When it comes to problem solving “How do we…?” is the wrong question

Both as a military planner and as a business coach, I have participated in hundreds of problem-solving sessions. Nearly all of them start off with defining the problem the group is trying to solve, typically by formulating a problem statement. (The groups that don’t start with this step typically have people unknowingly working on different problems!)

Nearly almost always the first stab at a problem statement starts with something like, “how do we…?”.

I am convinced that this is the wrong approach.

Here's why:

• "How do we...?" Presupposes the Problem is Ours to Solve:

This phrasing can lead us to jump to solutions too quickly, potentially overlooking the possibility that the issue might not be within our control or may not require a solution at all.

• Focuses on Action Before Understanding:

The "how-do-we" approach prioritizes action, glossing over the critically important step of developing a shared understanding. This can lead to proposing solutions that don't address the root cause of the problem or may even create new ones.

• Biases Towards Action Over Reflection:

By starting with action, we risk overlooking valuable insights that could be gained by taking a deeper dive into the true nature of the issue.

The downside to this approach is that many organizations work on solving the wrong problem, often treating systems instead of root causes. This frequently causes a “solution-breeding-problem” effect where the fix you put in place causes your next challenge.

Jumping into “how do we…?” also risks missing out on opportunities to create better outcomes by defining a better future state.

So, what's a better approach?

The most successful problem-solving groups I’ve worked with spend most of their time defining the context first, the problem second, and then defining the ideal outcome third. Only then do they begin investigating “how.”

Only after these steps do we get to the “who” part of the question. It’s absolutely possible that “we” don’t need to take any physical action to solve a problem but can easily achieve our goals by influencing others to act.

This approach brings deeper understanding about the forces and actors that influence your problem, the nature of the problem itself, and what a better outcome might look like. When this level of understanding is achieved before the “what do we do…?” brainstorming begins, solutions become more obvious and chance of success dramatically increase.

So next time your team gathers to solve a problem, what approach are you going to take? Jump right into solution-generating brainstorming? Or are you going to take a more deliberate approach that may produce a more favorable outcome for your whole organization?

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Need help solving your toughest challenges? Bob Dixon is a?leadership coach,?a strategic consultant, a?trusted advisor, and Certified High Performance Coach at Arete Strategic Consulting. He is a combat veteran with over thirty years of military service and a passion for helping people and organizations be more awesome.

He is the author of?Leadership Insight: Challenging What We Think We Know?and dozens of articles on leadership and national security