Power skills | Problem solving
How to be a problem solver in the workplace
Having to solve problems in the workplace is inevitable, whatever your role, and you can almost guarantee you’ll be asked about your ability to do it at the interview stage. It will be a real positive for your career if you can see yourself as a problem solver.
Tips from two problem solvers
Lorita Cornish, small business owner
Lorita Cornish completed AAT Level 2 in four months in 2023. After a short break, she jumped straight to AAT Level 4, doing self-studies from home with Osborne Books while she also runs her own retail business. She manages six employees and mainly works from home, which helps her dedicate more time to her studies.
Dan Haywood, management accountant
Dan Haywood completed AAT Levels 2 and 3 over 12 months a few years ago and has worked in a finance role since then. Recently, he started studying for AAT Level 4 from home (intending to use it as a stepping stone for CIMA) while working as a management accountant for a large UK retailer.
Three top tips for approaching problem solving in the workplace
How to keep problem-heavy periods like year-end stress-free
Dan and Lorita believe that preparation is the key to a stress-free year-end.
Dan’s tips…
● Get ahead of the game if you can by staying on top of small jobs.
● Get as many journals posted as you can as early as possible.
● Keep a to-do list and embrace it. It might seem extremely hectic, but break it down and do one job at a time.
Lorita's tips…
● If you plan for it throughout the year, completing year-end accounts without stress shouldn't be a problem.
● I start working on my year-end accounts as soon as the financial year-end finishes. Don’t leave it until the last minute—you have nine months to prepare.
● There shouldn't be any stress because if there are any problems, you still have plenty of time to resolve them.
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How to keep problem-heavy periods like year-end stress-free
Dan and Lorita believe that preparation is the key to a stress-free year-end.
