Get clear on the what and the why. The how, who, and when will become silly simple. Any focus on the who, how, and when without really knowing the what and the why explains most of the resistance, pain, or frustration we experience. In your corner, Mike PS: Yes. Resistance, pain, and frustration are […]
In all conflicts, both sides contribute. Every time we get wound up by another’s behavior, we must stop to see how our reactions add to the problem. Once we see our contribution, we can change it. This does not mean that we are to capitulate, get angry, fall on our sword, or try to assign […]
A very small proportion of happenings at work, home, and around the world are negative. But it seems that the negative things capture our attention. That is odd because we are doing mostly fine. Perhaps the positive things happen so frequently that we hardly notice them. Don’t let people (particularly pundits, politicians, and other predators) […]
The solution that we crave will remain frustratingly hidden until we raise our buzz. When we raise our buzz, the solution comes into view. It will be so simple that we will wonder why we hadn’t seen it before. And if we feel bad while considering, formulating, or enacting any solutions, these aren’t the solutions we’re […]
Doctors and others in the helping professions know to take presenting problems (“My arm hurts, Doc.”) and presenting solutions (“I need a prescription.”) with a grain of salt. They listen, empathize, then start exploring for the real problem before suggesting any solutions. Good leaders do the same things. We know that the complaints and requests […]
We are trained to look for and valued as leaders for finding the best solution to any given problem. But this focus gets us into trouble every time. That’s because every significant problem at work has four dimensions. Problems arise from and persist due to… What (or Purpose): a lack of a clear, commonly understood, […]
Most organizations spend untold time and money explaining what they (and their products and services) do and why they are so good. Look at their websites to see that they have the camera firmly turned at themselves. Most prospective clients, on the other hand, focus on the the results they want and the obstacles they […]
When things go wrong, our habit is to try to control (actively or passively) things, people, and outcomes. But that hardly ever works. And when it does work, it’s at great cost. No, when the fit his the shan, the best bet is to pause, raise our buzz, listen, and observe. Things will start sorting […]
One way of navigating a problem is to say, “If only…” If only that person would change. If only this situation would be different. If only I hadn’t done that. If only I had a fairy godmother to handle this for me. Another way is to say, “Yes. And.” Yes, that happened. And here’s what […]
Oh, did you think that you could solve that problem while buzzing way down there? Raise your buzz. Find any reason to feel good. Then watch how easy the problem becomes. In your corner, Mike PS: Yup, any problem. Today’s photo credit: Leo Reynolds cc