Centered Problem Solvers Build Relationships

When you are solving a problem with a team, how much time do you spend developing that team? How much attention do you pay to the chemistry of that team and to your team relationships?

Does it matter?

I think it does. Teams that get along do better work. People who build relationships while seeking better results usually end up with both. We can't ignore people and expect them to give us their best.

People on a problem solving team don't have to like each other, but it helps.

How can we get people to like each other?

Here are a few ways that I've found helpful:

• Reach agreement on your team's values. What traits are most important?
• Set agreements on how you'll interact with each other.
• Listen, listen, listen.
• Spend time with each other. There's no such thing as quality time, only time. Invest it in your team.

What ways have you found to be helpful in building strong relationships in a problem solving team?

-- Doug Smith

Get People To Help With Your Problem

How often do you try to solve a problem all by yourself?

All too often, in my case. Is it pride? Is it confidence? Or, is it just a reluctance to ask for help when help is needed?

Our problems are divisible by the number of people we get to help us.

Why not get the help we need?

I'm going to work on that. How about you?

Doug Smith

Front Range Leadership: High Performance Leadership Training

doug smith training: how to achieve your goals


What have you learned today?

Get To Know Your Team

When you are working to solve a problem, how much time do you spend getting to know your team?

When we collaborate on problem solving we surround ourselves with people who can help. But not all teams are the same. The people on the team largely determine how successful we will be. A centered problem solver considers the needs, personalities, and skills of the people on the team and gets to know them better.

A problem solving team needs time to understand each other as well as the problem.

Maybe all you need is a round of introductions. Maybe all you need is a useful and bonding warm-up activity. Maybe you need a meal to relax and settle into a productive team energy. Figure out what you need and give it the attention it deserves.

The people on your team are people.

What more can you do on the next collaboration in order to learn more about the people involved?

-- Doug Smith

doug smith training: how to achieve your goals 

Front Range Leadership: High Performance Leadership Training

The Larger Community

Our problems serve as reminders that we are part of a larger community.

Within that community are people who impact our problems, who cause our problems, who feel our problems, and who sometimes suffer from our problems. Working together collaboratively we can solve those problems in ways that keep us individually centered and community focused.

Any other way? Any way that does not consider our community risks being a partial or flawed solution.

Let's keep the larger community in mind.

-- Doug Smith

Front Range Leadership: High performance leadership training

doug smith training: how to achieve your goals

Our Own Problems

Can you solve my problem for me?

Probably not. And, you probably don't want to. Yet we often think that we can solve someone else's problems.

We can help. We can teach. We can provide an environment that makes problem solving possible. But, very seldom can we solve someone else's problem.

You can help me solve my problem, but I'm going to need to do it on my own.

To come up with the true root cause. To develop the best strategies for finding the solution. For selecting the solution. And, (most importantly) to implement the solutions for achieving my goal.

You can't do that for me -- or anyone else.

We can help, but we must involve the people who feel the pain of the problem in order to solve that problem.

It's both a relief, and a new level of responsibility. Are you ready?

-- Douglas Brent Smith

Front Range Leadership: High Performance Leadership Training

doug smith training: how to achieve your goals