Tag: issues

Strive for more problems

Each year, you should be lucky enough to have earned new problems. Hopefully, that means that you’ve grown so much in the past year that you are facing new challenges and a new set of problems.

If you get to the end of the year and you’re facing the same old problems you’ve faced in the past, you didn’t learn and grow from those enough in the past to be able to eliminate those now (or in the future).

Tackle your old and current problems. Make sure they never come back. But grow so much within this next year that you end up facing a new set of “problems.”

We don’t want a life completely void of challenges. That would be boring. We want obstacles to overcome. We feel good when we solve problems and feel like we’ve earned our success. Don’t be complacent. And don’t be upset when you face new problems…only be upset if you’re facing old problems.

Giving more effort and solving difficult problems

Usually, when effort increases, reward increases. Following the easy path is less likely to be rewarding (financially or otherwise). Because if it is easy then everyone would do it. And if everyone does it, it is less likely to be valued

Think back to economics class with supply and demand…the greater the supply (or the more people who have the ability to do something and want to do it), the less the demand and the less valuable that resource/task becomes.

If you do hard things or solve difficult problems that others won’t or can’t do, you’re more likely to be rewarded.

Simplifying complex issues

Most people make simple problems and solutions very complex. Anybody can do that. Experts make the complex problems and solutions simple. They can clearly and concisely explain things in layman‘s terms and don’t have to use fancy words or industry jargon to try to prove their intelligence.

Work on listening more and speaking less. When you speak, do it clearly, concisely, and with confidence. Simplify your answer as much as is required – no more, no less.

Finding root issues

Identify what the root of the issue is…is it a people issue, a process issue, or a tool issue? Does it boil down to having the wrong person on your team? Do you have the right people, but you haven’t trained them well enough or put enough processes in place to allow them to succeed? Or do you have the right people and processes, but they don’t have the tools to succeed?

Discuss potential solutions to your issues. At first, anything should be an option to solve your issue. After all options are on the table, then you can start eliminating those that are not as applicable. Be sure to always keep an open mind and don’t shut down opposing viewpoints.

Solve the key issue. Make sure that this is not a band-aid, but a long-term solution. You don’t want to “solve” something temporarily, only to have it crop back up again in a few months.