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Problems, problems, problems! Everywhere I go,
I hear people complaining that they have so many problems.
I've explained to people for years, "Your job depends
on problems." Isn't that true? We're hired to take care of customer
service problems, or personnel problems, or computer problems. When
we're out of problems, we're out of jobs!
Perhaps it's how we view problems that helps us
keep them in perspective. Problems might instead be labeled challenges
or opportunities or ways to show creative expertise.
Whatever wording is used, our real job is to provide
solutions. How do we become more solution oriented? Here are some
ideas:
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Anticipate problems before they happen;
many mistakes are predictable and can simply be avoided with
some planning.
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View problems that weren't anticipated as
positively as possible.
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Investigate the facts but search for the
causes.
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Write down any information important for
decision making.
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Choose solutions based on available data
and the desired results.
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Implement solutions and check results; adjust
as needed.
Maybe these suggestions won't always work, but
they're necessary in our search for solutions.
For many years, I was a great problem-solver in
business. I must have had a big sign on my back that read, "Bring
me your problems," because people did. When I was president of a
manufacturing and retail chain store operation, I'd be gone for
a few days and come back to a line of people ready to drop their
problems on me. I accepted. I often felt that I had solved the same
problem approximately 50 times.
Today, I'm trying to be a little smarter. I'm asking
more questions like:
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What are the results we want?
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Is this a real problem or something else
in disguise?
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Have you looked for the problem causing the
problem?
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Have you identified all the players in this
scenario?
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What do you think the solution is?
As a leader in my business, these questions have
helped to ease the problem-solving burden. In the leadership role,
one needs to be a constant educator and allow people to grow. People
grow through both success and failure. They're going to "miss" on
a few solutions. And, of course, the solution to one problem may
help them find their next solution. And, for me, that has been the
best solution of all. |
