Problem-solving questionnaire

This question is about prioritisation, not venting. Take a moment to identify what is causing you the most difficulty right now and state it as clearly and simply as possible. Focus on what is actually happening, not how overwhelming it feels, and avoid listing multiple issues at once.

A useful way to answer this is to ask yourself, “If this problem were meaningfully improved, which other problems would become easier or less important?” The right answer is usually specific and slightly uncomfortable, because it removes distractions and forces you to confront what truly matters.

A weak answer is vague or expansive, such as “everything feels messy” or “I have a few things going on.” A strong answer is concrete and singular, for example, “I don’t have a clear plan to change roles within the next six months.”

Separate what you can objectively observe from how you’re interpreting it. Describe the situation as if you were explaining it to someone neutral who has no emotional involvement. Focus on what has actually happened, what was said or done, and what outcomes you can verify.

Be careful not to mix in assumptions, predictions, or emotional conclusions, even if they feel true. Statements like “this always happens” or “they don’t care” are interpretations, not facts. A clearer answer sounds more like, “This deadline was missed twice” or “I haven’t received feedback after three requests.”

Once the facts are laid out cleanly, it becomes easier to see whether you’re missing information, reacting to uncertainty, or dealing with a real, concrete issue that needs to be addressed.

Look past what is loud or uncomfortable and ask what is actually creating the problem. Symptoms are what you notice first: stress, frustration, repeated setbacks. The root cause is the mechanism that keeps producing those symptoms.

A useful test is to ask, “If this were fixed, would the problem stop recurring?” If the answer is no, you are still looking at symptoms. For example, “I feel overwhelmed” is a symptom. “I am consistently taking on more commitments than I can realistically manage” is closer to a root cause.

Avoid answers that blame circumstances without explanation or stay abstract. The goal is to identify the specific behaviour, constraint, or decision pattern that sits underneath everything else and keeps the problem alive.

Focus only on what you can influence through your own actions, choices, or behaviour, starting now. Ignore what others should do, what you wish were different, or what might change in the future. Those may matter emotionally, but they are not actionable.

A weak answer lists external factors or desired outcomes, such as “my boss changing” or “the situation improving.” A stronger answer names specific levers you control, for example, what you say, what you stop doing, what boundaries you set, or what decision you make next.

This question is about reclaiming agency. Progress starts where your control begins, not where the problem feels unfair.

Pause and question the sense of pressure around this problem. Urgency is often driven by emotion, expectation, or habit rather than real consequences. Ask yourself whether anything objectively bad happens if you do nothing for now, or if the discomfort is mainly internal.

Then consider the realistic outcome of inaction. Does the situation actually worsen, stay the same, or resolve on its own? In some cases, waiting provides clarity or removes the problem entirely. In others, avoidance quietly increases the cost later.

Answering this honestly helps you distinguish between problems that need immediate action and those that only feel urgent because you’ve been carrying them mentally for too long.

Lower the bar on purpose. This question is about finding a realistic lever, not a perfect solution. A 10% improvement forces you to think in terms of small, doable changes rather than all-or-nothing fixes.

Focus on actions you could actually take within the next month using the resources you already have. A weak answer jumps to long-term transformations or vague intentions. A stronger answer identifies one or two concrete moves that slightly improve the situation but are easy to start and hard to avoid. Small progress creates momentum, and momentum is often what breaks the problem open.

Notice which option you instinctively push aside or delay when you think about this problem. Avoidance is often a signal, not noise. The path that feels uncomfortable, awkward, or inconvenient is frequently the one with the most leverage.

Be careful not to justify the avoidance with logic that sounds reasonable but protects comfort, such as “now isn’t the right time” or “it probably wouldn’t work anyway.” A weak answer explains why the option is impractical. A more honest answer names the action you don’t want to take and why it makes you uneasy. That discomfort is often the cost of real progress.

Step outside your own emotions and imagine advising someone you genuinely care about. When it’s not your problem, you’re more likely to focus on what actually helps rather than what feels safest or most comfortable.

Pay attention to the first piece of advice that comes to mind. That initial response is usually clearer and more practical than what you allow yourself to do. A weak answer stays abstract or overly gentle. A stronger answer names a specific first step you would confidently encourage someone else to take, even if you’ve been avoiding it yourself.

Compare your options based on leverage, not comfort. This question asks you to weigh how much benefit an action could realistically produce against the time, energy, and downside it requires.

Avoid choosing based on what feels familiar or least uncomfortable. A weak answer picks the safest or most obvious option without comparison. A stronger answer deliberately selects the move where a small or moderate effort could create a meaningful improvement, even if it carries some uncertainty. The goal is not zero risk, but a sensible trade-off.

Imagine the worst realistic outcome, not a dramatic catastrophe. Focus on what is actually likely to happen if this option doesn’t work out, rather than what you fear in abstract terms.

Then ask whether you could recover from that outcome. A weak answer either exaggerates the risk or avoids thinking about it at all. A stronger answer names a concrete downside and recognises that, while uncomfortable, it is survivable. This often reveals that fear, not risk, has been the main thing holding you back.

This is where thinking turns into action. Name one specific step you will take next, not a plan, intention, or ongoing habit. It should be clear enough that someone else could tell whether you’ve done it or not.

Be precise about timing. “Soon” or “this week” keeps the decision abstract. A stronger answer includes a clear action and a definite moment, for example, sending a message, booking a call, or blocking time in your calendar.

Decide in advance what success or failure would look like. Without a clear signal, it’s easy to keep guessing, overthinking, or abandoning the effort too early.

Define what you will observe to judge whether this action helped, for example, a specific outcome, change, or piece of feedback. Then set a clear point in time to review it. A weak answer leaves this open-ended. A stronger answer creates a simple feedback loop so you can learn, adjust, or move on instead of staying stuck in uncertainty.