I get to work with all kinds of staff from experienced professionals to younger, millennial staff (bless their special little hearts!). One thing I noticed is how they approach issues and problems. This got me thinking out loud about problem solving and leadership.
Some people are good problem identifiers (usually represented by younger staff). They can diagnose an issue, articulate the impacts, and clearly describe in excruciating detail why this situation is bad. The problem is that often they just stop there. Nobel Prize winner and author Edward de Bono describes this as "Black Hat" thinking in his book, Six Thinking Hats. Black Hat thinkers often see the downside of ideas or situations. Now, it does not mean they are wrong, but it does mean they are not on the right leadership track. On the other hand, de Bono describes “Yellow Hat” thinkers as those that approach life by seeing possibilities and opportunities. These are problem solvers!
The difference is that leadership requires us to close the "problem" loop, otherwise problem identification just becomes an exercise in complaining and learned helplessness. In other words, effective and powerful leaders are problem solvers (or even better, problems dissolvers!). Sure, you recognize there is an issue but then thought, energy and effort quickly starts moving to ACTION.
In my mind, this is a huge differentiator between leaders and followers. It is what identifies a staff member who you want to nurture and reward versus one you need to develop. It is also an area for coaching and encouragement among those who stay stuck in problem identification mode. They are hard workers, but they need to become hard thinkers!
Here is one quick intervention you can use next time one of your team members is presenting you with a lengthy problem identification monologue. Listen patiently and then simply ask:
What do you think? Or What will you do?
The last point is this. If you want more problem solvers, then you have to empower them to do so!
So, what will YOU do?!
As always, if I can help you and the people you associate with
Get Better, Be Ready and LEAD OUT LOUD, I would love to hear from you. Also, as
a bonus, if you go to my Out Loud Strategies website (www.outloudinc.com) and enter your contact information, I will
send you a FREE guide to establishing a mentoring initiative program in your
organization! Such an initiative would be critical in order to add value to
your organization!
Yours
in Leadership,
Bill
Faulkner
Co-Founder
– Out Loud Strategies
Independent
Coach, Speaker, and Trainer with the John Maxwell Team TM
Email = bill@outloudinc.com
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