4 TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE PROBLEM SOLVING
Problem solving is an essential skill that
all great leaders have in common.
Whenever we read about leaders’ lives and accomplishments - whether contemporary or throughout history - one common trait stands out: their ability to solve problems.
No matter what field a leader is in, he will face problems...[Problems] are inevitable for three reasons. First, we live in a world of growing complexity and diversity. Second, we interact with people. And third, we cannot control all the situations we face. – John C. Maxwell
In his book, The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, John C. Maxwell suggests that leaders cultivate the following five problem-solving qualities because problems themselves cannot be the main problem.
And while experience is the best teacher, and the ability to solve problems effectively comes from facing and overcoming obstacles, we've gathered four tips that you can keep in mind while navigating the sometimes choppy waters of leadership.
The good news is that as you learn and experience new things and each time you solve another problem, you get a little better at the process.
Anticipate the problem
Problems are inevitable, and anyone who expects the road to be easy will continually find themselves in trouble. Don't wait for problems to arise before you put together a contingency plan - think about how you will solve certain scenarios that are likely to come up. If you plan for the worst and expect the best, you'll remain positive and in an excellent position to solve problems that come your way.
Accept the truth
When a problem arises, people tend to respond to them in one of two ways: they either accept them as part of their life and learn to live with them, or they accept that they are present and look for ways to make things better. According to John C. Maxwell, effective leaders face up to the reality of a situation and try to improve their position.
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See the big picture
Don't allow yourself to get so bogged down in the details that you lose sight of what’s important. Always think about how problems let you learn more about yourself and your abilities and identify places for improvement and growth.
Think about how solving one problem supports short-term and long-term goals, your vision for the future, and your personal and professional growth. Embracing big-picture thinking will help you remain optimistic and confident that what you're doing is working; that it's carrying you towards your vision of the future and what that holds.
Handle one thing at a time
Management guru Richard Sloma perhaps put it best when he said: "Never try to solve all the problems at once—make them line up for you one-by-one."
When you multitask, you are more likely to get overwhelmed and complete the tasks less thoroughly and to a lesser degree of quality. When you try to handle more than one thing at a time, it's easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer size or complexity of the task at hand or the volume of things that you need to get done in order to take yourself, your team, and your business from Point A to Point B. If you’re faced with lots of problems, make sure you fully solve the one you’re working on before moving on to the next one.
Make good use of optimism
Leadership isn't all sunshine, rainbows, and unicorns. You're not guaranteed to have a good day, every day. There will be times when you feel like giving up.
When that happens, reach out to your support network and talk out your problems, but don't allow yourself to make major decisions when you're in that mindset.
When you are in a darker place, it's not a good idea to make decisions that will affect your future or that of your team and/or business. Instead, try to solve problems by making what you would deem 'major' business decisions when you're on the upswing.
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