Process Menu

Probsolv Light is a simplified version of the Probsolv Method. It uses the Fractal Principle to:
1. IDENTIFY the underlying systemic PROBLEM

3. DESIGN a systemic way of IMPLEMENTing
the solution you've developed.
Probsolv Light is a simple 10-Step process. Getting dressed in the morning has more
steps that that!
You know most of the steps, already - they follow a pattern that's begun to become
familiar to you:

Part 1 - Find the performance-limiting problem (PLP)
1. Make a list of all the OUTCOMES you would like from your situation, but are not getting.
2. For each outcome, find the primary ISSUE preventing you from securing that outcome. 3. For each issue, find the ACTION that you feel forced to take.
4. Find the common theme (in the form Outcome - Issue - Action) across all of the issues you've listed.

Part 2 - Develop the performance-maximising solution (PMS)
5. List alternative approaches to the approach you feel forced to take.
6. Look for a common theme and connections between the alternatives you've listed.
7. Test the PMA against the O-I-A lists you developed in steps 1-3, above.

Part 3 -Design the mindset change program (MCP)
8. Design specific scripts for each of the most common situations you expect to face in your challenging situation.
9. Look for a common theme across the various scripts you've designed. This will be the paradigm that you will program into your mind.
10 Return to Step 1: raise issues.

First LIST issues; then look for the REPEATING PATTERN
The trick is to frame the problem within the context of the entire situation. Why?
To avoid being restricted to inside-the-box solutions. We want to expand the solution area as much as we can to encourage as much creative freedom as possible. The way to do this is by framing the problem within the context of ultimate goal and the actions that are driven by it.

Step 1: OUTCOMES
This first step in Probsolv Light is to
List all the OUTCOMES you would like from
your situation, but are not getting
Although this is only the first step in the process, you could well notice an immediate improvement in your perspective after taking it.
The reason is that challenging situations often force us to adopt a tactical focus. A tactical focus is about overcoming hurdles, which is really about solving problems in isolation.
It's easy to lose focus on the big picture when we are forced into a tactical mindset! So, an attractive side-effect of this step is that it gives you a broader perspective on the challenging situation you're trying to turn around.

Step 2: ISSUES
The next step is to
Find the primary ISSUE preventing EACH outcome
You are looking for problems that prevent you from getting what you want from the situation.
Be careful not to list actions that you're taking (that's in the next step - do it first if it's easier for you).
You might have an aversion to doing this for each outcome. Focusing on problems is so depressing!
It is if you're trying to resolve issues in isolation.
It's not in the slightest if you're merely using the issues to point you to the real problem.
Remind yourself that you're in diagnosis mode, not solution mode. Play Sherlock Holmes, collecting clues!

Step 3: ACTIONS
The third step is to
Find the ACTION that each issue you've just surfaced forces you to take Does this make sense to you?
It might not, until you realise that everything is systemic. Your approach is driving the situation - and the situation is driving your approach.
The simple way of reversing this vicious cycle is to find the approach you feel forced to take and replace it with something better.
At this point, two things should dawn on you:
1. I'm causing this myself!
2. I have no choice
If so, you're on the money! If not - hang in there!

Step 4: PLP
The 4th step is to
Find the common theme underlying the
Outcome-Issue-Action chains you've just developed
This will comprise
1. Your ultimate goal in the situation.
2. The performance-limiting problem you face

in achieving that goal.
3. The general approach that characterises
the various actions you feel forced to take.
Give your mind the task of joining the dots - connecting everything up. It will come up with something in due course.
You can accelerate the process by asking yourself simple questions like, "In what way are A and B related?" and "How are A and B really the same thing?"

Part 2 - Develop the PMS (Steps 5-7)
Now that we know what the problem is, we need to develop a solution to it. The whole idea is to break out of the box. We don't want to merely remove the consequences of previous solutions.
We want to develop a new and better solution - or way of getting what we need from the situation.
We want to maximise the benefits and capitalise on as many opportunities as possible. We want something lateral, creative and systemic!
The approach is very similar to the one we used in Part 1 - just a bit shorter - and a lot more fun!
Step 5: ALTERNATIVES

The 5th step is to
Generate ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES that would achieve the goal and overcome the PLP
Remember that your mind is trained to discard imperfect solutions and ideas. Don't let it!
Retain them. They might not work in isolation, but could well work if combined with other inadequate solutions.
You'll be amazed at the wealth of alternatives there are out there - once you discard the discard button!
That was more fun than you expected, wasn't it?
Now we get to the most challenging and satisfying step of the entire process. Step 6: PMS performance-maximising solution

The 6th step is to
Find the common theme and connections
between the alternatives you've listed
This is the Performance-Maximising Solution.
The idea is to find ways in which the various alternatives you've just generated could be combined together into an integrated approach or strategy.
Don't expect it to happen all at once - it could take a few days. The trick is to resist the urge to select and instead set your mind the task of integrating.
You'll be surprised at what it comes up with!

Step 7: TEST the PMS
Probsolv Light's 7th step is to:
Test the PMS against the O-I-A
(Outcome-Issue-Action) lists
you developed before - in Steps 1-3
This is to ensure that the solution concept applies and works. It also helps you develop an understanding of the finer points and application of the solution concept. If you get stuck, go back a step and generate ideas for overcoming the particular issue the PMS (Performance-Maximising Solution) doesn't work for.
Don't stop here!
We're not done yet!

Now that we know what the problem is, we need to develop a solution to it. The whole idea is to break out of the box. We don't want to merely remove the consequences of previous solutions.
We want to develop a new and better solution - or way of getting what we need from the situation.
We want to maximise the benefits and capitalise on as many opportunities as possible. We want something lateral, creative and systemic!
The approach is very similar to the one we used in Part 1 - just a bit shorter - and a lot more fun!

The 5th step is to
Generate ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES that would achieve the goal and overcome the PLP
Remember that your mind is trained to discard imperfect solutions and ideas. Don't let it! Retain them. They might not work in isolation, but could well work if combined with other inadequate solutions.
You'll be amazed at the wealth of alternatives there are out there - once you discard the discard button!
That was more fun than you expected, wasn't it?
Now we get to the most challenging and satisfying step of the entire process.

Step 6: PMS performance-maximising solution The 6th step is to
Find the common theme and connections between the alternatives you've listed
This is the Performance-Maximising Solution. The idea is to find ways in which the various alternatives you've just generated could be combined together into an integrated approach or strategy.
Don't expect it to happen all at once - it could take a few days. The trick is to resist the urge to select and instead set your mind the task of integrating.
You'll be surprised at what it comes up with!

Step 7: TEST the PMS
Probsolv Light's 7th step is to:
Test the PMS against the O-I-A
(Outcome-Issue-Action) lists
you developed before - in Steps 1-3
This is to ensure that the solution concept applies and works. It also helps you develop an understanding of the finer points and application of the solution concept. If you get stuck, go back a step and generate ideas for overcoming the particular issue the PMS (Performance-Maximising Solution) doesn't work for.
Don't stop here!
We're not done yet!

Parts 1 and 2 have brought us to the point of developing a performance-maximising solution to the performance-limiting problem. We are guaranteed immediate bottom-line improvement to the entire situation: if - and only if - we implement the solution effectively.
The place to do this is in the mind with a Mindset Change Program (MCP). The approach is the same as in Part 1 and 2 - and we've already started the ball rolling by testing the PMS against the original symptoms.
The eighth step is to
DESIGN specific SCRIPTS for common situations
What we mean by a script is a step-by-step mental process for addressing a particular situation in the new way.
Scripting enables us to work out an appropriate response to a situation in advance, to reduce the pressure of having to do so on the fly.
In the process of developing these scripts, you're developing neural pathways for responding to those situations in a new way, which prepares you for the next step in Probsolv Light: designing the mindset change program.

Step 9: MCP (Mindset Change Program)
The ninth step is to
Find the common theme across
the various scripts you've designed
The mindset change programme is a set sequence of steps that all of the scripts go through.
It's a neural program for handling things better than you did before.
The idea is to use it to develop a neural network that will enable you to respond naturally, instinctively and intuitively to the challenging situation.
It's a lot easier to find than it appears. Just line the scripts up and let your brain do the work.
OK - we're done, aren't we? Not quite - remember how we said that everything is systemic?

Everything is systemic - which means that your improved approach is going to change the situation - and, in due course, solve all the problems it can solve.
At that point, the situation will have become challenging again. You'll need to develop a new approach to it.
Probsolv Light's tenth step is
RETURN TO STEP 1: List the issues
Whenever issues arise, regard them as indicative of an inadequate solution and go though the Probsolv Light steps to improve your approach sooner rather than later. In other words, always take symptoms seriously!
It's about learning to think systemically - not just being able to develop a systemic solution to a systemic problem!

Well, how did you find that?
Did you follow it?
It's quite straightforward when you understand the repeating patterns concept, isn't it? If you find it difficult to apply on your own, please don't give up - or write the systemic approach off!
Don't forget, this is just an introduction. It's not meant to deal with the subject exhaustively. In fact, what you've seen is just the tip of the iceberg!
It's quite a bit like riding a bicycle, anyway - you can only go so far in theory - then you have to give it a bash!
We cover a few ways of giving it that bash in the next section.