feedback-form-excellent-1238383In my work with clients and workshop participants, people often tell me about a situation they faced as a leader, starting off with a statement like: “Maybe I didn’t do this right, but …” Then, they generally end the story by asking me if there was a better way to handle the situation.

I frequently respond by asking if they got a good result from their approach.

Before I offer advice, I want to know if their solution worked for their particular circumstances and with the people with whom they work. If it did, it was the right solution for them at the time. If it didn’t work, we go on to talk about ways to improve the odds of success the next time they face a similar situation.

As far as I am concerned, the quality of the outcome is the standard by which to judge the quality of a solution.

As I listen to the stories and questions, I have a mixed reaction. On one hand, it’s nice that people value my input and are actively seeking better ways to solve the problems they face as leaders. On the other hand, it tells me that they might be in search of the right answer for a complex problem.

Simple problems – like replacing ink in the copier – generally have a single right answer. Complex problems – like managing employee conflict – usually have many possible right answers.

As a leader, very few of the significant problems you face will be simple. Many of them will be complex. Searching for one right answer to a complex problem can hurt you in at least three ways:

  1. It limits your thinking. When you are looking for a single solution, you narrow your thinking before you even begin to identify all the possible solutions. The search for a single, perfect answer to a complex problem stunts your creativity and reduces your ability to see alternative solutions.
  2. It makes you indecisive. As you seek one right answer, you might fall into over-analysis paralysis. Searching, researching and analyzing can be productive parts of the problem-solving process. But they also become a barrier to effective problem solving when they shift from analyzing to agonizing.
  3. It spurs inactivity. Agonizing and indecision lead to a third problem. When you fail to make a timely decision, you don’t move forward with executing a solution. A seemingly small issue can balloon into a major problem, causing you more heartache.

As a new leader, your decisions no longer affect only you. Every choice you make has a ripple effect on your team and even your organization, and that drastically increases the complexity of every decision you do make. But don’t let the fear of making a wrong decision hold you back. Most important: Quit looking for the right answer. Instead, keep your mind open to the full range of possible solutions and correct answers available to you.

 

Photo Credit: http://www.freeimages.com/photo/feedback-form-excellent-1238383

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Guy is our team’s night owl and Kevin’s co-author. He’s thoughtful and deliberate. Guy is our stealth warrior, completing projects that move our team ahead. His speaking and consulting gigs keep him on the road regularly, and he is always happy to return to his family. Guy is a wise and insightful coach, warm and supportive. He’s definitely someone you want to know.

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