The path to success involves more than simply completing daily tasks. It’s about taking the time to reflect on our business goals, challenging ourselves to tackle problems beyond our usual routines, and moving forward, even when unexpected challenges arise.
Many people constantly encounter successive problems, making it challenging to persevere. I’ve faced this myself and know I’ll likely face similar situations in the future, but I’m committed to not letting these challenges hold me back.
Bocar Dia, a Partner at Forum Ventures, emphasizes the importance of understanding the situation and aligning as an executive or leadership team regarding priorities and objectives.
That’s why I recently took the initiative to expand and enhance one of my most popular blog posts, which discusses four powerful steps for solving business problems effectively.
A key principle in the article is the importance of pinpointing a problem and implementing a four-step approach to finding a resolution.
Following these steps, you can take charge of your business challenges and equip yourself to conquer even the most formidable obstacles.
Here are the steps:
- Recognize there is a problem
- Collect data
- Gather solutions
- Choose a solution
Geneve Huxley, Founder and CEO of Huxley CPA Consulting, says that my steps remind her of the saying that just because something is simple doesn’t make it easy. “Remembering a simple list like this helps us stay focused when implementation gets hard. I also think sometimes we need some support or guidance from an expert as we work to solve problems, grow, or scale, so there’s no harm in working with an expert to tackle the things we need to tackle.”
The steps are straightforward, which paradoxically makes them challenging to implement. The key is consistency. This guide provides detailed information on how to effectively use these steps to overcome significant challenges. It’s a reminder that even when the going gets tough, persistently addressing your problems can lead to success.
Anne Bartolucci, psychologist and USA Today best-selling author, notes the possibility of getting stuck in analysis paralysis when solving problems.
Indeed, great minds often think alike, but every business is unique. People develop approaches that align with their company’s culture, values, and industry.
Michael F D Anaya, Founder of DecodingCyber, devised a similar list for his team:
- Identify the problem
- Analyze the problem
- Develop alternate recommendations/solutions
- Implement the solution
- Measure the results (ideal)
It’s crucial to review the needs of your team and business to ensure that the steps you take align with your specific context.
However, efficient problem-solving is also about defining the problem and being honest with ourselves. Christy Maxfield, President and CEO of Purpose First Advisors, emphasizes orienting yourself first to understand what’s happening before deciding what to do.
“Cultures that rise and succeed through growth do a couple of things really well. For one, they get very good at decision-making.” says Maia Benson, Managing Director at Forum Ventures. She continues, “Fast decision-making, too; I think they also enable that to get really good at disagreeing quickly but committing. And as decision reversibility increases, then those decisions can help the output be made faster.”
Leadership comes with the critical responsibility of making decisions and guiding your team’s choices. By organizing and carefully considering your decisions, you can ensure that each is the best. Your team will appreciate a fair and consistent decision-making process, and your organization will thrive as a result of their valuable input.
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Share your thoughts and ideas – I’m excited to hear from you!
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Jess Dewell is a professional who has been navigating the intersection of operations and strategy for more than twenty years. She helps organizations move forward by identifying the sweet spot where strategy catalyzes operations, fosters innovation, and drives businesses to the forefront of their industries.
Jess is committed to helping businesses turn challenges into scalable opportunities and constraints into springboards for growth. Send her a direct message with your questions.
Check out her Driving Solutions Strategic Intensive program that will be held in October if you need help with strategic growth challenges. Don’t want to wait that long, we got you! Get started for your Growth Framework Reset here.
