The Invisible Mentor

Analyzing over 60 detailed interview responses to “Describe a business challenge that you have had and how you resolved it,” I identified four types of problem solvers: Inspirers, Reflectors, Innovators and Influencers.

 Inspirers: They nurture people and relationships and have the ability to inspire confidence. Whenever they face a challenge or problem, people rally around them offering their assistance.

 Reflectors: These problem solvers do not rush when making decisions, instead they take their time, mull things over for a while, step back from the situation to get a new perspective and then act.

 Innovators: These individuals have the unique ability to come up with creative solutions to any challenge or problem that they might encounter. It could be an entirely new solution or the blending of two known solutions into something fresh and exciting.

  Influencers: These problem solvers are expert at getting others to support their cause, and they excel at finding solutions to “people” problems that involve change. Influencers are great at getting people to “buy in.”

 Think back to a few challenges that you have experienced and how you resolved them, would you say that you are an Inspirer, Reflector, Innovator or Influencer? Or, are you a combination? What are your thoughts about the four types of problem solvers?

 Photo credit: Avil Beckford

 Related Resources

 What Type of Problem Solver Are You?

The Importance of Problem-Solving by Ken Watanabe (The Huffington Post Online, April 23, 2009)

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