Go Ahead

 

Is there a problem on your mind? Has it been bothering you lately?

If you're thinking about a problem why not think about solving that problem?

It might not be easy. It will be worthwhile.

-- doug smith

Shift The Problem

 

Talking about what you want will do more to solve a problem than talking about what you don't have.

Shift the focus and open the door to more than a thousand possibilities.

-- doug smith

Move The Problem

Intractable problems bother me. Knowing that a problem is beyond my control or influence is frustrating. If the best that we can do is manage with the problem, then manage we must but we won't necessarily enjoy it.

Isn't it still worth exploring the possibilities? Maybe we CAN nudge that problem enough to loosen it from its mooring and start a new situation.

What if tough problems aren't fixed but instead moved? What if the solution is in the motion?

Let's get moving!

-- doug smith

 

Prediction?

Nothing is perfect. Everything is perfect. Perspective predicts the outcome.

-- doug smith

Make It Active

Talking about it is a good start, but eventually you have to do something to solve that problem or achieve that goal.

Problem solving is an active phenomenon.

-- doug smith

Make It A Practice

If we don't make it a practice to solve the little problems, the big prob lets will consume us.

-- doug smith

Find The Possibility

 

That problem might be one possibility away from being solved -- but it might take many possibilities to find that one.

-- doug smith

Evaluate Carefully

It's easier to make a problem worse, than it is to solve it so evaluate your solution carefully.

-- doug smith

Jumping to Solutions

 

What is it like to jump to solutions? It's deciding before evaluating. It's picking the first thing that sounds right. It's doing anything to cut the tension of dealing with a problem. It may not be your best choice.

It's easier to make a problem worse than it is to solve it so evaluate your solution carefully.

Will it make things better? Will it prevent harm? Will it please the people effected? 

Jump to solutions? Not so fast.

Breathe. Evaluate. Select.

-- doug smith

The Best Thing...

The best thing is to prevent problems and the next best thing is to solve them.

-- doug smith

What Leaders Do

 Most of what high performance leaders do is solve problems and achieve their goals.

Get good at one, and it will help you with the other.

Solving problems. Achieving your goals. There really is no avoiding it.

-- doug smith

There's More To It

 

Why do we solve problems? Well, of course, to get rid of the problems. To accomplish our goals. To make work and life better for all of us.

And there's more of course. We learn. We build relationships. We expand our thinking. We become more resilient. Solving problems comes with nearly unlimited benefits.

The goal of solving a problem often goes beyond solving the problem.

Be sure to celebrate the bonus -- it is likely to help you the next time you work to solve a problem.

-- doug smith

Is It Really A Problem?

 

Problems come in many forms. How we look at them matters.

While one person might see a failed goal, another might see the same situation as a valuable piece of learning, or progress toward a larger goal.

Some problems are poorly framed expectations. Whatever we'd been expecting was inaccurate and maybe even unreasonable. That we didn't get what we expected was not because of a problem, but because of what we expected that never had a chance.

If a problem seems unsolvable it is worth at least asking: was my expectation off on this? Is it really a problem at all? Or is it an opportunity to check your perspective and celebrate your learning?

-- doug smith

Balance Requires Movement

Can you stand still on a bicycle? How about a unicycle? 

I remember trying to learn a trick during my Mustard Seed Theatre Company days that involved juggling while standing on a teeter-totter. "You've got to keep moving..." said Peter. "Standing still won't get it done."

In today's world balance is highly prized. We want balanced, centered lives where our work hats do not prevent us from wearing the other hats of our lives. But, balance doesn't require stasis. Instead, to stay balanced, we need to keep moving.

Steady, controlled, disciplined, calm, we move and find a rhythm that works.

How is your balance today?

-- doug smith

 

It's Your Choice

 

The way you look at your problems determines what you do with them. Will you run? Will you hide? Will you face them head-on?

Look at your problems as challenges instead of aggravations -- it will increase your chance of solving them.

-- doug smith

Solve the Next One

Remember all the problems you've already solved and you'll feel better about solving the next one.

Just look at those muscles. Just feel that strength. Just focus that powerful mind of yours.

You've got this.

-- doug smith

Problem Surfing?

Problems come in waves, one following another until we solve or release the original wave.

It's not surfing, but you can't skate your way thru. 

Roll up your sleeves, and do what you need to do.

-- doug smith

Keeping an Enemy

To keep track of what your enemy thinks without thinking what your enemy thinks is a challenge of keeping enemies.

Maybe you did not choose your enemy. Do you still want to keep them an enemy?

-- doug smith

Flaws

Any idea, any concept, any belief that includes hatred or disrespect is already deeply flawed.

Adding flaws will not help solve any problem.

-- doug smith

Creating an Enemy

Creating an enemy makes you an enemy.

How can that help you feel any better?

-- doug smith

Don't Panic

"It's the end of the world!"

"This will never work out!"

"We can't possible figure this out!"

Yikes. The sounds of panic are shrill and painful. Worse, they do not help.

Putting a panic in a problem won't solve it, but it will certainly slow it down. It will probably even make it worse.

Let's not panic. Let's get to work.

-- doug smith 

Leadership Problems

Leaders have problems just like everybody else and they have an unfair ability to spread those problems. They can, with their power and influence, make things worse.

But they don't have to. You don't have to. Leaders can also use their influence and power to make things better. Working well with others, leaders can solve those problems.

Let's take the better choice.

-- doug smith

Focus

When a problem surrounds you it often confounds you.

Keep focused on the goal beyond the problem.

--- doug smith

It Could Be You

Have you ever sat thru a meeting or event and wondered, "Who's in charge of this mess?"

Do you encounter broken processes that get in the way of success and that interfere with customer or team member happiness?

This can be a challenge, but it is also a choice: 

If you look around and wonder "who is in charge of fixing this mess?" it could be you. It probably is you. 

-- doug smith

Talk it thru...

Stuck? Is that problem persistent?

When problems ensue try talking them thru.

It might be exactly what you need.

-- doug smith

 

Skip the Fear

Fear of creativity keeps many problems from getting solved.

Skip the fear. Expand your creativity.

-- doug smith

 

Either Way

Fix the problem and then fix yourself, or fix yourself and then fix the problem. Centered problem solving works either way.

-- doug smith

 

Reciprocity

Helping someone else solve their problem can likely lead to you solving your own.

-- doug smith

 

Focus

Knowing what you want from a solution is the first step in getting it.

-- doug smith

 

Communicating Better Solves More Problems

Imagine how many problems we could solve by improving our ability to communicate.

Interpersonal problems, organizational problems, team problems, political problems, maybe even scientific problems -- all would be better managed if we communicated more effectively.

I'm working on getting better at that. How about you?

-- doug smith

 

Ego's Wall

For something so fragile, ego sure builds a formidable wall.

-- doug smith

Check Carefully

We have a problem is my solution causes you problems -- and vice versa.

 Before we implement, let's check to see all of the possible results.

-- doug smith

Fixing

Fix the problem and then fix yourself, or fix yourself and then fix the problem. Centered problem solving works either way.

-- doug smith

 

Coming Around

Helping someone else solve their problem can likely lead to you solving one of your own.

-- doug smith

 

Knowledge Helps

Knowing what you want from a solution is the first step in getting it.

-- doug smith

Quick take

When problems ensue try talking them thru.

-- doug smith

Problem After Problem

As soon as I solve every problem I can think of I think of more problems.

That's not a bad thing, but it is a thing. We live with an endless supply of problems.

All the more reason to keep busy solving them.

-- doug smith

Team Bonding

Solving problems is a great way to engage your team.

Team members are already feeling the effects of your problems. There are numerous benefits to getting the whole team involved in solving those same problems.

In the process, when the effort is collaborative and centered, the team bonds as well.

-- doug smith

Respect

Your voice could be the voice that solves a problem but first that voice must be respected and heard.

Build the respect. 

-- doug smith

Simply Put

If the problem is yours to solve you can find a way to solve it.

-- doug smith

Keep Digging

The root cause of your problem is probably deeper than you suspect.

Keep digging.

-- doug smith