“When we encounter problems on the job, we must realize that we are there primarily to solve problems.” –Zig Ziglar
I had a little piece of self-reflection last week as I reviewed some situations in which I become frustrated. I realized that I really don’t like ambiguity. That’s a nice way of saying I really don’t like problems. I’d rather everything work smoothly, predictably, and easily.
But that’s not how life works, and it’s certainly not how business works. Check out the above quote from Zig Ziglar. Virtually every job requires a problem to be solved, whether it be a predictable, recurring problem, or unforeseen problems.
A couple months ago, Andrew Thorn taught me an interesting lesson about problems. Paraphrasing, he said something to this effect:
Identify a problem that someone has. Develop a way to solve that problem. Finally, find someone who will write a check for solving that problem.
Makes sense, right? I’m currently reading a book written by a former executive of several Fortune 500 companies. As he shares his “war stories,” I’m absolutely amazed by the size and scale of the issues those executive-level employees deal with on a daily basis. It stands to reason that the larger the problem needing solving, the larger the compensation for solving that problem.
Beyond the fact that we need problems to solve so as to get paid, solving problems is a regular exercise that helps us grow into more capable individuals and teams. The most obvious example of this would be learning to ride a bike. As a 5-year-old, removal of training wheels can be a traumatic experience. Years later, riding a two-wheeled bike is not even considered an issue. By facing and overcoming our problem, we expand our capability to deal with more complex challenges.
Think back to some of your greatest challenges five years ago. What have you done to put them in your rearview mirror?
Consider the challenges you are facing right now. What will you do to put your present challenges behind you?
Examining Leadership 