PROBLEM SOLVERS: WHAT HAPPENS WITHOUT PROBLEMS?

Problem solvers without a problem eventually become a problem.

If they could keep it to themselves, they wouldn’t be a problem, but when does that happen?

For example, the self-described ‘people person’ who turns into a nasty troll when people disagree with them.

We’ve all got ninety-nine problems lined up in prioritized, triaged, next-one-up order, and we all know people who can solve them better than us.

Is that a problem?

The answer goes one of two ways:

You are either Navy Seal/Marine Operator/Wrestler tough, MIT brained, General Contractor handy, and love to ‘help’ because you’re the most qualified human to ever offer their assistance to weaklings like the rest of us,

Or,

You don’t want any help from anyone and spew blinding snake venom on anyone who tries.

Problem Helpers

Since there’s no such thing as the first example, and we’re not snakes, the happy medium works. The cautious problem solvers are those who carefully vet who they ask for help.

Getting asked for help doesn’t mean showing up and taking over re-ordering what’s already been done. No one wants their efforts torn down and dumped on, so be careful in the asking.

The last thing you want is someone who gets in the way, won’t leave well enough alone, and hard of hearing on top of everything else. Hard of hearing, or willful ignoring?

“Don’t do that.”

Does it anyway.

“What?”

And they think they’re funny. That’s a problem.

Problems Solved

Experienced problem solvers with verified results all agree on how to know when they’re done:

There’s either no more money, or no more time for problem solving. Does that mean there’s a solution?

That means the problem changes to ‘How To Wrap Things Up.’

People problems take a different approach. But first, what is a people problem?

The simple answer is spending time with others to the point of exhaustion, where the effort to do anything else is drained away. That’s a people problem.

Think of NBA superstars drafted from all teams to play one game, and you. Does that get close? How’s your conditioning?

Or you’re a chess fan and like going to big chess tournaments, but you can’t stand pungent body oder. How long do you last in a B.O. cloud?

The solution is one you already know but don’t think of in that unconscious way everyday routine ceases to be exciting and memorable after the millionth time.

We are problem solvers when we stay focused and see things through to a final grade, a finished grade.

How we get there depends on a few things.

Know who you are, have an idea of your limits, or what limit are.

Share your experience in a useful way. If you don’t have any experience to offer problem solving, try to listen and learn.

Eventually you join the ranks of problem solvers. After enough HGTV, Cooking Channel, and CSI bundled together, you’ve seen every mistake to avoid.

Now for the hard part. Which of your ninety-nine problems comes first?