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Sometimes problem solving may be nothing more than the art of asking the right questions at the right time. Think of a problem you are currently facing and write it down:

Have your partner ask you at least 20 of the following questions to solve it:

• Who is affected by the problem?
• Who else has the problem?
• Who decided that the situation is a problem?
• Who would be happy if the problem was solved?
• Who would be sad if the problem was solved?
• Who could prevent the problem from being solved?
• Who needs to solve the problem more than you?
  
  
• What do you think will change about the problem?
• What do you like about the problem?
• What do you dislike about the problem?
• What can be changed about the problem?
• What can't be changed about the problem?
• What do you know about the problem?
• What don't you know about the problem?
• What will it be like if the problem is solved?
• What will it be like if the problem isn't solved?
• What is the principle underlying the problem?
• What seems to be most important about the problem?
• What seems to be least important about the problem?
• What else do you need to know about the problem?
• Where is the problem most noticeable?
• Where else does the problem exist?
• Where is the best place to begin looking for solutions?
• Where does the problem fit into the larger scheme of things?
  
  
• When does the problem occur?
• When doesn't the problem occur?
• When did the problem first become a problem?
• When is the problem likely to occur again?
• When will the problem get worse?
• When will it get better?
  
  
• Why is the situation a problem?
• Why do you want to solve the problem?
• Why don't you want to solve the problem?

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