One critical aspect of leadership is solving significant problems that happen in the organization. Leaders who can strategically organize and solve issues continually move their people and organizations forward. Although problems happen daily in organizations, some are larger than others and need a strategic system for solving them. Here is a seven step process for solving problems:
- Name the Problem: Whenever leaders encounter a large problem, they should focus on specifically naming that problem clearly. Define what it looks like, how it impacts the team, and why it’s a problem. It’s challenging to solve any problem without first naming it. How clearly can you name the problem?
- Communicate the Problem: The next step is to specifically communicate the problem with the team. Encountering a problem already creates enough challenges, so communicating it helps ease the stress around it. Provide as much detail about the problem as possible in order for people to reflect on it for themselves. How clearly do you communicate the problem?
- Offer Possible Solutions: When communicating the problem to the team, considering offering possible solutions to the problem. Providing these allows others to begin strategically thinking about how the problem will be solved and what options exist. Do you offer possible solutions to the problem?
- Discuss Solutions and Obstacles: Once the team gathers, then it’s time to discuss all potential solutions and obstacles the team will face. Use the whiteboard or a document to outline solutions and obstacles together. While a variety of methods exist, simply opening the meeting up for further discussion around the solutions and obstacles helps move the team toward the best possible option. What is your strategy for discussing the solutions and obstacles?
- Distribute Leadership and Actions: After deciding on the best possible solution, distribute the leadership and the actionable items to individuals on the team. The leader doesn’t need to complete every task in solving the problem. Allow others to contribute meaningfully by distributing leadership and tasks. How effectively do you distribute leadership and actionable items?
- Evaluate the System and Adjust: As the team works through the action items, continually check in with people to determine the effectiveness of the plan. If something needs adjusting, then make the necessary changes. If the plan is working to solve the problem, then continue on the path. How will you evaluate the system and adjust accordingly?
- Celebrate Success: Eventually, the team will solve the problem in either part or in whole. Once that happens, it’s critical to celebrate the successes of the team and praise individual efforts. How will you celebrate success and praise others?
One separator of great teams and leaders is their ability to solve significant problems when they arise. It’s a leader’s responsibility to develop a strategic system to navigate these challenges. Creating the process, committing to the actions, and revising it helps to more effectively solve the problems when they happen.
What is your problem solving system?