. Having a step by step process to solve organizational problems allows you to go through each stage methodically and ensure you are trying to solve the right problems and select the most appropriate, effective solutions.

What are the problem solving steps I need to follow? 

All problem solving processes go through a number of steps in order to move from identifying a problem to resolving it.

Depending on your problem solving model and who you ask, there can be anything between four and nine problem solving steps you should follow in order to find the right solution. Whatever framework you and your group use, there are some key items that should be addressed in order to have an effective process.

We’ve looked at problem solving processes from sources such as the American Society for Quality and their four step approach , and Mediate ‘s six step process. By reflecting on those and our own problem solving processes, we’ve come up with a sequence of seven problem solving steps we feel best covers everything you need in order to effectively solve problems.

1. Problem identification 

The first stage of any problem solving process is to identify the problem or problems you might want to solve. Effective problem solving strategies always begin by allowing a group scope to articulate what they believe the problem to be and then coming to some consensus over which problem they approach first. Problem solving activities used at this stage often have a focus on creating frank, open discussion so that potential problems can be brought to the surface.

2. Problem analysis 

Though this step is not a million miles from problem identification, problem analysis deserves to be considered separately. It can often be an overlooked part of the process and is instrumental when it comes to developing effective solutions.

The process of problem analysis means ensuring that the problem you are seeking to solve is the right problem . As part of this stage, you may look deeper and try to find the root cause of a specific problem at a team or organizational level.

Remember that problem solving strategies should not only be focused on putting out fires in the short term but developing long term solutions that deal with the root cause of organizational challenges. 

Whatever your approach, analyzing a problem is crucial in being able to select an appropriate solution and the problem solving skills deployed in this stage are beneficial for the rest of the process and ensuring the solutions you create are fit for purpose.

3. Solution generation

Once your group has nailed down the particulars of the problem you wish to solve, you want to encourage a free flow of ideas connecting to solving that problem. This can take the form of problem solving games that encourage creative thinking or problem solving activities designed to produce working prototypes of possible solutions. 

The key to ensuring the success of this stage of the problem solving process is to encourage quick, creative thinking and create an open space where all ideas are considered. The best solutions can come from unlikely places and by using problem solving techniques that celebrate invention, you might come up with solution gold. 

4. Solution development

No solution is likely to be perfect right out of the gate. It’s important to discuss and develop the solutions your group has come up with over the course of following the previous problem solving steps in order to arrive at the best possible solution. Problem solving games used in this stage involve lots of critical thinking, measuring potential effort and impact, and looking at possible solutions analytically. 

During this stage, you will often ask your team to iterate and improve upon your frontrunning solutions and develop them further. Remember that problem solving strategies always benefit from a multitude of voices and opinions, and not to let ego get involved when it comes to choosing which solutions to develop and take further.

Finding the best solution is the goal of all problem solving workshops and here is the place to ensure that your solution is well thought out, sufficiently robust and fit for purpose. 

5. Decision making 

Nearly there! Once your group has reached consensus and selected a solution that applies to the problem at hand you have some decisions to make. You will want to work on allocating ownership of the project, figure out who will do what, how the success of the solution will be measured and decide the next course of action.

The decision making stage is a part of the problem solving process that can get missed or taken as for granted. Fail to properly allocate roles and plan out how a solution will actually be implemented and it less likely to be successful in solving the problem.

Have clear accountabilities, actions, timeframes, and follow-ups. Make these decisions and set clear next-steps in the problem solving workshop so that everyone is aligned and you can move forward effectively as a group. 

Ensuring that you plan for the roll-out of a solution is one of the most important problem solving steps. Without adequate planning or oversight, it can prove impossible to measure success or iterate further if the problem was not solved. 

6. Solution implementation 

This is what we were waiting for! All problem solving strategies have the end goal of implementing a solution and solving a problem in mind. 

Remember that in order for any solution to be successful, you need to help your group through all of the previous problem solving steps thoughtfully. Only then can you ensure that you are solving the right problem but also that you have developed the correct solution and can then successfully implement and measure the impact of that solution.

Project management and communication skills are key here – your solution may need to adjust when out in the wild or you might discover new challenges along the way.

7. Solution evaluation 

So you and your team developed a great solution to a problem and have a gut feeling its been solved. Work done, right? Wrong. All problem solving strategies benefit from evaluation, consideration, and feedback. You might find that the solution does not work for everyone, might create new problems, or is potentially so successful that you will want to roll it out to larger teams or as part of other initiatives. 

None of that is possible without taking the time to evaluate the success of the solution you developed in your problem solving model and adjust if necessary.

Remember that the problem solving process is often iterative and it can be common to not solve complex issues on the first try. Even when this is the case, you and your team will have generated learning that will be important for future problem solving workshops or in other parts of the organization. 

It’s worth underlining how important record keeping is throughout the problem solving process. If a solution didn’t work, you need to have the data and records to see why that was the case. If you go back to the drawing board, notes from the previous workshop can help save time. Data and insight is invaluable at every stage of the problem solving process and this one is no different.

Problem solving workshops made easy

Problem solving strategies are methods of approaching and facilitating the process of problem-solving with a set of techniques , actions, and processes. Different strategies are more effective if you are trying to solve broad problems such as achieving higher growth versus more focused problems like, how do we improve our customer onboarding process?

Broadly, the problem solving steps outlined above should be included in any problem solving strategy though choosing where to focus your time and what approaches should be taken is where they begin to differ. You might find that some strategies ask for the problem identification to be done prior to the session or that everything happens in the course of a one day workshop.

The key similarity is that all good problem solving strategies are structured and designed. Four hours of open discussion is never going to be as productive as a four-hour workshop designed to lead a group through a problem solving process.

Good problem solving strategies are tailored to the team, organization and problem you will be attempting to solve. Here are some example problem solving strategies you can learn from or use to get started.

Use a workshop to lead a team through a group process

Often, the first step to solving problems or organizational challenges is bringing a group together effectively. Most teams have the tools, knowledge, and expertise necessary to solve their challenges – they just need some guidance in how to use leverage those skills and a structure and format that allows people to focus their energies.

Facilitated workshops are one of the most effective ways of solving problems of any scale. By designing and planning your workshop carefully, you can tailor the approach and scope to best fit the needs of your team and organization. 

Problem solving workshop

• Creating a bespoke, tailored process
• Tackling problems of any size
• Building in-house workshop ability and encouraging their use

Workshops are an effective strategy for solving problems. By using tried and test facilitation techniques and methods, you can design and deliver a workshop that is perfectly suited to the unique variables of your organization. You may only have the capacity for a half-day workshop and so need a problem solving process to match. 

By using our session planner tool and importing methods from our library of 700+ facilitation techniques, you can create the right problem solving workshop for your team. It might be that you want to encourage creative thinking or look at things from a new angle to unblock your groups approach to problem solving. By tailoring your workshop design to the purpose, you can help ensure great results.

One of the main benefits of a workshop is the structured approach to problem solving. Not only does this mean that the workshop itself will be successful, but many of the methods and techniques will help your team improve their working processes outside of the workshop. 

We believe that workshops are one of the best tools you can use to improve the way your team works together. Start with a problem solving workshop and then see what team building, culture or design workshops can do for your organization!

Run a design sprint

Great for: 

• aligning large, multi-discipline teams
• quickly designing and testing solutions
• tackling large, complex organizational challenges and breaking them down into smaller tasks

By using design thinking principles and methods, a design sprint is a great way of identifying, prioritizing and prototyping solutions to long term challenges that can help solve major organizational problems with quick action and measurable results.

Some familiarity with design thinking is useful, though not integral, and this strategy can really help a team align if there is some discussion around which problems should be approached first. 

The stage-based structure of the design sprint is also very useful for teams new to design thinking.  The inspiration phase, where you look to competitors that have solved your problem, and the rapid prototyping and testing phases are great for introducing new concepts that will benefit a team in all their future work. 

It can be common for teams to look inward for solutions and so looking to the market for solutions you can iterate on can be very productive. Instilling an agile prototyping and testing mindset can also be great when helping teams move forwards – generating and testing solutions quickly can help save time in the long run and is also pretty exciting!

Break problems down into smaller issues

Organizational challenges and problems are often complicated and large scale in nature. Sometimes, trying to resolve such an issue in one swoop is simply unachievable or overwhelming. Try breaking down such problems into smaller issues that you can work on step by step. You may not be able to solve the problem of churning customers off the bat, but you can work with your team to identify smaller effort but high impact elements and work on those first.

This problem solving strategy can help a team generate momentum, prioritize and get some easy wins. It’s also a great strategy to employ with teams who are just beginning to learn how to approach the problem solving process. If you want some insight into a way to employ this strategy, we recommend looking at our design sprint template below!

Use guiding frameworks or try new methodologies

Some problems are best solved by introducing a major shift in perspective or by using new methodologies that encourage your team to think differently.

Props and tools such as Methodkit , which uses a card-based toolkit for facilitation, or Lego Serious Play can be great ways to engage your team and find an inclusive, democratic problem solving strategy. Remember that play and creativity are great tools for achieving change and whatever the challenge, engaging your participants can be very effective where other strategies may have failed.

LEGO Serious Play

• Improving core problem solving skills
• Thinking outside of the box
• Encouraging creative solutions

LEGO Serious Play is a problem solving methodology designed to get participants thinking differently by using 3D models and kinesthetic learning styles. By physically building LEGO models based on questions and exercises, participants are encouraged to think outside of the box and create their own responses. 

Collaborate LEGO Serious Play exercises are also used to encourage communication and build problem solving skills in a group. By using this problem solving process, you can often help different kinds of learners and personality types contribute and unblock organizational problems with creative thinking. 

Problem solving strategies like LEGO Serious Play are super effective at helping a team solve more skills-based problems such as communication between teams or a lack of creative thinking. Some problems are not suited to LEGO Serious Play and require a different problem solving strategy.

Card Decks and Method Kits

• New facilitators or non-facilitators 
• Approaching difficult subjects with a simple, creative framework
• Engaging those with varied learning styles

Card decks and method kids are great tools for those new to facilitation or for whom facilitation is not the primary role. Card decks such as the emotional culture deck can be used for complete workshops and in many cases, can be used right out of the box. Methodkit has a variety of kits designed for scenarios ranging from personal development through to personas and global challenges so you can find the right deck for your particular needs.

Having an easy to use framework that encourages creativity or a new approach can take some of the friction or planning difficulties out of the workshop process and energize a team in any setting. Simplicity is the key with these methods. By ensuring everyone on your team can get involved and engage with the process as quickly as possible can really contribute to the success of your problem solving strategy.

Source external advice

Looking to peers, experts and external facilitators can be a great way of approaching the problem solving process. Your team may not have the necessary expertise, insights of experience to tackle some issues, or you might simply benefit from a fresh perspective. Some problems may require bringing together an entire team, and coaching managers or team members individually might be the right approach. Remember that not all problems are best resolved in the same manner.

If you’re a solo entrepreneur, peer groups, coaches and mentors can also be invaluable at not only solving specific business problems, but in providing a support network for resolving future challenges. One great approach is to join a Mastermind Group and link up with like-minded individuals and all grow together. Remember that however you approach the sourcing of external advice, do so thoughtfully, respectfully and honestly. Reciprocate where you can and prepare to be surprised by just how kind and helpful your peers can be!

Mastermind Group

• Solo entrepreneurs or small teams with low capacity
• Peer learning and gaining outside expertise
• Getting multiple external points of view quickly

Problem solving in large organizations with lots of skilled team members is one thing, but how about if you work for yourself or in a very small team without the capacity to get the most from a design sprint or LEGO Serious Play session? 

A mastermind group – sometimes known as a peer advisory board – is where a group of people come together to support one another in their own goals, challenges, and businesses. Each participant comes to the group with their own purpose and the other members of the group will help them create solutions, brainstorm ideas, and support one another. 

Mastermind groups are very effective in creating an energized, supportive atmosphere that can deliver meaningful results. Learning from peers from outside of your organization or industry can really help unlock new ways of thinking and drive growth. Access to the experience and skills of your peers can be invaluable in helping fill the gaps in your own ability, particularly in young companies.

A mastermind group is a great solution for solo entrepreneurs, small teams, or for organizations that feel that external expertise or fresh perspectives will be beneficial for them. It is worth noting that Mastermind groups are often only as good as the participants and what they can bring to the group. Participants need to be committed, engaged and understand how to work in this context. 

Coaching and mentoring

• Focused learning and development
• Filling skills gaps
• Working on a range of challenges over time

Receiving advice from a business coach or building a mentor/mentee relationship can be an effective way of resolving certain challenges. The one-to-one format of most coaching and mentor relationships can really help solve the challenges those individuals are having and benefit the organization as a result.

A great mentor can be invaluable when it comes to spotting potential problems before they arise and coming to understand a mentee very well has a host of other business benefits. You might run an internal mentorship program to help develop your team’s problem solving skills and strategies or as part of a large learning and development program. External coaches can also be an important part of your problem solving strategy, filling skills gaps for your management team or helping with specific business issues. 

Now we’ve explored the problem solving process and the steps you will want to go through in order to have an effective session, let’s look at the skills you and your team need to be more effective problem solvers.

Problem solving skills are highly sought after, whatever industry or team you work in. Organizations are keen to employ people who are able to approach problems thoughtfully and find strong, realistic solutions. Whether you are a facilitator , a team leader or a developer, being an effective problem solver is a skill you’ll want to develop.

Problem solving skills form a whole suite of techniques and approaches that an individual uses to not only identify problems but to discuss them productively before then developing appropriate solutions.

Here are some of the most important problem solving skills everyone from executives to junior staff members should learn. We’ve also included an activity or exercise from the SessionLab library that can help you and your team develop that skill. 

If you’re running a workshop or training session to try and improve problem solving skills in your team, try using these methods to supercharge your process!

Active listening

Active listening is one of the most important skills anyone who works with people can possess. In short, active listening is a technique used to not only better understand what is being said by an individual, but also to be more aware of the underlying message the speaker is trying to convey. When it comes to problem solving, active listening is integral for understanding the position of every participant and to clarify the challenges, ideas and solutions they bring to the table.

Some active listening skills include:

• Paying complete attention to the speaker.
• Removing distractions.
• Avoid interruption.
• Taking the time to fully understand before preparing a rebuttal.
• Responding respectfully and appropriately.
• Demonstrate attentiveness and positivity with an open posture, making eye contact with the speaker, smiling and nodding if appropriate. Show that you are listening and encourage them to continue.
• Be aware of and respectful of feelings. Judge the situation and respond appropriately. You can disagree without being disrespectful.   
• Observe body language. 
• Paraphrase what was said in your own words, either mentally or verbally.
• Remain neutral. 
• Reflect and take a moment before responding.
• Ask deeper questions based on what is said and clarify points where necessary.   

Active Listening   #hyperisland   #skills   #active listening   #remote-friendly   This activity supports participants to reflect on a question and generate their own solutions using simple principles of active listening and peer coaching. It’s an excellent introduction to active listening but can also be used with groups that are already familiar with it. Participants work in groups of three and take turns being: “the subject”, the listener, and the observer.

Analytical skills

All problem solving models require strong analytical skills, particularly during the beginning of the process and when it comes to analyzing how solutions have performed.

Analytical skills are primarily focused on performing an effective analysis by collecting, studying and parsing data related to a problem or opportunity. 

It often involves spotting patterns, being able to see things from different perspectives and using observable facts and data to make suggestions or produce insight. 

Analytical skills are also important at every stage of the problem solving process and by having these skills, you can ensure that any ideas or solutions you create or backed up analytically and have been sufficiently thought out.

Nine Whys   #innovation   #issue analysis   #liberating structures   With breathtaking simplicity, you can rapidly clarify for individuals and a group what is essentially important in their work. You can quickly reveal when a compelling purpose is missing in a gathering and avoid moving forward without clarity. When a group discovers an unambiguous shared purpose, more freedom and more responsibility are unleashed. You have laid the foundation for spreading and scaling innovations with fidelity.

Collaboration

Trying to solve problems on your own is difficult. Being able to collaborate effectively, with a free exchange of ideas, to delegate and be a productive member of a team is hugely important to all problem solving strategies.

Remember that whatever your role, collaboration is integral, and in a problem solving process, you are all working together to find the best solution for everyone. 

Marshmallow challenge with debriefing   #teamwork   #team   #leadership   #collaboration   In eighteen minutes, teams must build the tallest free-standing structure out of 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and one marshmallow. The marshmallow needs to be on top. The Marshmallow Challenge was developed by Tom Wujec, who has done the activity with hundreds of groups around the world. Visit the Marshmallow Challenge website for more information. This version has an extra debriefing question added with sample questions focusing on roles within the team.

Communication  

Being an effective communicator means being empathetic, clear and succinct, asking the right questions, and demonstrating active listening skills throughout any discussion or meeting. 

In a problem solving setting, you need to communicate well in order to progress through each stage of the process effectively. As a team leader, it may also fall to you to facilitate communication between parties who may not see eye to eye. Effective communication also means helping others to express themselves and be heard in a group.

Bus Trip   #feedback   #communication   #appreciation   #closing   #thiagi   #team   This is one of my favourite feedback games. I use Bus Trip at the end of a training session or a meeting, and I use it all the time. The game creates a massive amount of energy with lots of smiles, laughs, and sometimes even a teardrop or two.

Creative problem solving skills can be some of the best tools in your arsenal. Thinking creatively, being able to generate lots of ideas and come up with out of the box solutions is useful at every step of the process. 

The kinds of problems you will likely discuss in a problem solving workshop are often difficult to solve, and by approaching things in a fresh, creative manner, you can often create more innovative solutions.

Having practical creative skills is also a boon when it comes to problem solving. If you can help create quality design sketches and prototypes in record time, it can help bring a team to alignment more quickly or provide a base for further iteration.

The paper clip method   #sharing   #creativity   #warm up   #idea generation   #brainstorming   The power of brainstorming. A training for project leaders, creativity training, and to catalyse getting new solutions.

Critical thinking

Critical thinking is one of the fundamental problem solving skills you’ll want to develop when working on developing solutions. Critical thinking is the ability to analyze, rationalize and evaluate while being aware of personal bias, outlying factors and remaining open-minded.

Defining and analyzing problems without deploying critical thinking skills can mean you and your team go down the wrong path. Developing solutions to complex issues requires critical thinking too – ensuring your team considers all possibilities and rationally evaluating them. 

Agreement-Certainty Matrix   #issue analysis   #liberating structures   #problem solving   You can help individuals or groups avoid the frequent mistake of trying to solve a problem with methods that are not adapted to the nature of their challenge. The combination of two questions makes it possible to easily sort challenges into four categories: simple, complicated, complex , and chaotic .  A problem is simple when it can be solved reliably with practices that are easy to duplicate.  It is complicated when experts are required to devise a sophisticated solution that will yield the desired results predictably.  A problem is complex when there are several valid ways to proceed but outcomes are not predictable in detail.  Chaotic is when the context is too turbulent to identify a path forward.  A loose analogy may be used to describe these differences: simple is like following a recipe, complicated like sending a rocket to the moon, complex like raising a child, and chaotic is like the game “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.”  The Liberating Structures Matching Matrix in Chapter 5 can be used as the first step to clarify the nature of a challenge and avoid the mismatches between problems and solutions that are frequently at the root of chronic, recurring problems.

Data analysis 

Though it shares lots of space with general analytical skills, data analysis skills are something you want to cultivate in their own right in order to be an effective problem solver.

Being good at data analysis doesn’t just mean being able to find insights from data, but also selecting the appropriate data for a given issue, interpreting it effectively and knowing how to model and present that data. Depending on the problem at hand, it might also include a working knowledge of specific data analysis tools and procedures. 

Having a solid grasp of data analysis techniques is useful if you’re leading a problem solving workshop but if you’re not an expert, don’t worry. Bring people into the group who has this skill set and help your team be more effective as a result.

Decision making

All problems need a solution and all solutions require that someone make the decision to implement them. Without strong decision making skills, teams can become bogged down in discussion and less effective as a result. 

Making decisions is a key part of the problem solving process. It’s important to remember that decision making is not restricted to the leadership team. Every staff member makes decisions every day and developing these skills ensures that your team is able to solve problems at any scale. Remember that making decisions does not mean leaping to the first solution but weighing up the options and coming to an informed, well thought out solution to any given problem that works for the whole team.

Lightning Decision Jam (LDJ)   #action   #decision making   #problem solving   #issue analysis   #innovation   #design   #remote-friendly   The problem with anything that requires creative thinking is that it’s easy to get lost—lose focus and fall into the trap of having useless, open-ended, unstructured discussions. Here’s the most effective solution I’ve found: Replace all open, unstructured discussion with a clear process. What to use this exercise for: Anything which requires a group of people to make decisions, solve problems or discuss challenges. It’s always good to frame an LDJ session with a broad topic, here are some examples: The conversion flow of our checkout Our internal design process How we organise events Keeping up with our competition Improving sales flow

Dependability

Most complex organizational problems require multiple people to be involved in delivering the solution. Ensuring that the team and organization can depend on you to take the necessary actions and communicate where necessary is key to ensuring problems are solved effectively.

Being dependable also means working to deadlines and to brief. It is often a matter of creating trust in a team so that everyone can depend on one another to complete the agreed actions in the agreed time frame so that the team can move forward together. Being undependable can create problems of friction and can limit the effectiveness of your solutions so be sure to bear this in mind throughout a project. 

Team Purpose & Culture   #team   #hyperisland   #culture   #remote-friendly   This is an essential process designed to help teams define their purpose (why they exist) and their culture (how they work together to achieve that purpose). Defining these two things will help any team to be more focused and aligned. With support of tangible examples from other companies, the team members work as individuals and a group to codify the way they work together. The goal is a visual manifestation of both the purpose and culture that can be put up in the team’s work space.

Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is an important skill for any successful team member, whether communicating internally or with clients or users. In the problem solving process, emotional intelligence means being attuned to how people are feeling and thinking, communicating effectively and being self-aware of what you bring to a room. 

There are often differences of opinion when working through problem solving processes, and it can be easy to let things become impassioned or combative. Developing your emotional intelligence means being empathetic to your colleagues and managing your own emotions throughout the problem and solution process. Be kind, be thoughtful and put your points across care and attention. 

Being emotionally intelligent is a skill for life and by deploying it at work, you can not only work efficiently but empathetically. Check out the emotional culture workshop template for more!

Facilitation

As we’ve clarified in our facilitation skills post, facilitation is the art of leading people through processes towards agreed-upon objectives in a manner that encourages participation, ownership, and creativity by all those involved. While facilitation is a set of interrelated skills in itself, the broad definition of facilitation can be invaluable when it comes to problem solving. Leading a team through a problem solving process is made more effective if you improve and utilize facilitation skills – whether you’re a manager, team leader or external stakeholder.

The Six Thinking Hats   #creative thinking   #meeting facilitation   #problem solving   #issue resolution   #idea generation   #conflict resolution   The Six Thinking Hats are used by individuals and groups to separate out conflicting styles of thinking. They enable and encourage a group of people to think constructively together in exploring and implementing change, rather than using argument to fight over who is right and who is wrong.

Flexibility 

Being flexible is a vital skill when it comes to problem solving. This does not mean immediately bowing to pressure or changing your opinion quickly: instead, being flexible is all about seeing things from new perspectives, receiving new information and factoring it into your thought process.

Flexibility is also important when it comes to rolling out solutions. It might be that other organizational projects have greater priority or require the same resources as your chosen solution. Being flexible means understanding needs and challenges across the team and being open to shifting or arranging your own schedule as necessary. Again, this does not mean immediately making way for other projects. It’s about articulating your own needs, understanding the needs of others and being able to come to a meaningful compromise.

The Creativity Dice   #creativity   #problem solving   #thiagi   #issue analysis   Too much linear thinking is hazardous to creative problem solving. To be creative, you should approach the problem (or the opportunity) from different points of view. You should leave a thought hanging in mid-air and move to another. This skipping around prevents premature closure and lets your brain incubate one line of thought while you consciously pursue another.

Working in any group can lead to unconscious elements of groupthink or situations in which you may not wish to be entirely honest. Disagreeing with the opinions of the executive team or wishing to save the feelings of a coworker can be tricky to navigate, but being honest is absolutely vital when to comes to developing effective solutions and ensuring your voice is heard. 

Remember that being honest does not mean being brutally candid. You can deliver your honest feedback and opinions thoughtfully and without creating friction by using other skills such as emotional intelligence. 

Explore your Values   #hyperisland   #skills   #values   #remote-friendly   Your Values is an exercise for participants to explore what their most important values are. It’s done in an intuitive and rapid way to encourage participants to follow their intuitive feeling rather than over-thinking and finding the “correct” values. It is a good exercise to use to initiate reflection and dialogue around personal values.

Initiative 

The problem solving process is multi-faceted and requires different approaches at certain points of the process. Taking initiative to bring problems to the attention of the team, collect data or lead the solution creating process is always valuable. You might even roadtest your own small scale solutions or brainstorm before a session. Taking initiative is particularly effective if you have good deal of knowledge in that area or have ownership of a particular project and want to get things kickstarted.

That said, be sure to remember to honor the process and work in service of the team. If you are asked to own one part of the problem solving process and you don’t complete that task because your initiative leads you to work on something else, that’s not an effective method of solving business challenges.

15% Solutions   #action   #liberating structures   #remote-friendly   You can reveal the actions, however small, that everyone can do immediately. At a minimum, these will create momentum, and that may make a BIG difference.  15% Solutions show that there is no reason to wait around, feel powerless, or fearful. They help people pick it up a level. They get individuals and the group to focus on what is within their discretion instead of what they cannot change.  With a very simple question, you can flip the conversation to what can be done and find solutions to big problems that are often distributed widely in places not known in advance. Shifting a few grains of sand may trigger a landslide and change the whole landscape.

Impartiality

A particularly useful problem solving skill for product owners or managers is the ability to remain impartial throughout much of the process. In practice, this means treating all points of view and ideas brought forward in a meeting equally and ensuring that your own areas of interest or ownership are not favored over others. 

There may be a stage in the process where a decision maker has to weigh the cost and ROI of possible solutions against the company roadmap though even then, ensuring that the decision made is based on merit and not personal opinion. 

Empathy map   #frame insights   #create   #design   #issue analysis   An empathy map is a tool to help a design team to empathize with the people they are designing for. You can make an empathy map for a group of people or for a persona. To be used after doing personas when more insights are needed.

Being a good leader means getting a team aligned, energized and focused around a common goal. In the problem solving process, strong leadership helps ensure that the process is efficient, that any conflicts are resolved and that a team is managed in the direction of success.

It’s common for managers or executives to assume this role in a problem solving workshop, though it’s important that the leader maintains impartiality and does not bulldoze the group in a particular direction. Remember that good leadership means working in service of the purpose and team and ensuring the workshop is a safe space for employees of any level to contribute. Take a look at our leadership games and activities post for more exercises and methods to help improve leadership in your organization.

Leadership Pizza   #leadership   #team   #remote-friendly   This leadership development activity offers a self-assessment framework for people to first identify what skills, attributes and attitudes they find important for effective leadership, and then assess their own development and initiate goal setting.

In the context of problem solving, mediation is important in keeping a team engaged, happy and free of conflict. When leading or facilitating a problem solving workshop, you are likely to run into differences of opinion. Depending on the nature of the problem, certain issues may be brought up that are emotive in nature. 

Being an effective mediator means helping those people on either side of such a divide are heard, listen to one another and encouraged to find common ground and a resolution. Mediating skills are useful for leaders and managers in many situations and the problem solving process is no different.

Conflict Responses   #hyperisland   #team   #issue resolution   A workshop for a team to reflect on past conflicts, and use them to generate guidelines for effective conflict handling. The workshop uses the Thomas-Killman model of conflict responses to frame a reflective discussion. Use it to open up a discussion around conflict with a team.

Planning 

Solving organizational problems is much more effective when following a process or problem solving model. Planning skills are vital in order to structure, deliver and follow-through on a problem solving workshop and ensure your solutions are intelligently deployed.

Planning skills include the ability to organize tasks and a team, plan and design the process and take into account any potential challenges. Taking the time to plan carefully can save time and frustration later in the process and is valuable for ensuring a team is positioned for success.

3 Action Steps   #hyperisland   #action   #remote-friendly   This is a small-scale strategic planning session that helps groups and individuals to take action toward a desired change. It is often used at the end of a workshop or programme. The group discusses and agrees on a vision, then creates some action steps that will lead them towards that vision. The scope of the challenge is also defined, through discussion of the helpful and harmful factors influencing the group.

Prioritization

As organisations grow, the scale and variation of problems they face multiplies. Your team or is likely to face numerous challenges in different areas and so having the skills to analyze and prioritize becomes very important, particularly for those in leadership roles.

A thorough problem solving process is likely to deliver multiple solutions and you may have several different problems you wish to solve simultaneously. Prioritization is the ability to measure the importance, value, and effectiveness of those possible solutions and choose which to enact and in what order. The process of prioritization is integral in ensuring the biggest challenges are addressed with the most impactful solutions.

Impact and Effort Matrix   #gamestorming   #decision making   #action   #remote-friendly   In this decision-making exercise, possible actions are mapped based on two factors: effort required to implement and potential impact. Categorizing ideas along these lines is a useful technique in decision making, as it obliges contributors to balance and evaluate suggested actions before committing to them.

Project management

Some problem solving skills are utilized in a workshop or ideation phases, while others come in useful when it comes to decision making. Overseeing an entire problem solving process and ensuring its success requires strong project management skills. 

While project management incorporates many of the other skills listed here, it is important to note the distinction of considering all of the factors of a project and managing them successfully. Being able to negotiate with stakeholders, manage tasks, time and people, consider costs and ROI, and tie everything together is massively helpful when going through the problem solving process. 

Record keeping

Working out meaningful solutions to organizational challenges is only one part of the process.  Thoughtfully documenting and keeping records of each problem solving step for future consultation is important in ensuring efficiency and meaningful change. 

For example, some problems may be lower priority than others but can be revisited in the future. If the team has ideated on solutions and found some are not up to the task, record those so you can rule them out and avoiding repeating work. Keeping records of the process also helps you improve and refine your problem solving model next time around!

Personal Kanban   #gamestorming   #action   #agile   #project planning   Personal Kanban is a tool for organizing your work to be more efficient and productive. It is based on agile methods and principles.

Research skills

Conducting research to support both the identification of problems and the development of appropriate solutions is important for an effective process. Knowing where to go to collect research, how to conduct research efficiently, and identifying pieces of research are relevant are all things a good researcher can do well. 

In larger groups, not everyone has to demonstrate this ability in order for a problem solving workshop to be effective. That said, having people with research skills involved in the process, particularly if they have existing area knowledge, can help ensure the solutions that are developed with data that supports their intention. Remember that being able to deliver the results of research efficiently and in a way the team can easily understand is also important. The best data in the world is only as effective as how it is delivered and interpreted.

Customer experience map   #ideation   #concepts   #research   #design   #issue analysis   #remote-friendly   Customer experience mapping is a method of documenting and visualizing the experience a customer has as they use the product or service. It also maps out their responses to their experiences. To be used when there is a solution (even in a conceptual stage) that can be analyzed.

Risk management

Managing risk is an often overlooked part of the problem solving process. Solutions are often developed with the intention of reducing exposure to risk or solving issues that create risk but sometimes, great solutions are more experimental in nature and as such, deploying them needs to be carefully considered. 

Managing risk means acknowledging that there may be risks associated with more out of the box solutions or trying new things, but that this must be measured against the possible benefits and other organizational factors. 

Be informed, get the right data and stakeholders in the room and you can appropriately factor risk into your decision making process. 

Decisions, Decisions…   #communication   #decision making   #thiagi   #action   #issue analysis   When it comes to decision-making, why are some of us more prone to take risks while others are risk-averse? One explanation might be the way the decision and options were presented.  This exercise, based on Kahneman and Tversky’s classic study , illustrates how the framing effect influences our judgement and our ability to make decisions . The participants are divided into two groups. Both groups are presented with the same problem and two alternative programs for solving them. The two programs both have the same consequences but are presented differently. The debriefing discussion examines how the framing of the program impacted the participant’s decision.

Team-building 

No single person is as good at problem solving as a team. Building an effective team and helping them come together around a common purpose is one of the most important problem solving skills, doubly so for leaders. By bringing a team together and helping them work efficiently, you pave the way for team ownership of a problem and the development of effective solutions. 

In a problem solving workshop, it can be tempting to jump right into the deep end, though taking the time to break the ice, energize the team and align them with a game or exercise will pay off over the course of the day.

Remember that you will likely go through the problem solving process multiple times over an organization’s lifespan and building a strong team culture will make future problem solving more effective. It’s also great to work with people you know, trust and have fun with. Working on team building in and out of the problem solving process is a hallmark of successful teams that can work together to solve business problems.

9 Dimensions Team Building Activity   #ice breaker   #teambuilding   #team   #remote-friendly   9 Dimensions is a powerful activity designed to build relationships and trust among team members. There are 2 variations of this icebreaker. The first version is for teams who want to get to know each other better. The second version is for teams who want to explore how they are working together as a team.

Time management 

The problem solving process is designed to lead a team from identifying a problem through to delivering a solution and evaluating its effectiveness. Without effective time management skills or timeboxing of tasks, it can be easy for a team to get bogged down or be inefficient.

By using a problem solving model and carefully designing your workshop, you can allocate time efficiently and trust that the process will deliver the results you need in a good timeframe.

Time management also comes into play when it comes to rolling out solutions, particularly those that are experimental in nature. Having a clear timeframe for implementing and evaluating solutions is vital for ensuring their success and being able to pivot if necessary.

Improving your skills at problem solving is often a career-long pursuit though there are methods you can use to make the learning process more efficient and to supercharge your problem solving skillset.

Remember that the skills you need to be a great problem solver have a large overlap with those skills you need to be effective in any role. Investing time and effort to develop your active listening or critical thinking skills is valuable in any context. Here are 7 ways to improve your problem solving skills.

Share best practices

Remember that your team is an excellent source of skills, wisdom, and techniques and that you should all take advantage of one another where possible. Best practices that one team has for solving problems, conducting research or making decisions should be shared across the organization. If you have in-house staff that have done active listening training or are data analysis pros, have them lead a training session. 

Your team is one of your best resources. Create space and internal processes for the sharing of skills so that you can all grow together. 

Ask for help and attend training

Once you’ve figured out you have a skills gap, the next step is to take action to fill that skills gap. That might be by asking your superior for training or coaching, or liaising with team members with that skill set. You might even attend specialized training for certain skills – active listening or critical thinking, for example, are business-critical skills that are regularly offered as part of a training scheme.

Whatever method you choose, remember that taking action of some description is necessary for growth. Whether that means practicing, getting help, attending training or doing some background reading, taking active steps to improve your skills is the way to go.

Learn a process 

Problem solving can be complicated, particularly when attempting to solve large problems for the first time. Using a problem solving process helps give structure to your problem solving efforts and focus on creating outcomes, rather than worrying about the format. 

Tools such as the seven-step problem solving process above are effective because not only do they feature steps that will help a team solve problems, they also develop skills along the way. Each step asks for people to engage with the process using different skills and in doing so, helps the team learn and grow together. Group processes of varying complexity and purpose can also be found in the SessionLab library of facilitation techniques . Using a tried and tested process and really help ease the learning curve for both those leading such a process, as well as those undergoing the purpose.

Effective teams make decisions about where they should and shouldn’t expend additional effort. By using a problem solving process, you can focus on the things that matter, rather than stumbling towards a solution haphazardly. 

Create a feedback loop

Some skills gaps are more obvious than others. It’s possible that your perception of your active listening skills differs from those of your colleagues. 

It’s valuable to create a system where team members can provide feedback in an ordered and friendly manner so they can all learn from one another. Only by identifying areas of improvement can you then work to improve them. 

Remember that feedback systems require oversight and consideration so that they don’t turn into a place to complain about colleagues. Design the system intelligently so that you encourage the creation of learning opportunities, rather than encouraging people to list their pet peeves.

While practice might not make perfect, it does make the problem solving process easier. If you are having trouble with critical thinking, don’t shy away from doing it. Get involved where you can and stretch those muscles as regularly as possible. 

Problem solving skills come more naturally to some than to others and that’s okay. Take opportunities to get involved and see where you can practice your skills in situations outside of a workshop context. Try collaborating in other circumstances at work or conduct data analysis on your own projects. You can often develop those skills you need for problem solving simply by doing them. Get involved!

Use expert exercises and methods

Learn from the best. Our library of 700+ facilitation techniques is full of activities and methods that help develop the skills you need to be an effective problem solver. Check out our templates to see how to approach problem solving and other organizational challenges in a structured and intelligent manner.

There is no single approach to improving problem solving skills, but by using the techniques employed by others you can learn from their example and develop processes that have seen proven results. 

Try new ways of thinking and change your mindset

Using tried and tested exercises that you know well can help deliver results, but you do run the risk of missing out on the learning opportunities offered by new approaches. As with the problem solving process, changing your mindset can remove blockages and be used to develop your problem solving skills.

Most teams have members with mixed skill sets and specialties. Mix people from different teams and share skills and different points of view. Teach your customer support team how to use design thinking methods or help your developers with conflict resolution techniques. Try switching perspectives with facilitation techniques like Flip It! or by using new problem solving methodologies or models. Give design thinking, liberating structures or lego serious play a try if you want to try a new approach. You will find that framing problems in new ways and using existing skills in new contexts can be hugely useful for personal development and improving your skillset. It’s also a lot of fun to try new things. Give it a go!

Encountering business challenges and needing to find appropriate solutions is not unique to your organization. Lots of very smart people have developed methods, theories and approaches to help develop problem solving skills and create effective solutions. Learn from them!

Books like The Art of Thinking Clearly , Think Smarter, or Thinking Fast, Thinking Slow are great places to start, though it’s also worth looking at blogs related to organizations facing similar problems to yours, or browsing for success stories. Seeing how Dropbox massively increased growth and working backward can help you see the skills or approach you might be lacking to solve that same problem. Learning from others by reading their stories or approaches can be time-consuming but ultimately rewarding.

A tired, distracted mind is not in the best position to learn new skills. It can be tempted to burn the candle at both ends and develop problem solving skills outside of work. Absolutely use your time effectively and take opportunities for self-improvement, though remember that rest is hugely important and that without letting your brain rest, you cannot be at your most effective. 

Creating distance between yourself and the problem you might be facing can also be useful. By letting an idea sit, you can find that a better one presents itself or you can develop it further. Take regular breaks when working and create a space for downtime. Remember that working smarter is preferable to working harder and that self-care is important for any effective learning or improvement process.

Want to design better group processes?

Over to you

Now we’ve explored some of the key problem solving skills and the problem solving steps necessary for an effective process, you’re ready to begin developing more effective solutions and leading problem solving workshops.

Need more inspiration? Check out our post on problem solving activities you can use when guiding a group towards a great solution in your next workshop or meeting. Have questions? Did you have a great problem solving technique you use with your team? Get in touch in the comments below. We’d love to chat!

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Fundamental Coding Interview Preparation with Python

Immerse yourself in the comprehensive world of Python programming to navigate the challenges of technical assessments at renowned tech companies. This course focuses on Python, aiming to prepare you with a solid knowledge of Python syntax, algorithms, data structures, and problem-solving strategies meticulously compiled to improve your coding aptitude. Tailored to strengthen your coding proficiency, speed, and code quality, this engaging learning journey prepares you for rigorous coding interviews and myriad programming challenges moving forward.

This learning path includes:

5 courses with bite-sized lessons and practices

23 engaging lessons in text and video formats

82 hands-on practices in our state-of-the art IDE

One-on-one guidance from Cosmo, our AI tutor

Trusted by learners working at top companies

Revising python essentials.

An introductory course to revitalize your Python knowledge. Develop competency in Python syntax, string operations, and looping techniques, setting a robust platform for tackling basic programming issues.

Applying Simple Looping in Practice

Dive into the application of basic looping techniques in real scenarios. This course will allow you to apply your Python knowledge to solve practical tasks, developing your skill in real-world applications of simple loops.

Practicing String Operations and Type Conversions

Further expand your Python abilities with a deep dive into string operations and type conversions. This course focuses on practical implementations and helps you master these two essential areas.

Mastering Implementation of Advanced Loops

Advance your programming prowess with a rigorous course on advanced looping techniques. This course aims to empower you with the ability to write complex loops, readying you for more involved coding challenges.

Python Coding Practice for Technical Interviews

Hone and reinforce your Python skills with a course dedicated to practice. This course is designed to let you apply your knowledge through solving an array of problems to solidify your learning and preparation for the General Coding Framework.

Meet Cosmo: The smartest AI guide in the universe

Our built-in AI guide and tutor, Cosmo, prompts you with challenges that are built just for you and unblocks you when you get stuck.

Whether you’re leveling up or just starting out, find your next step here.

Other paths you may like.

Mastering Algorithms and Data Structures in Python

This course will teach students the skills needed for technical coding interviews at companies like Google. It will focus on understanding how to choose optimal algorithms and data structures for different problems, how to apply them, and how to explain their reasoning. Topics covered will include hash tables, recursion, linked lists, trees, and graphs.

Python Programming for Beginners

Kickstart your journey as a Computer Programmer with a strong foundation in one of the most popular languages in the world - Python. This beginner-friendly path provides a comprehensive understanding of Python syntax and fundamental programming concepts, paving the way for further exploration into the vast universe of coding.

JavaScript Programming for Beginners

Embark on your adventure into the programming universe with JavaScript, one of the most widely used languages in web development. This beginner-friendly path will guide you through JavaScript syntax and fundamental programming concepts, laying the groundwork for your future exploration into the vast cosmos of coding.

The Universal Key to Success: Acquiring Technical and Programming Skills

I n today's rapidly evolving world, the acquisition of technical and programming skills has become more than just a career choice—it's a necessity for success. Regardless of your profession or background, these skills can unlock a world of opportunities, enhance your problem-solving abilities, and empower you to thrive in an increasingly digital age. In this article we will delve into why acquiring technical and programming skills is essential for success in any field.

Adapting to a Digital World

The digital transformation is revolutionizing industries across the globe. From healthcare to finance, agriculture to entertainment, almost every sector is integrating technology to streamline processes, analyze data, and make informed decisions. Those who possess technical and programming skills are better equipped to navigate and contribute to this evolving landscape.

Embrace the digital era and gain a competitive edge! Start your journey by mastering technical and programming skills with expert guidance. Explore how at TakeLessons.com

Enhanced Problem-Solving Abilities

Learning how to code and understanding technical concepts sharpens your problem-solving skills. Coding involves breaking down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts and developing step-by-step solutions. This logical approach to problem-solving can be applied to challenges in any profession, fostering innovation and efficiency.

Opening Doors to Diverse Career Paths

Technical and programming skills are not limited to specific careers. Whether you're an artist, marketer, biologist, or teacher, these skills can augment your capabilities. For instance, artists can create interactive digital art, marketers can analyze data to refine their strategies, biologists can use programming to process large datasets, and teachers can develop engaging educational tools.

Expand your horizons and discover how technical skills can amplify your career, no matter your field. Explore endless possibilities at TakeLessons.com

Future-Proofing Your Career

Automation and artificial intelligence are reshaping the job market. Many routine tasks are becoming automated, making technical skills increasingly valuable. By acquiring these skills, you future-proof your career by remaining relevant and adaptable in a constantly changing job market.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Entrepreneurship often requires a strong technical foundation. Whether you're launching a tech startup or a traditional business, having programming skills can help you develop and maintain your website, create digital marketing campaigns, and optimize your operations for efficiency.

Turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality! Learn to code and innovate with confidence. Begin your journey at TakeLessons.com

Critical Thinking and Creativity

Learning to code fosters critical thinking and creativity. Programming challenges you to think logically and creatively to solve problems. These skills are transferable to various aspects of life and work, enabling you to approach challenges with a fresh perspective.

Empowerment and Independence

Acquiring technical and programming skills empowers you to take control of your digital life. You can build your own websites, automate repetitive tasks, and customize software to suit your needs. This independence can save you time and money while increasing your efficiency.

Take control of your digital world and gain independence. Learn to code and customize your tech life at TakeLessons.com

In a world driven by technology, the acquisition of technical and programming skills has become a universal key to success. Regardless of your profession or background, these skills offer you the ability to adapt, innovate, and thrive in a rapidly changing environment. They enhance your problem-solving abilities, open doors to diverse career paths, future-proof your career, and empower you to take control of your digital life. So, whether you're a student, a professional, or someone exploring new opportunities, consider investing in your future by acquiring these essential skills. Your success may depend on it.

Interview Master: Data Science 4+

Interview master: data science, designed for iphone, iphone screenshots, description.

Boost your data science skills with Our daily quizzes, tailored for all levels from beginner to advanced. Get ready to impress at your next interview. Get Ready for Interview Master:Data Science with AI evaluation having Daily Quizzes! Prepare for your interviews while having fun with our Daily Quiz Application. Every day, solve new questions that cover all skill levels, from beginner to expert. Improve your problem-solving skills and build confidence with each quiz. After 15 questions you can evaluate your level with openAI support, showing weak points and how to improve. What You’ll Love About the App: Consistent Learning: Engage with a diverse range of questions designed to keep your mind active and encourage regular use. Make the most of your preparation by integrating this practice into your daily routine for continuous improvement and readiness for your data science interviews. For Everyone: Questions range from easy to hard, perfect for learners at any stage. Track Your Progress: See how you're doing and where you can improve. Deepen Your Understanding: Click to reveal detailed explanations for each question, enhancing your learning and mastery of complex concepts. Join the Community: Share scores, achievements, and tips with others on the same journey. Expert-Crafted: Our quizzes are designed to make you think and prepare you well for your interviews. Start Your Daily Learning Journey Download now and make learning a part of your daily routine. Step up your game for data science interviews and join a community of learners just like you. Ready to challenge yourself? Download the Daily Quiz App today!

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