Problem Solving

When confronted with problems (issues, annoyances, stuff ups, what evs, etc), either in business or your personal life, here are just a few tips to get you through them.

Back your colleagues.  When others are bearing down on them, don’t jump on the band wagon, stand up for them.

Fix what's broken.  Don't waste time placing blame. Don’t waste time on improving what ain’t broke.  Take care of fixing the problem before dealing with any possible repercussions.

Manage and control your emotions.  Don't let anger or frustration affect your problem resolution.  If you are emotionally invested in a situation, cool down before discussing it or bring in an outside mediator.  Never, ever take it personally.

Learn when to step in.  Some problems might resolve themselves if you just let them be (see my blog on positive procrastination), but you need to be aware of times where you'll need to step in and take control of a situation.

Take the blame.  If you've made a mistake, fess up.  It'll give you more time to work on fixing the problem instead of talking your way out of taking the rap.  Sometimes take the blame for a problem not yours.  Be careful and frugal with this exception.

Get the facts first. Before you pass judgment on a situation, make sure you have the whole story.  Listen and refrain from questioning anyone's integrity without first ensuring that you've gathered all the data.

Rise above the crisis.  Learn to separate yourself from the problem and rise above the fray. You'll be able to think more clearly and make a better decision on how to rectify the issue.

Don't ignore problems. A small problem can easily snowball and become something much more difficult to fix.  That elephant in the room, IS in the room.  Deal with it.

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