The Need to Act

 

Some of us like to analyze. Some of us like to act and let someone else analyze.

Solving problems takes a balance. The most brilliant analysis producing the most wonderful ideas is all useless until someone acts.

Some problems encourage eternal analysis, but that does not mean that eternal analysis is best. Some analysis is best accomplished with action.

Think carefully, of course. Act boldly, also of course.

-- doug smith 

Go Beyond Analysis

Do you enjoy analyzing a problem? I can analyze all day long. It is useful, and it's even satisfying. But it does not solve the problem. Problems are persistent and do not care about your analysis. To fix a problem, we've got to do something.

Your problem will probably survive analysis. Do more.

-- doug smith

Leadership Call to Action:

Think about a problem that you have been analyzing recently. If you have not already done so, write down all the possible causes of that problem.

What is your next step beyond analysis? What part of that step can you do this week?

Test The Data

Are you analytic? Do you dig deep into the data of a problem to find the root cause?

Even those of us who embrace analysis can forget that the data may be flawed. It may reflect an undetected perspective. It may even be  compromised with an agenda.

No matter what the data says (and it's easy to miss this when we really like what the data says) it is important to check it for accuracy. Test it.

Successful centered problem solvers embrace the data but test it carefully.

Maybe it's true, maybe it's useful -- but maybe it's not.

Who do you have checking your data?

-- Douglas Brent Smith

Check Your Design

Could your problem be in the design?

Broken processes, faulty products, short-sighted services...all of these and more can sometimes be the fault of poor design. To fix a problem, we should consider the design as part of our analysis.

A problem embedded in the design can be hard to spot if we take the design for granted.

It helps to look at the design with fresh eyes. Ask an outsider to assess the usefulness and friendliness of your design. Test it against expectations.

While it can be frustrating to think that a problem may have been baked in from the beginning, very often that's the case. It's not too late. Look at the design now.

-- Douglas Brent Smith