1) Figure out what caused it

You need to know what the problem is before you can think of a clever way to solve it. The problem might not always be clear, or it might have more than one side. For example, if you don’t get many responses from candidates, it could be because the job description isn’t written well, the company doesn’t have a strong brand, or your sourcing methods aren’t aimed at the right people. You can use the 5 Whys, the Fishbone Diagram, or the Pareto Principle, among other things, to get to the main cause. These techniques can help you get to the bottom of the problem and figure out what is really stopping you from recruiting well.

2) Come up with several choices

Once you know what the problem is, you can start thinking of ways to fix it. Don’t just think of the first or most clear idea when you’re trying to solve a problem. Instead, you should come up with a bunch of different ideas and look at things from different points of view. To get more creative and come up with more ideas, you can use methods like SCAMPER, Mind Mapping, or Brainwriting. You can change, combine, or reverse current solutions with these methods, or you can start from scratch and make new ones. To help you come up with ideas, you should also include other people, like your coworkers, clients, or job candidates. They might have different ideas, experiences, or tips that can help you make your choices better.

3) Look over your answers and test them

After coming up with a list of possible options, you need to test and judge them. You should think about the good and bad points of each choice and how well they fit with your goals, resources, and limits. People who have a stake in the matter, like your clients, job candidates, or bosses, should also give you feedback. They can help you check your beliefs, find possible risks, or come up with ways to make things better. Also, you should try out your ideas on a small scale first before using them on a bigger one. To find out how your ideas work and what effects they have, you can use A/B testing, pilot testing, or prototyping. You can use these methods to look at your choices, gather information, and make changes as required.

4) Study and get better

The last thing you need to do to solve problems creatively is to learn and get better. You should keep an eye on and judge the outcomes of your solutions to find out what worked and what didn’t. You should also write down what you’ve learned and share the best ways to do things with your team and the rest of the organisation. You should also enjoy your wins and thank people for their hard work. Creative problem-solving is an ongoing process that needs to be learned and improved all the time. You should always be on the lookout for better ways to hire people and new problems to solve.

Read More: How Can You Make Your Hiring Process More Consistent?