Most People Can See the Problem
When I was studying I had a job in a liquor store. The store sat outside of the entrance to a large supermarket.
Several times each day I had to wheel a large pallet stacked with cartons of beer from a storeroom at the back of the supermarket through aisles crowded with Christmas shoppers and then into the liquor store.
It was a difficult task to complete safely. Once a fully loaded pallet jack is moving, it is hard to stop. Festive shoppers are often in a hurry and unpredictable. The combination of my pallet and their trolley -- or toes -- was never ideal.
One day was bad.
As I was rounding my last turn out of the supermarket, I veered too quickly and the cartons of beer on one side of my pallet clipped the edge of an aisle. At least a dozen cartons smashed to the ground exploding glass in every direction and spilling hundreds of litres of beer onto the floor.
As I surveyed the carnage and tried to figure out what to do first, a shopper walked up beside me and asked, “Have you had a bit of an accident?”
Most people can point out a problem.
As I have discovered over decades of leading organisations, far fewer people are able to see solutions to those problems.
The ability to size up a situation, and take proportionate and decisive action is actually quite a rare skill. Those who possess it will likely do well in their chosen careers.
More recently I have admired what I suspect is an even rarer skill. If only a minority of people can see solutions to problems, an even smaller number possess the skill of being able to articulate that solution in such a way that it inspires others into action.
Most days I watch the Squawk Box on CNBC. The show features guests speaking on a wide range of financial topics. The guests I admire the most are those who are able to dissect complex corporate or societal problems so that the key problem can be understood, propose credible solutions, but most importantly inspire me into taking some sort of action.
The world we live in is only going to become more complex. More people are going to standing on the sidelines asking silly questions, or pointing out problems.
Real value will lie in our ability to not only identify root causes and think up solutions, but also to take others along with us. Because without that buy-in, implementing solutions becomes so much harder to do.
Back in that supermarket in 1985 I wished I’d had the presence of mind to motivate those around me to assist me in my dilemma. I needed all the help I could get.
Sadly, I missed that opportunity.
When the lady asked me if I had had an accident, instead of being polite and enlisting her assistance I shot back at her. “No. We do this every day at 3 o’clock.”
She walked on. I still had exactly the same amount of beer and glass to clean-up.
And one less set of hands to help me.
I am an experienced CEO, business strategist and communications specialist who loves helping great organisations grow. Recent articles include:
How to Deal with a Crazy Schedule – Without Changing a Single Appointment or Commitment
Why We Write Things On Our To-Do List We’ve Already Done
Mud Logging
5 年Problem - Solution - Motivation Brain storming - Going to brain depth to catch solution of core - Can u isolate it from this world to go to that phase - can u go to point black and ask for answer from the Devine - what will be phase of that divine, whether it will accept us peacefully or need a pious man. Kindly you bave to humbly wait for my next article, let me see what i can @See
Founder & Sen. Leader @ Heart For Kids and LST Group
5 年Some good thoughts. The rest of the situation is perhaps some people don't see or acknowledge the problem exists, they step around it.
CEO and Director | Management, Leadership, Construction
5 年Spot on Jeff, and where the solution is a long term fix that is more efficient and effective - so the change is easier - that is pretty cool too.
CEO, LCP Global | Executive Coach | Author | Better Alignment. Greater Capacity
5 年Thx for sharing Jeff.