Grow in this area by answering these three questions:
What Does The Way I Handle Problems Say About Me?
How you see problems shapes your attitude and your leadership .
Do you see problems as an opportunity to use your leadership for the betterment of your team and organization? or are they inconveniences that simply ruin your plan and discourage you ?
Make a list of past problems that have led to lessons or opportunities, then make the decision to look for the potential positives in your problem.
How Can I Enlist Others As Problem Solvers?
When you face problems, begin using questions to learn more about the members of your team, gather information, brainstorm ideas, and find multiple solutions to problems. Here are a few questions to help you get started:
- When did the problem begin?
- Where did it begin?
- Who was first to notice it?
- What are several possible causes for it?
- What is the impact of the problem? Who is affected?
- What other possible negative consequences could it have?
- Is this problem part of a bigger problem? If so, how?
- Who has dealt with this kind of problem successfully?
- What are several possible approaches to solving it?
- What kind of time, expertise, and resources will be needed for these solutions?
- Will people buy into these solutions?
- How long will each of these solutions take to implement?
- How might these solutions give us future advantage?
- What lessons can be learned from all of this?
What Future Opportunities Are Presenting Themselves In Current Problems?
Pick one big problem you are currently working on. As you seek solutions, brainstorm as many creative opportunities as possible that could be associated with the problem and solutions.
Allow these thoughts to shape the problem-solving process, because if you are able to use a problem to actually move your team or organization father ahead, you will have done one of the most difficult of all leadership tasks: become a change agent.
