"We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat"

“We’re gonna need a bigger boat”... So quips Roy Scheider in the classic movie “Jaws” when he sees the magnitude of the problem/challenge they are facing…”this shark is huge!!!”.

What about you? Are the challenges or the most urgent challenge that you are facing today bigger than you, your resources or your plan/solution? Maybe, maybe not? How will you know? Try answering these simple questions to help you answer the real question: Is this an “I” or “T” problem?:

1.      What is the problem I’m facing today that I need to address? By this, I mean you have to go a little deeper than the issue that you are facing that is difficult and get to the ‘real problem’. You must find out what’s behind it. For example, it is taking us too long to issue a Building Permit (yeah, I know…LOTS of jokes here about this)… But, in my department, we really want to do better. I have the commitment of my managers, but we are only 2 divisions in the Permit process. There are actually divisions in 3 other departments that we rely on for timely permit turnaround. So, we could solve “our issues” with timeliness and still not fix the ‘real problem’. Take a moment to write down The Problem, so you can clearly identify it. It's not always as easy as you think.

2.      Do I have the tools/resources necessary to face this 'real problem'? Sometimes, the issues and solutions are totally within my resources that I manage (an ‘I’ problem as in “I/me”). For example, I need to lose weight (yeah, I’ve got a few extra pounds but we can discuss that in another article…)…this is clearly on me to make happen, right?...an "I" problem. However, oftentimes, in my experience, the reason I get stressed in dealing with an issue is that I am accountable for an outcome but I don’t have all of the authority/resources in my role to solve the real problem. Sometimes, I discover that issues going on in my department are interrelated with other departments and their issues. In order to fix the ‘real problem’, I need to collaborate with my peers in other departments (a ‘T’ problem…as in “Team”). So, as I move forward with developing my “Action Plan” to fix the problem, I need to be clear with myself if this is a problem that is completely within my power to fix (“I”) or if I need others help (“T”). 

3.      If it is a "T" problem, am I willing to bring this issue forward to my fellow department heads/peers? Many people also identify a problem as a "T" problem but are unwilling to do what it takes to address it. That's where you come in - it takes leadership and commitment to your organization and customers to be willing to take the risk to reach out to other departments/managers/etc., raise the issue, see if others agree and be willing to work together on a solution. It also takes ‘time’, which most of us don’t have enough of, right? This is the classic situation of spending the time that you don’t have to fix something that will pay you back with more time in the future. It is an investment, in yourself, your team, your customers and your organization. As an intelligent manager, you know how to solve any problem once you have the resources and commitment of all impacted parties…now, you need your action steps to ‘do it’.

When you encounter your 'issues' today, take a few minutes and ask yourself, is it an “I” or “T” issue? Then, plan/proceed accordingly…