Benjamin
๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ๐บ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐
Updated: May 21, 2022

In the picture, you may notice a storm brewing or you may see the sun breaking through.
When a problem or crisis arises, the instinct is to concentrate on the cause, extent, and magnitude of the problem. However, I encourage founders to focus instead on solutions and move quickly to implement them.
Problems in the past cannot be changed // Solutions in the future are malleable
Problems exasperate limitations // Solutions emphasize opportunities and outcomes
Problems dwell on loss, so cause stress // Solutions anticipate learning, so produce optimism
The same circumstances can cause difference reactions. As a fractional COO, I encourage founders to perceive challenges as a chance to learn and to implement long-term solutions (which avoid a recurrence of the same problem) when possible.
โ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐.โ - Joy Page
To engage in a solutions-driven approach, consider these tips:
Accept responsibility. Acknowledge what happened, describe its impact, and take ownership for the resolution.
Emphasize learning. Explore a different and (hopefully) better approach, to understand the impact of the problem and solution, and to experiment with a stronger process.
Explore ideas. Brainstorm all possibilities and be open to an unexpected long-term benefit if handled effectively.
Weigh possibilities. Review options based on their cost versus impact and other useful criteria. You may create a decision matrix if there are many criteria.
Straddle teams. Encourage collaboration to build stronger ideas and longer cooperation.
Search across many people. Engage your team, investors, advisors, research, founders, and friends for different perspectives on options.
Consider a step back. Weigh the opportunity to completely overhaul a system or process.
Focus on the future. Describe the ideal circumstances and then work backwards to figure out how to get from here to there. Visualizing the future relieves initial pressure from the logistics and personalities.
Be blunt and clear. Describe your specific plans and next steps in a straightforward way to all stakeholders.
Recognize the Downsides
A solutions approach often leads to positive, long-term change, but sometimes can be inappropriate.
There are times when youโll need to go deeper into a problem, like a systemic failing or a disruptive personality. In these cases, you need to understand the complexity of the failure before jumping on a resolution.
In the case of a severe crisis, damage control is the priority. Once you can concentrate internally again, then initiate the process to seek long-term change and solutions.
Itโs tough when plans are ruined, and resources strained. However, almost any crisis may be viewed as an opportunity. This approach will not only deliver solutions faster but also concentrate energy on moving forward.
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* See this post on Systems and Process: https://bit.ly/2V59boW
** Posts on Organizational Change: https://bit.ly/3xIeIzO and https://bit.ly/3wT33hN
Photo by Mysticsartdesign who can be found here: https://bit.ly/36LPHsh