Canada is a nation of problem solvers according to new survey

Poll finds Millennials increasingly taking charge at work, 35+ taking charge at home

LONDON, ON, Nov. 12, 2014 /CNW/ - When it comes to solving problems at work and at home, Canadians can be categorized into three distinct types of problem solvers; the Take Charge Type who like to solve problems themselves, the Practical Type who call in the professionals and the Trusting Type who ask friends or family for help, according to a survey sponsored by 3M Canada.

When asked about handling everyday household problems – getting directions or dealing with a leaky tap for example – the problem solving types fall along generational lines, with the older generation fixing things themselves and the younger generation either calling in a professional or relying on friends and family.

In the workplace however, the millennial generation assert the Take Charge problem solving approach when pursuing a promotion or dealing with interpersonal issues.  For example, when pursuing a promotion, millennials are most likely to talk directly to their managers than any other age group (41.5 per cent vs. 20 per cent of those 35+ years of age).

"We wanted to gain a better understanding of how Canadians approach problem solving both at work and at home," said Erin Craven-Patrick, Director, Marketing and Sales, 3M Canada. "Recognizing how people differ in their problem solving style is especially important to us at 3M because much of the work we do with our customers involves learning and understanding their most pressing challenges and creating real-world solutions."

Other findings of the survey include:

• When visiting somewhere new, 59 per cent of Canadians look up directions online before setting out on their journey.  Thirty-two per cent rely on their GPS once they're on the road.
• When pursuing a promotion, millennials are most likely to talk directly to their managers than any other age groups (41.5 per cent vs. 20 per cent of those aged 35+).
• Men are more likely than women to feel confident they can fix a leaking tap themselves (60 per cent vs. 17 per cent women).
• When faced with a manager who has made a decision they feel could reflect poorly on them, 47.2 per cent of millennials report they would speak directly to that manager – on par with their middle-aged colleagues and significantly more often than colleagues aged 55+.
• Men are more likely to try and fix a frozen computer themselves (42 per cent vs. 18 per cent of women), while women are more likely to ask for help (46 per cent vs. 20 per cent men).
• If faced with a flat tire, men are more likely to change it themselves (63 per cent vs. 18 per cent women).
• Western Canadians were found to embody a strong 'Take Charge' person in their responses for how to solve problems. Some examples have been included below:
  • When asked what you would do if you had a leaking tap, most commonly, Albertans would get out their tools and fix the tab themselves with 45.1 per cent of the respondents noting that they would take the hands-on approach
  • When asked what you would do if your computer freezes and you cannot get it to work, BC respondents were more likely than most provinces to fix the computer themselves with 38 per cent of BCers mentioning that they would fix their computer themselves
  • When asked what you would do if you were driving and discovered that your tire was flat, BCers were the more likely than some other provinces to proactively fix it themselves with a spare tire, rather than ask for help. In fact, 47 per cent of BCers would fix the tire themselves. The only province that scored higher was Alberta with 49 per cent mentioning that they would fix it themselves

About the Survey
Sponsored by 3M Canada, this national online survey was conducted in 2014 using Leger's online panel LegerWeb, surveying 1507 Canadians.  A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin or error of +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of 20.

About 3M Canada
3M is the innovation company that never stops inventing, capturing the spark of new ideas and transforming them into thousands of ingenious solutions for industries that are important to Canadians. The culture of creative collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that makes life better. With $30 billion in sales globally, 3M employs about 84,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 65 countries. Named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers, 3M Canada's head office and original manufacturing site is in London, Ontario where about half of the company's 1,800 employees work. Other locations include Calgary, Alberta; Milton, Brockville, and Perth, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec; and, Morden, Manitoba. For more information, visit www.3M.ca or follow @3M_Canada on Twitter.

SOURCE: 3M Canada Inc.

Meaghan Beech, H+K Strategies, [email protected], 416-413-4650