You are faced with a problem you didn’t see coming, or you see an obstacle in your way you can’t figure out.  You meet with the team, but it still isn’t sitting quite right with you, what do you do next?   How do you get through those challenges.

Sometimes solutions are so obvious they just jump out at you and bite you so to speak, other times every answer just seems like there are better ones.  How?  Whats the process to finding the solution.

1.  Remove yourself from the situation or problem.  Take some time away to clear your mind.  

2.  Identify the Problems:  What the obstacle(s) or problem(s) really are.  So this is sometimes the hardest part of your journey. 

Look at all the applicable parts of the problem.  Staffing? Skills? Production? Funding? Competitors? Process?  Communication? Mindset?  Productivity? Client Engagement? Accounting?  Administration? Technology? Supply Chain?.  It could be anything!   Look at the problem more universally and examine all the components.  

For instance lets say you have a production issue and you can’t seem to get the yields right. You’ve looked at your production, your supply chain, your staff but it all looks right.  You have the capacity so where is the issue. 

My approach is to look for the lowest common denominator and see where the chain takes me.  Your real problem (which could be a series of adjustments or changes) will rarely be at the pain point or you would have figured it out already.  

It doesn’t matter if its a sales team that feels they have the wrong products or sales materials, or your line not providing your effective yields efficiently, or your square wheel won’t go 188 miles an hour because the wind tunnel said it would.  Look at the problem more universally, review your reports and logs, talk to your team and your customers, and industry colleagues. Talk to someone outside your industry.  Go deeper, go wider and 

I promise soon you will have your aha moment, and that’s where your brilliance shows through because you’ll be ready to start figuring out what to do next.  

3.  Solutions:  The ability to look at a solution like a martian often yields the greatest results.  This is where all your experience and creativity come out.  Now that you really know whats what, start formulating some strategies or plans to get to your solution.

Be bold, be creative.  Every solution is different and because you are always watching your baseline you can tweak and change until you get it right.  Ensure your solution solves the near term solution, and addresses the possibility of any similar issues in the future.  Take it one step further.  Be strategic when you find your solution, and try and expand it as wide as you can to maximize its benefits.  

This is a good time to get ahead of the future because you can see more clearly.