Solving problems proactively can stem them from becoming a problem at all, suggests this former policeman. And going the traditional route is not the solution, thinking on your feet is.

Early into his career, Stevyn Colgan realized that what he liked best about police work was the prevention of a crime but that was not something he was trained to do at all. It wasn't something that showed up on his performance review either. Does he gain recognition and earn the trust of the community?

There are two kinds of problem-solvers, according to Stevyn Colgan. The emotional and instinctive ones and the research and analysis kinds. Here's what a community plagued by snakes and rats learned about problem-solving.

Stevyn Colgan draws a parallel between a crime and your problem. To solve both you need to understand the cause, effect, time and place. There on, just remove any of the three elements that causes the maximum impact.

If Stevyn Colgan learned anything in his three decades of policing it was that one needs to employ all kinds of thought processes, not just novel ways of solving a problem. Two examples illustrate how you need not always think outside the box to find simple solutions, just using common sense works well at times.

If you thought big problems are off-limits at the individual level, think again. Stevyn Colgan proved a point when he took on the problem of the dwindling lobster population in his locality in Cornwall. By monitoring and getting to the root of the cause, he managed to bring diverse groups on board his mission.

Look for the people behind big data just as Stevyn Colgan's Problem Solving Unit did with a footballing issue in a Scottish neighborhood. And the final solution cost a fraction of the initial options that were deemed unviable.