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

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

Focus

When a problem surrounds you it often confounds you.

Keep focused on the goal beyond the problem.

--- doug smith

What's Your Goal?

Problem solving is mostly about achieving the right goals.

-- Doug Smith

Overwhelm That Problem

That problem won't stand once you throw everything you've got at it.

Focus, Center, Solve.

-- Doug Smith

Stay Sharp

What if problems are nature's way of keeping us sharp?

-- Doug Smith

Dealing With Uncertainty

How will we know that the solution will work?

Have you ever asked yourself that question? The ideas are good, the reasoning is sound, the analysis as complete as you can make it, but will it work? Will it work?

There's some uncertainty in solving problems that can throw us off center. Our emotions can trigger reactions that impact our ability to follow-through with our action plan. The speed of the solution can vary enough to get us confused. While we navigate that uncertainty, it's staying centered that keeps on track. Centering our use of clarity, courage, creativity, and compassion in the midst of change creates the focus we need to stay the course.

Are you willing to trade the certainty of a problem for the uncertainty of a solution?

It's worth it.

-- Doug Smith

It's Up To Us

Do other people solve your problems?

I have found that when I do expect solutions to come from other people, I'm usually disappointed. Other people can help. Other people are useful collaborators. Centered problem solvers work well with other people to focus, analyze, create, energize, and solve problems. But it's still up to us.

Depending on other people to solve our problems is the worst kind of useless illusion.

Other people help. Other people care. Other people support and challenge. But we are the ones to solve our problems.

-- Doug Smith

Walk Carefully To Solutions

What happens when you jump to conclusions?

I know that I've jumped to many conclusions and usually didn't like where those leaps took me. Not only does it take me to the wrong place faster, it keeps from from finding the right place. Jumping to conclusions gives us deeply flawed answers to our problems.

Jumping to a solution before we've truly analyzed a problem usually gives us exactly what we expected. 

And sometimes, that's not the best answer. Usually, it's not the optimal solution.

How can you ground yourself when you feel about to jump to a conclusion?

Relax. Breathe. Center. Find your focus. What exactly IS it you're working on? What exactly IS your goal? What exactly are you seeing and what do you only THINK you are seeing?

Walk carefully to that solution. It will wait for you.

-- Doug Smith

doug smith training: how to achieve your project goals

Focus On What You Really Want

Do you ever find yourself midway through solving a problem and wondering why you are bothering with that problem?

Or, do you ever think you've solved a problem only to discover it was just a symptom of a bigger problem?

Before solving a problem it helps to focus on what we really want.

What's the goal?

I like to reframe each problem into a goal-statement so that the work becomes positive: we work on what we want to achieve, rather than what we seek to avoid.

It makes a difference. It's much easier to stay centered with a goal in mind, and it's much easier to keep that goal in mind when we stay centered.

What problem can you convert into a positive goal?

-- Doug Smith

Front Range Leadership: Training Supervisors for Success

doug smith training: how to achieve your project goals

Look Beyond The Problem

How much do you think about your problems?

There are times in our lives when problems become the center of our existence, instead of letting the center of our existence navigate our problems. Wherever you are on your problem solving journey, I offer these humble thoughts on problem solving to you today.

• Sometimes a problem can be a tick to a new life.

We aren't expecting it. We didn't ask for it. But, there you go. Another step in the trip.

• Problems reveal our character.

How we respond says more about ourselves than about our problems. Are we centered? Do we create focus? Do we explore the new possibilities with curiosity?

• Problems, puzzles, and predicaments -- do you now which you are stuck in?

When we are most centered in our approach to observing, accepting, and responding it almost doesn't matter what the nature of the problem is -- we can focus with our most noble and pure intentions.

When it works. Sometimes a problem knocks us down and laughs at our humble ego thinking we've got it all figured out. But not when we are fully centered. Not when those problems are just something to unravel.

What are you thinking about today?

-- Douglas Brent Smith

Consider this...

The essence of any problem contains its solution.

-- Douglas Brent Smith

Focus On Your Goal

Where do you start your problem solving process?

Many people jump right in defining what they think is the problem, but what they are really describing is the symptoms. If you've ever solved a bunch of symptoms only to find the problem still hanging around, you're ready for another approach.

How about starting with your goal? What is it that you really want?

It's much more effective to focus on your goal because then there are things that you can DO to get you there faster.

Before solving a problem, focus on what you really want from a solution.

You'll be much happier with the solutions you find when they help you achieve your goals.

-- Douglas Brent Smith

Big Opportunity

It's not always fun. It's not usually what we seek. It can create tension in our lives. Still, it's good to know:

Your biggest problem is your biggest opportunity.

-- Douglas Brent Smith

In case you wondered

Problems exist to spark your curiosity.

-- Douglas Brent Smith

Focus for Productive Creativity

Do you see things the way they really are, or the way you only THINK they are?

Are people on your team deceiving you or gaming your system?

How will you know?

A clear analysis of a situation provides the focus that allows for wildly productive creativity.

But the analysis comes first.

Know where you ARE, and then you're free to evolve.

Does that make sense to you? 

-- Douglas Brent Smith

Solving Problems with the Highest Payoff

With so many problems to choose from, which do you pick to solve first?

Some people like to build momentum by moving from smallest problem to biggest problem. If this works for you and you're happy with the results, keep doing it.

Other people find that once they start with small problems or easy to do tasks that they get stuck there. It becomes too hard to move forward. If this is you, you're probably ready for something different.

How about going right for the biggest payoff?

When I worked at GE we used a tool called the Payoff / Effort matrix. With so much to work on, we used this tool to determine where to start. Should we put extra effort into something that would provide little payoff? Clearly, not when the same effort could produce more payoff in another area.

Solve the problems that provide the biggest payoff first.

Not only will you get your biggest problem solved, but you will likely find that you now have more resources and energy to solve other problems.

Of course, you may then discover yet another, bigger, higher payoff problem ready to be solved. That's good news. That's called development.

What's your highest payoff area of opportunity? What can you do to work on it today?

-- Douglas Brent Smith

Another Problem Opportunity

What do you do when your problem is with another person?

How do you react when people stand in your way?

It's possible to see this as an opportunity to work on the relationship. It's possible to move the problem forward by deepening our compassion. By slowing down to listen and accept -- without committing to any particular solutions -- we can often arrive at those solutions much faster. We can optimize our results by optimizing our relationships.

Problems provide open opportunities to respectfully express our love.

Who would ever want to miss that?

-- Douglas Brent Smith

Get the help you need

When you are solving a problem do you tend to do it all yourself? Or do you look for the help that you need? Sometimes we hesitate from asking the very people who can give us the most help, simply because they might disagree with our perspective. It's those diverse perspectives that we need in order to develop a lasting, honorable, noble solution.

Expert problem solvers get the help that they need.

You do want to solve that problem, don't you?

-- Douglas Brent Smith

Solving Problems  |  Achieving Your Goals

Finding More Arms

On one hand, the bigger the problem, the tougher it seems. On the other hand, the bigger the problem, the more people are effected and the more potential help you have to recruit. Once people are invested in a problem they are much more likely to care about solving it.

If a problem is too big to wrap your arms around, find more arms to help you.

Sometimes all you need to do is ask.

-- Douglas Brent Smith