What's your problem?

We've heard it before, you're either part of the problem or you're part of the solution. Years of work experience in the corporate world, social services and education have taught me just how true that saying really is..

On a superficial level, you may think it means see how many solutions you can find. You may even think it means look for solutions. But it's more than that; an incredible academic taught me to be "solutions orientated" and it's so much more than what it appears to be. It really is a way of living.

Here's how it works; in life you will encounter situations that trouble you, concern you, affect your company, your job, your peace of mind, even your progress. You can label things as "problems" or view them simply as a situation that requires a solution. It's not just semantics, because when you start to see things as a situation, you remove the emotion from it. Once emotion is removed, you can see the various ways forward and you will find it easier to seek out solutions that build not just you but your team at work.

Let's say that your photocopier keeps breaking down. This could be a "problem" , but it could also be just a situation which shows you that in actual fact your business requires something different to what you've always used; instead of the continual upset with suppliers and repairmen, you may need to realise that perhaps you need two printers, one dedicated to bulk printing and one dedicated to specific tasks or individuals. The problem approach will have you harassing the firms (well within your rights) to get things fixed (over and over again). The solutions approach take your service delivery to the next level. In other words, you saw the situation as just that, and because you did see it that way, you were able to identify the hidden opportunity that it presented.

It's the same in everything; the aircon too hot on your end and too cold on the other? Look to what the needs are rather than seeing just a problem. Customers complaining your product is too expensive? See that as more than just a price concern and ask yourself how are your customer's needs changing because chances are that price issue is just one presenting issue and by having a solutions orientated approach you will be able to see a bigger picture that may actually save your business.

So the "problem" maybe isn't the real problem; maybe that "problem' is just a sign that something needs to be addressed, and usually that attitude will lead you to a greater opportunity. The answer to the title of this then, is the "problem" lies only in our attitude; because the little things that crop up are always (always, yes) opportunities to grow, to think out of the box, to do things a little better.

Truly, life is either FULL of problems, or FULL of opportunities to do better, to be better. Just for today, try turning just one "problem" into an objective "presenting situation" and see how it works for you when you focus on finding a solution that works at a deeper level. Let me know how that changes things for you. .. cause I'm willing to bet it will change your life.