SOLVE PROBLEMS
WHY IT MATTERS
There is no easy path to great results. There is never a guarantee of success. There is no clear road to achievement. Even the best-laid plans will encounter twists and turns and unpredictable trouble. In times of solution-seeking people look to their leaders for guidance and help. Leaders who can solve problems clear the roadways for their people and organization to continue progressing even when road blocks arise. They make obstacles passible that for a moment seem impassible. Leaders who can’t solve problems will see their work and ambitions debilitated and frustrated time and time again. By not being able to solve problems today, they diminish their chances of tasting the fruits of success tomorrow.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Leaders that solve problems know nothing good comes easy. They expect each new day to bring more questions than answers, and new obstacles to overcome. They value the role of being problem solvers. They know the organization counts on them to be the rallying figure that gathers people and resources together to figure tough things out.
Leaders that solve problems do not procrastinate solving problems. They know the longer you let a problem go unresolved the harder it will be to resolve. They don’t act recklessly, but they take every measure to ensure that problems are resolved in the quickest way. possible. They want action and resolution to happen now.
Leaders that solve problems make sure they invest time and energy in solving the root cause of problems. They are careful to identify what is at the core of a problem before investing time and energy into resolving it. They analyze each problem carefully so they don’t get stuck solving part of a problem instead of the whole thing.
Leaders that solve problems aren’t afraid of stepping up in the big moments to make difficult decisions, especially those that may be unpopular. They know that it is their job to make tough calls. They gather the support they can but refuse to be paralyzed if other people disagree with what they know is the right thing to do.
Leaders who solve problems don’t solve problems alone. They surround themselves with the best and brightest people they can find. They are masters at uniting people in a single purpose. They care more about getting the problem solved than about who solves it. They give positive credit to their people, so they know their contribution is seen and appreciated.
Leaders that solve problems effectively put aside their personal bias. They don’t allow themselves to make assumptions or jump to conclusions. They learn from their past experiences but don’t overly rely on them. They look for facts and data they can use to help them make informed and data-driven decisions, instead of decisions based on their gut instinct alone.
Leaders that solve problems are relentless. They are prepared for tough fights and drawn-out battles. They see any problem through to its completion, no matter how long it takes. They don’t stop working until they find a way to overcome each problem set before them.
BELIEFS
SELF-REFLECTION
WORDS OF CAUTION
PSYCHOMETRIC 360 QUESTIONS
There is no easy path to great results. There is never a guarantee of success. There is no clear road to achievement. Even the best-laid plans will encounter twists and turns and unpredictable trouble. In times of solution-seeking people look to their leaders for guidance and help. Leaders who can solve problems clear the roadways for their people and organization to continue progressing even when road blocks arise. They make obstacles passible that for a moment seem impassible. Leaders who can’t solve problems will see their work and ambitions debilitated and frustrated time and time again. By not being able to solve problems today, they diminish their chances of tasting the fruits of success tomorrow.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Leaders that solve problems know nothing good comes easy. They expect each new day to bring more questions than answers, and new obstacles to overcome. They value the role of being problem solvers. They know the organization counts on them to be the rallying figure that gathers people and resources together to figure tough things out.
Leaders that solve problems do not procrastinate solving problems. They know the longer you let a problem go unresolved the harder it will be to resolve. They don’t act recklessly, but they take every measure to ensure that problems are resolved in the quickest way. possible. They want action and resolution to happen now.
Leaders that solve problems make sure they invest time and energy in solving the root cause of problems. They are careful to identify what is at the core of a problem before investing time and energy into resolving it. They analyze each problem carefully so they don’t get stuck solving part of a problem instead of the whole thing.
Leaders that solve problems aren’t afraid of stepping up in the big moments to make difficult decisions, especially those that may be unpopular. They know that it is their job to make tough calls. They gather the support they can but refuse to be paralyzed if other people disagree with what they know is the right thing to do.
Leaders who solve problems don’t solve problems alone. They surround themselves with the best and brightest people they can find. They are masters at uniting people in a single purpose. They care more about getting the problem solved than about who solves it. They give positive credit to their people, so they know their contribution is seen and appreciated.
Leaders that solve problems effectively put aside their personal bias. They don’t allow themselves to make assumptions or jump to conclusions. They learn from their past experiences but don’t overly rely on them. They look for facts and data they can use to help them make informed and data-driven decisions, instead of decisions based on their gut instinct alone.
Leaders that solve problems are relentless. They are prepared for tough fights and drawn-out battles. They see any problem through to its completion, no matter how long it takes. They don’t stop working until they find a way to overcome each problem set before them.
BELIEFS
- Solving problems is a necessary mix of art and logic, intuition and data-driven facts.
- People wouldn’t need leaders if everything always ran smoothly. Leaders help make wrong things right.
- There is a solution to every problem. The best problem solvers are those who never give up until they find it.
- Problem solving is less about knowing what to do and more about knowing how to bring the right people together to help you.
- You can never be satisfied with the first solution you find to a problem. The best solutions are the ones that aren’t obvious.
- The biggest risk to problem solving is solving the wrong problem. Make sure you have found the root cause before you fix it.
- The only problems that can’t be solved are the ones you decide can’t be solved and so you quit trying.
- At times the only way to solve a problem is to do the hard thing that nobody else wants to do. But that is the leader’s job.
- Take on a problem as soon as you see it.
- Look at a problem from every angle.
- Find the expertise you need to help you.
- Collect all of the necessary data.
- Find the root cause of problems.
- Solve problems in teams, never alone.
- Do not get stuck in analysis paralysis.
- Solve problems in a timely manner.
- Get the problem solved right the first time.
- Take action quickly but not carelessly.
- Do the right thing even if it isn’t popular.
- Come up with solutions others don’t see.
- Do not jump to conclusions.
- Delegate some problems to others.
- Prioritize which problems matter most.
- Analyze a problem to really understand it.
- See problems through to completion.
- Be very honest in your analysis of problems.
- Put your personal biases aside.
- Take the time to listen to the ideas of others.
- Collect all of the information you need.
- Look for various solutions to problems.
SELF-REFLECTION
- Do I rally teams of people together to help me, or do I think I have to solve every problem by myself?
- Do I tackle problems as soon as I am aware of them, or do I procrastinate solving them?
- Do I ensure I am solving the right problem before investing resources, or do I act too prematurely?
- Do I rely on data and fact finding to provide solutions to problems, or do I rely too much on my “gut instinct?”
- Do I take the hard stands when it is required, or do I cower in the face of things I would rather not do?
- Do I see problems through to completion, or do I give up on solving problems when the “going gets tough?"
- Do I care more about getting the problem solved, or do I care more about who gets the credit for solving problems?
- Do I stay optimistic when problems arise, or do I let the presence of problems discourage and bring me down?
WORDS OF CAUTION
- Don’t get discouraged if you can’t unravel or resolve a particular problem, some problems are just really hard.
- Don’t think every problem needs to be solved. Some might be of such little consequence you can ignore them for now.
- Don’t keep investing in solving a problem if it clear that any return you get will be far less than the investment required.
PSYCHOMETRIC 360 QUESTIONS
- I love to sort out really complicated problems.
- I like to figure out the answer before anyone else.
- I have no problem making a decision I know will be unpopular.
- Having your beliefs challenged, makes me a better leader.
- If there is a problem, a swift response is always best.
- Problems should be solved using data rather than instinct.