We all face it in business...we all cannot, at some time or another see the 'wood for the trees'. The problem is, in our desire to find the answer we don't stand back or relax.....allowing the answer to emerge. A lesson we can all learn is from the Archimedes approach to problem solving...
Syracuse's King gave Archimedes a problem to solve - namely to find out is the if the gold crown really was gold. He was stuck, didn't know what to do. He took a bath to relax and that is when the answer came - leading to the famous Eureka moment. He realised through the water level rising when he got in the bath, that this was the way to measure the crown's density.
As hard as it is, when faced with a dilemma often the best cause of action is to walk away, relax...let your brain have the chance to muse subconsciously.....doing that can provide you with your own Eureka moment!
Showing posts with label problem solving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label problem solving. Show all posts
Monday, November 26, 2007
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Management - As Easy as 1-2-3
In business there are always challenges, always problems - indeed if there were none, many of us would be unemployed!
Sometimes you can get really bogged down in understanding what the real problem is - if that is the case try the 1-2-3 method.
Sometimes you can get really bogged down in understanding what the real problem is - if that is the case try the 1-2-3 method.
- Is there a system in place for handling the task? If not, you have a systems problem - training won't help
- Is there a system and employees know how to use it, but don't follow it? If so you have a management problem.
- Is there a system, but employees don't really know what it is or how to use it? If so you have a training problem.
Monday, September 24, 2007
What is Your Nascar?
When IDEO wanted to redesign an operating room, it found insights from the NASCAR team. The way that the team worked together safely and quickly, despite the time constraints.
Too often managers think that they have to come up with the solution...not so, what you have to do is recognise the problem, or even better the potential problem, and search for a solution. That search should not be limited to you, to your team. Look outside to other departments within your firm and also other firms that face similar issues...what is your NASCAR?
Too often managers think that they have to come up with the solution...not so, what you have to do is recognise the problem, or even better the potential problem, and search for a solution. That search should not be limited to you, to your team. Look outside to other departments within your firm and also other firms that face similar issues...what is your NASCAR?
Monday, June 18, 2007
The Sympton or the Cause?
I was with a manager last week who said "I have a real problem with people surfing the net, I think we need to shut down the net"
My response "The internet is not the problem, what we need to talk about is why people are finding that more interesting than their work"
As leaders we often look at the symptom not the cause - when you look at a situation think like a doctor
1) Would they treat the rash or the cause of the rash?
2) How they would ask the patient questions to get to the source of the problem?
3) How they would use check ups to review progress?
My question for you today is "What problem are you seeing as the cause not the symptom?"
My response "The internet is not the problem, what we need to talk about is why people are finding that more interesting than their work"
As leaders we often look at the symptom not the cause - when you look at a situation think like a doctor
1) Would they treat the rash or the cause of the rash?
2) How they would ask the patient questions to get to the source of the problem?
3) How they would use check ups to review progress?
My question for you today is "What problem are you seeing as the cause not the symptom?"
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Look for beauty not faults
There is beauty all around us, and often we don't see it here is a chinese proverb
An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole, which she carried across her neck
One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water, at the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."
The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.
Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.”
How much beauty do you create and not even know it?
An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole, which she carried across her neck
One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water, at the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."
The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.
Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.”
How much beauty do you create and not even know it?
Friday, December 08, 2006
Boxing clever for Suggestions
I am not a lover of suggestion boxes...though it is a start, I have to admit that in getting feedback. The problem tends to be that they become moaning posts so what about having two!
One for problems/threats
One for solutions/opportunities
This builds into the culture a sense of acccountability and responsibility for driving improvement. Post the problems that people see and get them to suggest improvements...with the winner being based on the solution rather than the issue.
One for problems/threats
One for solutions/opportunities
This builds into the culture a sense of acccountability and responsibility for driving improvement. Post the problems that people see and get them to suggest improvements...with the winner being based on the solution rather than the issue.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
How Management is Changing
Rene Carayol in Corporate Voodoo says that "Speed will be the legacy of our age" and I think that this is true. Speed is a fact of life and business/life needs you to think on your feet.
We used to be told to Plan, Do, Review - I believe that is changing and is now Act, Review, Learn, Act, Review, Learn etc
That doesn't mean that risks should not be assessed but that you shouldn't be paralysed by the need for analysis. It is easy to amend, or tweak a product or service the key thing is doing something.......
We used to be told to Plan, Do, Review - I believe that is changing and is now Act, Review, Learn, Act, Review, Learn etc
That doesn't mean that risks should not be assessed but that you shouldn't be paralysed by the need for analysis. It is easy to amend, or tweak a product or service the key thing is doing something.......
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Develop your reaction to problems
Problems happen, things go wrong ....fact. No matter how great you are as a leader, life will throw up issues, home and at work.
It is not the problem that causes issues, it is your reaction to it. Your reaction has a huge effect on those around you, on the ability to resolve the problem, on your own mental welfare!
Do you listen carefully at what is the real issue?
Do your present an optimistic approach?
Do you respond positively?
Do you see this as a challenge rather than a problem?
Do you understand that your reaction will impact on how people approach you in the future?
It is not the problem that causes issues, it is your reaction to it. Your reaction has a huge effect on those around you, on the ability to resolve the problem, on your own mental welfare!
Do you listen carefully at what is the real issue?
Do your present an optimistic approach?
Do you respond positively?
Do you see this as a challenge rather than a problem?
Do you understand that your reaction will impact on how people approach you in the future?
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Customer Service
We all have suffered bad customer service. Here are 2 questions that I was asked this morning by a customer service agent who was handling a query with me
- What would you like to see happen here?
- How can I help you handle this right now?
This had the effect of switching me from complaining (!) to possible solutions, but also it gave me the impression that they were listening to ME.
Finally, the person took total responsibility, phoned me back after speaking to various other people and then phoned me back later to ensure that I was happy that the situation had been resolved. Wow, that made me feel a million dollars.....am I going to be loyal to them....you bet!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
