The importance for a leader to seek and provide solutions to the challenges encountered.
“ We can never solve tomorrow’s problems with today’s thinking” Albert Einstein
This quote from Einstein reminds us that the world around us is constantly changing.
The people who will achieve their goals and success are those who have the greatest adaptability and who will be able to use their creativity and the tools at their disposal to find new and innovative solutions to the problems they encounter.
Creativity is combined with the courage to implement solutions that go against current thinking.
Lack of managerial courage in companies
In companies, many managers know the solutions to problems, but lack managerial courage. They accept reprehensible behaviors or harmful situations for fear of the impact on all employees and reprimands from the employees responsible for the situation, who are often negative leaders.
Remember one important thing: management is not a popularity contest and some decisions will be contested. A leader who knows how to solve complex or recurring problems gains credibility with his peers and his team. This expertise strengthens his authority and influence within the organization.
The inspiring example of the film Hidden Figures
A great example of the leader’s courage to find innovative solutions comes from the movie Hidden Figures, a little gem that is definitely worth watching. Here’s some context for those who haven’t seen the movie:
This is the story of three black pioneers who worked at NASA during the space race (the 50s and 60s). One of them (Katherine Goble) worked directly in the calculation (by hand… impressive) of the re-entry trajectories of the shuttle when it returned to Earth to avoid it exploding (a fairly important and stressful job).
It was the time of segregation and there were bathrooms for whites in her building, but not for blacks. Every day she wasted a lot of time (that she didn’t have) trying to find a bathroom.
Her boss, the director of NASA, often saw her seat vacant and wondered where she went every day. That’s when she explained the situation and he took a crowbar to remove the sign for the black bathroom.
The thinking at the time was not to mix races, but the director knew the ultimate goal which was to be the first nation to put a man on the moon. He saw the importance of Katherine and the absurdity of the situation that he never considered a problem because it didn’t impact him.
By eliminating the issue, he set an example for his employees and earned the respect of people of color.
Resolve issues quickly to maintain productivity
A leader who solves problems quickly and efficiently keeps his team productive. He prevents minor obstacles from becoming major blockages that slow down projects.
Just as mentioned in my previous article about the importance of leader decision making, the responsibility for problem solving does not lie solely with the manager.
There are obviously issues that will remain in the manager’s court, such as disciplinary management, but most solutions would be better accepted if they were adapted and influenced by the employees experiencing the situation on a daily basis.
The best way to solve a problem is to start by understanding it and learning about the impact on the organization and its members. Who better than employees to help you understand the frustrations experienced in relation to this problem.
There is also a good chance that they have possible solutions in mind that you could implement. By using one of your employees’ solutions, you encourage everyone to be involved in the collective success. They will feel motivated to come up with new innovative ideas and will share the positive feeling with their colleagues.
Soon, you will find yourself with several brains connected together to find solutions to all problems.
It is important to remember that problems are often opportunities in disguise. A problem-solving leader sees these challenges as opportunities to innovate, improve processes, and stimulate team creativity. By encouraging a constructive approach to problems, they foster a culture of continuous learning.
Corporate Culture Issues
Small point of vigilance: Some big problems in a team such as absenteeism, long breaks or lack of collaboration could come from the company culture.
While it is very noble to want to resolve these situations, it is obvious that you will need help from other managers and the leadership team to decide which problem should be addressed first.
If there are no guidelines and you try to change things within your team, you will work very hard and it will be a daily battle.
You will be overwhelmed with yes-buts:
Yes, but employees from other teams also do this behavior without consequences.
Yes, but you are the only one who enforces this policy.
Yes, but we have always worked this way and no one has ever told us that it was not acceptable.
Let’s be clear, I am not advocating for complacency and you must act with confidence and speed when your employees misbehave. However, you will exhaust yourself fighting against the culture of your organization.
If you find that your concerns are not being heard during meetings with your boss or management team, unfortunately, the solution may be for you to look for another job.
Gaining credibility through quick wins
Before you make that decision, a more discreet way to gain credibility and increase your chances of solving big problems would be to start by identifying quick wins and fixing them. As with the colored bathrooms, solving the problem could be quite simple, but with a big impact down the road.
Accumulating successes will be your springboard to collective success. With a bit of luck, your radius of influence could go beyond the limits of your team and influence other managers in the organization.
Problem solving, a strategic skill.
For a leader, problem-solving is more than a technical skill. It involves managing people, strategic decision-making, and maintaining a positive and productive work environment.
Solving problems quickly and efficiently not only contributes to the success of projects, but also to the growth and development of the team as a whole.
Need help improving your leadership skills or building a culture of compassionate leadership? Don’t hesitate to contact me. I’ll be happy to listen and provide you with the tools you need for the future.
Never forget: how does your mood impact your performance and overall attitude? Imagine if all your employees or co-workers were happy…
Carl-Michael Tessier
Coach in high-performance team development and tailor-made support
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