DON’Ts About Solutions
By: Duke Rohe drohe@att.net
Here are common potholes that trip up great solutions. Know them as a facilitator; share them with team members before deriving solutions.
1. Don’t solve the wrong problem.
Trace the solution path back to the cause(s) and the intent of the AIM or purpose statement. Find ‘the’ solution that will achieve AIM, nullify the cause(s), not just a solution.
2. Don’t stop at your first solution.
Don’t stop at what might be good. Stay at it until a great solution appears. Play ‘What-if-up’. One-up the solution with a stretch solution. It’s said the breakthrough thought is just one more beyond your last thought.
3. Don’t select a solution that won’t be accepted.
Both leadership and the users of the solution must be convinced to be willing to pilot the solution until it is at a steady state and properly assessed.
4. Don’t select a solution that doesn’t impact your baseline measure.
Unless the baseline measure or another measure of effectiveness proves the solution’s benefit, the change it made is just perception.
5. Don’t limit understanding about the solution.
Try view the solution from 10 viewpoints. Clarity of a gem comes from many facets that let light in.
6. Don’t be afraid to ask the workforce, ‘Will this idea work or What’s dumb about this idea?’
Test the solution by sharing it as an ‘idea’ to those in the workforce. They’ll be glad to tell you what is wrong … or right or how to make it better. Don’t be defensive; receive it as their input to make it better, or better accepted.
7. Don’t just think what’s right about the solution.
Enumerate the downside of the solution. What harm could it potentially have? Optimism is great, but it is no substitute for full evaluation of the solution’s impact.
8. Don’t forget your sponsor.
Their input should be respected. Ask up front, what are the constraints, expectations, non-negotiables. Then communicate as frequent as it makes them comfortable with the direction and comprehensiveness of the solution.
9. Don’t forget the passion to make it happen.
The benefit potential of installing the solution creates its own momentum. Passion is the commitment to stay with the solution, doing whatever it takes to give it a fighting chance. It is not a matter of if, but when success is achieved.
10. Don’t think your solution is unchangeable.
As changes bump up against the solution, make it adaptable. Make it living. Keep it evergreen. Darwin said that it was not the smartest nor strongest that survive, but those most able to adapt.