"What is the problem we are trying to solve?"

To: The Great Leaders Who Have a Passion for Continuous Learning

I was recently reading a blog by Seth Godin entitled Are We Solving
the Same Problem. The blog spoke of situations that arise at various
times in business and personal life: one side comes up with a
solution – “this solution is exactly as we described it” – and the
other side rejects it – “it doesn’t work right.” From this, an
impasse arises. The cause of the disconnect, Godin suggests, is that
the focus of both parties has been on the solution to the problem, and
not where it should be – on the problem itself.

In Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus John Gray presents a
generality about men's response to their partner's needs - they always
seem to try to fix their partner's 'problem' (e.g. "This is what you
need to do about that."), without truly understanding what their
partner's need really is (e.g. wanting someone to their concern). This
is a simple example of jumping to the 'how' without thoroughly
understanding the 'what' or the real problem at hand. The consequence
is always a huge disconnect.

Highly effective and successful leaders are always asking: "What is
the problem we are trying to solve?" With no mincing of words, they
cut to the chase. They have embraced Stephen Covey's 5th Habit - Seek
first to understand, then to be understood - a critical principle for
getting to the 'what' of an issue. It is through this determined focus
on understanding that great leaders get to the unspoken expectations,
the real needs and concerns, or a person's hopes and dreams and fears
and insecurities. It is through this probing that they help others to
better understand and verbalize their needs and concerns. When they
are successful in doing this, they can get truly connected.

Samuel Butler, 19th century novelist and poet, wrote: "A blind man
knows he cannot see, and is glad to be led, though it be by a dog; but
he that is blind in his understanding, which is the worse blindness of
all, believes he sees as the best, and scorns a guide." May your week
be filled with great understanding that you may hear what is said and
unsaid, and see the realities and infinite possibilities all around
you. You only need to seek first to understand. Heed wisely the words
of Goethe: "Whatever you cannot understand, you cannot possess."