The Wrong Solution

Did you ever solve something and make it worse? I know that I have. I've installed processes that people didn't need. I've created logs that tracked data no one wanted. I've printed reports that no one read.

An ineffective solution can be worse than a persistent problem.

A solution that no one wants creates resistance to solutions that people may need. The trouble is that we don't always shut our resistance off and on accurately or effectively. When a leader creates road blocks to success and gums up the works, even with the intention of making some valuable change, people may disregard wholesale. Is that what you want?


Why not spend the time to find a better answer?

How?

• Take the time to FOCUS on what it is that you really want, based on your mission, values and goals.
• ANALYZE the situation carefully and identify any misunderstandings. You'll do better with the help of other people on this, especially people who are skilled at finding inconsistencies.
• Involve the people who will be effected by any change as you CREATE potential solutions. People don't usually resist their own ideas.
• Use your carefully agreed on criteria for success to EVALUATE your possibilities. If you've done your job of creating robustly enough, there will be many ideas to choose from. 
• SOLVE your problem using your best possibilities, your most eager people, your most robust processes and your most assertive plan. 

That may take a little longer than jumping to a fast solution that people don't want. But you do want to find an effective solution, don't you?

-- Douglas Brent Smith

Front Range Leadership