Here's how you can develop problem-solving skills in a Thought Leadership role.

When beginning to think about Change Management or Leadership and how I can effectively problem solve, I consider the acronym LEARN. Listen, Evaluate, Analyze, Respond and Negotiate. First, you have to be willing to Listen to the problem, invite a team to Evaluate the potential outcomes or choices, Analyze the various outcomes of the decision and then Respond to the Need the problem represents. Finally, you have to begin to understand how to Negotiate the Resolution or the Decision with the team who is effected by the outcome. In this way, we LEARN how to become more effective leaders and more thoughtful in our attempts to lead, manage, guide and direct a team.

Analysis is being able to reverse engineer the situation and determine what could wrong, what could right, what are the risks and do the risks outweigh the pros? If leadership is anticipation risk analysis is a critical component of anticipation. The phrase that someone is, "playing chess and not checkers" is typically attributed to someone who hasa carefully analyzed the risks and anticipated potential outcomes. Be a chess player.

A crucial aspect of effective problem-solving is the ability to analyze problems thoroughly. This means going beyond surface-level symptoms to uncover the root causes. Use systematic approaches such as root cause analysis, the Five Whys technique, or fishbone diagrams to dissect issues comprehensively. Leverage data and analytics to inform your analysis. Collect relevant data, analyze trends, and identify patterns that can shed light on the problem. Ensure that your decisions are backed by solid evidence and not just intuition. This data-driven approach can significantly enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of your solutions.

Conducting user and stakeholder interviews provides valuable insights into their needs and experiences. For example, a content marketing agency might interview target groups and client stakeholders, such as sales and customer service teams, to understand preferences and feedback. This helps create more relevant and effective communication campaigns by optimizing content and messaging based on gathered insights.

The simplest sentence is, "what are your thoughts about this?" By encouraging collaboration you are inviting someone in, allowing them to bring a perspective you have not likely thought about and asking for their knowledge and power to a situation or problem. It also bonds you in a shared experience that can last a lifetime. So simple, yet so powerful.

Working with members from various fields, like engineers, designers, marketers, and customer service reps, offers a broad range of insights. This diversity leads to more creative and effective problem-solving.

Resilience starts with a positive mindset and understanding that there are no failures, there are moments of learning and growth. Being able to handle let downs, bouncing back from a disappointing result, having the energy to keep going and trying again are all characteristics that drive successful people in life, work and beyond. "If it doesn't kill you, it will make you stronger."

Resilience is key to navigating the ups and downs of problem-solving. Cultivate a mindset that views challenges as opportunities for growth. Encourage yourself and your team to persevere in the face of setbacks and to learn from failures rather than being discouraged by them.Build a culture that supports resilience. Encourage open communication and provide psychological safety for your team members to express their ideas and concerns without fear of criticism. This environment enables individuals to bounce back from setbacks and remain focused on finding solutions.

Being a thought leader goes beyond simply advocating for innovation. True leadership lies in action. While encouraging ideas is essential, the real test is in actively testing them. Do failures lead to discouragement, or do you empower your team to keep trying? Remember, words are powerful, but it's your actions that speak volumes about your commitment to fostering a culture of innovation.

Innovation thrives on creativity. Encourage your team to think outside the box and explore unconventional solutions. Use techniques like brainstorming, mind mapping, and lateral thinking exercises to stimulate creative problem-solving.Innovation often results from collaborative efforts. Create opportunities for cross-functional teams to work together, bringing diverse perspectives and expertise to the table. Collaborative innovation can lead to more comprehensive and inventive solutions to problems.

Participate in diverse industry events to learn different problem-solving methods. Exposure to how other professionals tackle challenges can inspire innovative approaches in your own field.