Problems are great

Don’t bring me problems, bring me solutions.

I’m not a fan of that much used phrase.

From a leadership perspective, the start is a blocker – Don’t come to me.

Then it goes on to explain that if you are in need of help I am not interested. I only

want to know about things once you have worked out how to fix them.

Why? So that I can make the final decision only when you’ve done all the hard work?

The spirit of the phrase is meant to empower, to encourage reflection so that the

request becomes one where the risk has identified and a plan been created. That’s

great when it is within normal boundaries and presents no additional side e!ects. Not

so much a problem as simply business as usual.

What makes problems so good?

They tell us that we are looking forward. Actively seeking a way of doing things

better.

Problems also indicate that people are talking.

And here’s the really delicate bit. By discussing problems earlier you get the

combined input of a wider range of people. Note, that doesn’t mean relinquishing

responsibility nor does it mean showing weakness.

Instead, it prevents two significant risks:

Of making decisions without key pieces of information. We frequently have to make

decisions without all the information otherwise there would be no case to deal with

ambiguity. If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.

However we may not realise the significance of what we are proposing without

gaining outside view. Anyone who has worked in software development will be

familiar with how easily a seemingly small change in one area of a project can have

huge repercussions in another.

It also gives an opportunity to break the pattern of “we’ve always done it this way.” If

you ask the same people you will tend to get the same advice so consider going

outside your usual circle of contacts. That might mean a coach or consultant who

specialises in this topic.

Finally, sharing problems is good for you. We sometimes get things out of proportion,

get blinded by our own desire to be unshakeable that when we do get stuck we don’t

know how to deal with it. Our vision drops, our creativity su!ers and that small glitch

becomes all consuming.

So keep talking to me.