ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. -- One of the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command's Master Resiliency Trainers, Sgt. 1st Class Jason Barrett, teaches 'Problem Solving' during the monthly resiliency training April 9 at Aberdeen Proving Ground.
MRT is a part of the Army's Ready and Resilient Campaign Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness Program, in which is designed to build resilience and enhance performance of the Army family by providing hands-on training and self-development tools to better perform in stress situations and to thrive in life.
Barrett explained how Problem Solving is used to increase flexibility and accuracy in thinking about the causes of problems and to develop effective solution strategies. "You have to understand a problem before you can effectively solve it," he said.
"Confirmation bias, also known as the Velcro and Teflon effect, plays a huge part in the problem solving process, causing our minds to see what we are looking for, whether it's evidence that does or does not support our thoughts and beliefs," Barrett said.
Barrett pointed out some ways that people can fight the confirmation bias by distancing yourself from your thought, write it down, ask fair questions to gather evidence for and against you thoughts, and consult with others.
Barrett described the steps of effective Problem Solving:
Step 1: What's the problem you're trying to solve (who, what, when, where);
Step 2: What caused the problem?;
Step 3: What did you miss?;
Step 4: What's the evidence that each factor contributed to the problem?;
Step 5: What really caused the problem?; and
Step 6: What can you do about it?
"Through these steps you will have a more accurate and complete understanding of a problem and be in a better position to solve it," said Sgt. 1st Class Carmela Brown-Nelson, military evaluator and resiliency trainer at ATEC.
After the class was introduced to the steps of Problem Solving, the class had the opportunity to review a scenario and go through the steps to practice, as if they were in the same situation.
"The goal is to include any critical information you missed so that you can understand the problem and focus on solution strategies," Barrett said. "This skill is only effective when you have time to go through all of the steps to find a solution."
The next training session will be led by Sgt. 1st Class Edward Neroes, command chaplain assistant at ATEC, on the resiliency skill 'Put it in Perspective' and is set for 9 a.m., Thursday, May 7 at the APG North (Aberdeen) recreation center.
For more information about ATEC's Ready and Resilient Activities, visit website calendar at www.atec.army.mil. To learn more about the Army's Ready and Resilient Campaign, visit www.army.mil/readyandresilient.
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