Sometimes challenges crop up in life, and it’s important to know how to handle tough times without being overwhelmed by them. As it turns out, men who are great problem-solving have all the qualities they need to be able to tackle adversity with ease. Here are some of the traits they have.
1. They’re extremely pragmatic.
Problem-solving takes pragmatism, no doubt about it. This means that he’s practical—he takes an issue and looks at it practically. He doesn’t get caught in the weeds of emotion; he assesses it pragmatically. Perhaps he’s recently lost his job. Instead of letting his feelings of frustration and disappointment overtake him, he practically tries to solve the issue and thinks about the steps he needs to take to get another job.
2. They have a good attitude.
When a man is a natural problem solver, he’s often optimistic. He doesn’t get frustrated at the issue and is pessimistic about the outcome — he shows confidence that it will be okay, whatever the solution is. Perhaps he’s just blown a tire on the highway, and the closest garage is 20 miles away. Instead of being negative and having a bad attitude, he stays calm and even sees the funny side of the situation.
3. They’re confident, but definitely not arrogant.
In addition to having a good attitude in the face of an issue, a man who’s good at problem-solving will often be confident, too. He’ll be satisfied with his abilities to solve the problem and the imminent outcome. While this might be misconstrued as arrogant, he believes in himself. If a fire he has to put out at work affects his team, he’ll say, “Guys, don’t worry. I’ve got this — it’ll be sorted by the end of the day.”
4. They’re action-oriented.
Not only is a man who is good at problem-solving good at saying “yes” to things, but he’s also good at following through on these things. His actions often speak louder than his words. Say, for example, you’ve asked him to help you take a load to the dump on Saturday. It’s only Monday, but you know he’ll be there — and sure enough, he is. You don’t have to remind him, and he’s at your house ready to help when he said he would be.
5. They’re persistent.
Often, men who are great at problem-solving have an insatiable personality — they don’t stop trying to achieve something until they’ve won. When they keep coming up against the same issue, like not losing as much weight as they had aimed for, they persist until they’ve reached their goal and solved the problem. The number on the scale isn’t enough to deter them and cause them to give up.
6. They’re decisive.
What’s the opposite of a man who is a great problem solver? An indecisive man. Men who like to problem-solve know what they want. They don’t sit on the fence for indefinite periods of time, going back and forth on a decision. For example, when a man like this dates, he does so to marry. He doesn’t choose someone to date to see how it might go—he only commits when he’s confident that, at some point, he’ll propose.
7. They’re not afraid of being wrong.
Another characteristic of men who are good at problem-solving is that they don’t always feel the need to be right. While their goal is to solve a problem, they know they will come across a few bumps in the road along the way. Perhaps when they’re in a team meeting at work, they’re not afraid to put their hand up and offer their solution. They’ve been wrong about the solution, but this hasn’t stopped them from trying again.
8. They’re open-minded.
Men known for being good problem solvers are often open to new ideas and prepared to see the issue from a different angle. After all, this is a sure way of finding a solution promptly. If they were to stick to just one angle and stubbornly refuse to budge, it might take them too long to get there. Maybe there’s a software issue at work, and they’ve exhausted all their troubleshooting options. This is why they get a second opinion from a colleague to see if they can’t approach it from a different angle.
9. They differentiate between simple and complex thinking.
When a man is good at problem-solving, he understands the nature of the issue. This means that he’s good at determining whether it requires a complicated solution or a shortcut. He may try a shortcut first, like if his text messages aren’t going through, turning his phone off and on again. If this doesn’t work, he’ll try a more complex approach, like uninstalling software, contacting the phone provider, or deleting his message history.
10. They can correctly identify the problem.
To be a good problem solver, you need to be able to figure out what the problem is in the first place. Without this ability, it’s going to be hard to come up with the correct solution. Perhaps you’re talking to him about someone you’re having a problem with at work. He identifies that it’s not what they’re saying to you that’s hurtful; it’s the fact that they’re undermining you as a colleague.
11. They have good social skills.
Because many issues involve people, men who are good at problem-solving often are good at communicating with people and have good social skills in general. If they’re having an issue with someone at work, they need to be able to confront that person in a non-threatening way to come up with a solution and feel that they have been able to communicate their feelings.
12. They have realistic expectations.
Men who are excellent at problem-solving are also realistic. While they possess confidence and a “can-do” attitude, they also understand that sometimes, the outcome will not be precisely what they hoped. Perhaps they filed a complaint recently at work with their superiors about the person they’re having an issue with. While they hope the outcome is positive and results in resolution, they’re realistic at the same time.
13. They can work efficiently in a team.
Problem-solving men excel at this skill when they can work well in a team. Perhaps they’ve been set a task at work where they have to work in a group. While they’re the leader, so it’s their job to find a solution to the problem, they understand the value of group contribution, too. They make sure that everyone gets a chance to give their input and ensure that the solution is met with a team effort.
14. They know what to prioritize.
Sometimes, when solving a problem, it’s essential to break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Otherwise, the situation becomes a mountain that is too overwhelming to solve. Men who are good at problem-solving know which aspects of the issue to prioritize first. Perhaps they’ve run out of gas on a road trip in the middle of nowhere. They know that the first thing they need to do is make sure they have reception, a gas tank, and enough cellphone battery to make the necessary calls.
15. They look at the bigger picture.
A man who’s good at problem-solving often doesn’t let himself get too invested in the details. While looking at every part of the problem is essential to bring you closer to a solution, it can also confuse you. They can step back and see the bigger picture from a wider lens. Say they’re still trying to help you with your work issue. While you want to nip it in the bud right away, they’re imploring you to hold out for a bit so that you can gather more evidence of the misconduct.
