Become a Problem Solver – Episode 8

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Problems and the workplace go hand in hand. The very nature of working with others means there will be problems. Relationship problems, business problems, workplace problems, there seems to be no end. I’d argue that without problems, it is impossible to grow a competent team and grow your business. When a problem arises it gives you an opportunity to grow not only as a problem solver but as an effective leader. Join me on this episode of 180 Mentoring as I talk about how to solve problems in a way that benefits the entire team.

Be a problem solver not a problem facilitator

There are two types of people in the workplace, problem solvers and problem facilitators. Problem solvers confront a problem with hope and determination to grow and are not afraid to admit they don’t have the answer. A problem facilitator often causes problems to arise by their actions. They approach a problem with an ego and are unable to admit they need help. As a leader, you need to strive to be a problem solver, not a problem facilitator. Listen as I walk through the actions that cause problems to be facilitated instead of solved and what you can do to avoid it.

Don’t make people dependent on you to solve problems

You might be a great problem solver. No problem is too big for you to handle. You always come out the other side with a great solution that benefits everyone. But are you training your team to be dependant on you to solve problems? Are you instilling in them the tools they need to solve problems for themselves? If not, you are making a big mistake. A time will come when you are out of pocket and not able to apply your problem-solving prowess. If your team is not capable of handling it themselves, you could end up in a sticky situation. Listen to this episode to hear my tips on how to share the problem-solving responsibility with your team.

Don’t pretend to know the answer

If a problem arises and you don’t know how to overcome it, say so. Let your team know you will need their help and collaboration to solve it. It won’t make you look weak or incompetent. It will make you look like a team player and will grow your team’s respect of you. A good leader can admit when they need help and can take a hard situation and use it to build teamwork. If you empower your employees to solve problems by asking for their collaboration your whole organization will become stronger.

Failure is part of being a good leader

Everyone fails. Some fail more than others. What separates the leaders from the losers is that they learn from the failure and use it to grow their team. As a leader, you should not be afraid to fail. If you use the failure to learn from your mistakes and help your team to grow you have succeeded. In this episode of 180 Mentoring, I will outline how you should approach failures as a leader and how you can intentionally introduce hard situations to facilitate growth.

Outline of This Episode

  • [1:03] Intro and listener thanks
  • [1:20] Plan for next few podcasts
  • [2:00] As a leader, you need to be a problem solver, not a problem facilitator
  • [3:00] Don’t train people to be dependant on you to solve the problem
  • [4:00] Don’t pretend to know the answer if you don’t
  • [5:00] It’s okay to fail
  • [6:13] As a leader, introduce situations that can build your team’s ability to solve problems
  • [8:24] In times of crisis you need to be able to solve problems quickly and effectively

Connect With Terry at 180 Mentoring

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