PROBLEM SOLVING
If life is hard for individuals, then why is it doubly difficult for a leader?
Describe a day when a “too hot to handle” problem landed on your desk.
PROBLEMS INTRODUCE US TO OURSELVES
1. Our Decisions Are Often Impacted by Our Proximity to the Problem How did the story with the astronauts illustrate this?
2. Our Plates as Leaders Will Always Be Filled with Problems. The hardest thing about milking cows is that they never stay milked. How are cows and leaders alike?
3. Pragmatism Serves Us Well as Leaders. How would you define pragmatism?
“There is a sense of exhilaration that comes from facing head-on the hard truths and saying, ‘We will not give up. We will never capitulate. It might take a long time, but we will find a way to prevail.’”
— Jim Collins
4. Believing There is Always an Answer is an Asset. How agile is your mind when faced with a problem? How has your approach to problem solving evolved?
5. Our Actions Can Make Our Problems Increase in Number and Size. My problems always tended to multiply whenever I…
• Lost my perspective.
• Gave up on an important personal value.
• Lost my sense of humor.
• Felt sorry for myself.
• Blamed others for my situation.
• Wished for them to go away instead of working for them to go away.
Describe a problem when your reaction to the problem made the problem worse?
6. Problems Handled Well Often Make Us Better. The Problem Promise: When you handle them well, problems promise to make you better.
Discuss this: What you face helps you to face yourself, and what you are able to carry defines you.
What have you learned about yourself through facing problems?
PROBLEMS INTRODUCE US TO OTHERS
“I’m not able to comment on his character. I’ve never seen him handle adversity.”
How has another person’s character surprised you when they had adversity?
1. People Who Make Problems Worse
How do the people around you react to the sparks of life? Are they firelighters who blow things up, or firefighters who calm things down? Make a list of each group in your life. How can you lead them?
2. People Who Become Problem Magnets. Do you look for problems or possibilities?
“Who you are is who you attract.” The Law of Magnetism from The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
Do you have any problem magnets in your life, business?
3. People Who Give Up in the Face of Problems. Do you have a Rolodex story?
4. People Who Use Problems as Stepping-Stones for Success As a leader, you need to pay attention to how your people respond to problems, and you need to help them respond correctly if possible.
Who on your team do you need to help respond correctly to problems?
What is the best part about sharing your problems with others? And the worst?
PROBLEMS INTRODUCE US TO OPPORTUNITIES
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” Albert Einstein
1. Recognize a Potential Problem Before it Becomes a Real Problem
What potential problems do you see in your world, and what is your game plan to fix them when they happen?
2. Get a Clear Picture of the Problem
Larry Maxwell said, “John, hope isn’t enough. Face reality, and let your first loss become your last loss.”
When have you failed to identify a problem ahead of time?
3. Ask Questions to Help You Solve Problems
The Information Question: “Who knows the most about this problem?”
The Experience Question: “Who knows what I need to know?”
The Challenge Question: “Who wants to tackle this problem?”
The Magnitude Question: “Who needs to buy in, and how long will that take?”
The Trust Question: “Have we earned enough trust to make needed changes?”
The Personal Question: “What questions do I need to ask myself?”
4. Create a Framework to Examine Problems and Solutions
My framework has six critical keys:
5. Value Shared Problem Solving
Of the three points John makes (pp.110-113), which one do you need to develop?
6. Always Come Up with More Than One Solution
Do you have a yesterday’s or today’s approach? – See chart p.113
7. Cultivate a Bias for Action
Don’t think, Can I? Instead think, How can I?
Then start moving forward.
8. Actively Look for Opportunities and Lessons in Every Problem
APPLICATION: Developing the Problem Solver Within You
Enlisting Others as Problem Solvers
Starting this week, when you face problems, begin using questions to learn more about the members of your team, gather information, brainstorm ideas, and find multiple solutions to problems.
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