There are three ways to approach any problem. All three can work.
(Before you read further, think of a problem bugging you or your organization. Keep this problem in mind as you explore the three ways.
Three Ways To Approach Any Problem
- You believe that the problem is hard, that it is a threat to you or your organization, and that you might not be able to fix it. (Hint: you can tell you are taking this approach because of the knot in your gut, weight on your shoulders, tension in your neck, etc.)
- You believe that it is easy, that all is well, and that you quietly expect to have it all work out. (Hint: this approach feels exciting, light, etc.)
- You believe #1 above while you pretend that you believe #2.
Approach 1 causes undue struggle. Approach 3 can be soul-crushing. And Approach 2 is so so so (keep repeating so another pretztillion times) foreign–we are so used to Approaches 1 and 3–that we refuse to try it.
For the problem you thought of above, I strongly encourage you to give Approach 2 a shot. The worst that can happen if it doesn’t work is you revert to Approach 1 or 3.
In your corner,
Mike
PS: Approach 2 is similar to the Quite Cultivating I mentioned earlier.