Be a Proactive Problem Solver

#16, July 15, 2008

As discussed in last week's tip Staying Cool Under Pressure, dealing with problems when they arise is the first of four essential coping skills for dealing with stress.

Most leaders know how to solve problems-virtually every management course has a segment on the steps you need to take to come up with the best solution, so I do not feel compelled to repeat them here.

However, there are two ideas I have found to be most important in order to turn problems into beneficial learning experiences. The first is all about my attitude toward the problem. If I believe a problem is "bad," I feel stressed and react negatively when it arises. However, if I view my problem as an "opportunity," then when a problem arises my first-well, maybe my second thought-is, "That's interesting-what can I learn from this?"

The second idea stems from the first: I always make sure that I have all of the facts before I make assumptions about the problem or potential solutions. I see so many managers whose first reaction to a problem is to jump to conclusions about who is to blame for it and how to get rid of it. Three simple steps that keep me from following their example are:

  1. Be curious: gather as much information as possible before thinking about solutions. Focus more on the system than on the people involved. How will changing our systems prevent this problem from recurring in the future?
  2. Involve others on your team: ask for their ideas and potential solutions. The best ideas can, and often do, come from anyone, not just those with specialized knowledge
  3. Be creative: be willing to experiment and understand that the best solutions aren't always the obvious ones.
By implementing these ideas with your team, they will also learn to see problems as opportunities and deal with them more directly-rather than trying to hide them or hoping they will just go away.

Keep reading our Weekly Leadership Tips for ways you can create a work environment where all team members are engaged, committed to your organization, and passionate about doing a great job every time.

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© 2007 Keith Ayers. All rights reserved.

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