Identify the problem. The ability to recognize a problem exists is an essential skill. You must decide if a situation requires intervention to improve or rectify or if that situation posses no difficulty. For example, a door is open. This is a problem if it will not close or will not stay closed. This is not a problem if someone left the door open intentionally to carry in packages.
Suggest solutions to the problem. This step also is known as brainstorming. You must recognize a goal or alternative situation that must be reached in order to remove the problem. Solutions to a problem take into consideration your surroundings and any tools or skills necessary to solve the problem. Some problems have only one solution. As in the example, an open door can be shut. Some problems have multiple solutions. You could ask someone else to close the door. If the door is automatic, it will close itself. If the door is held open by a heavy object, the object must be removed before the door will shut. There are no wrong solutions, only solutions that reach your goal more or less effectively.
Decide on a course of action. Choose a solution you feel most effectively achieves the goal. Make a plan outlining the necessary steps to achieve the goal. For complex problems, this may require making an actual list of steps. If the hinges on the door are frozen with rust, you need to go to the hardware store, buy oil, go home, apply the oil to the hinges, allow the oil to soak and try to close the door again. Alternatively, the course of action may be short and contained easily within your mind: tell the landlord.
Take action. Stop thinking and start doing. Call the landlord and inform him of the problem. Grab your keys and head to the hardware store.
Evaluate the process and adjust as needed. For example, the landlord has not come to fix the door, and it has been several hours. You must decide if you should call again or fix the door yourself. You have identified another problem and two possible solutions. The problem-solving process ends once the goal is achieved and no further problems exist.