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Killer Problem Solving for You or Your Team
Problem solving is often difficult whether the problem is yours alone or
one that requires group consideration. If the problem is personal in
nature, you may feel ‘stuck’ in moving forward. In working with groups
of people either at work, in volunteer activities or in your own family it
may seem impossible to generate fresh ideas or for a group to come
to a consensus. Resources may be thin. Strong personalities may
weigh with heavy influence. Personal agendas may come into play.
Different constituents may have different goals. The following steps
will help you to solve any problem whether it needs a group solution or
it is a personal issue.
Nine Steps to Killer Problem Solving
1. Define the problem. Write down exactly what the issue is and gain
agreement from all parties. If working with a team, it is imperative that
there be buy-in from everyone involved in order to gain the best
solution. Is the problem that sales are down? Or is it that production
cannot keep up with orders? Are you stuck and can’t make a decision
on your life purpose?
2. Establish criteria for evaluating solutions. Do not consider the
solution when doing this. Instead think of what will make a solution a
good solution? Will it be cost efficient? Will it require low overhead?
Ask the question, “The solution should be one that _______ and does
not __________.” Ie: The solution should increase sales and not
necessarily increase costs – thus a redistribution of resources not
spending more. The solution should provide me with fulfillment in
mind body and spirit and nothing is too far out to consider.
3. Identify a root cause of the problem. The root cause can most
easily be defined by asking ‘Why?’ five times. Why did we miss our
goal? Because we didn’t sell enough product? Why not? Because we
didn’t have enough opportunities to get in front of our ideal client. Why
not? Although we closed a high percentage of the clients we met with,
we didn’t acquire enough leads for appointments. Why not? Because
our internal sales force did not have enough training nor were they
incentivized? Why not? We didn’t develop a program for this strategy.
4. Generate alternative solutions. Ie: 1) We establish a training
program with skilled trainers. 2) We invest in better training for our
trainers. 3) We establish an incentives program for the internal sales
force. 4) We establish a referral program whereby existing customers
get a price reduction for every lead that converts to a sale. Or: 1) I will
devote 60 minutes everyday to doing something I have never done
before. 2) I will schedule coffee meetings with three people this month
that have achieved success in an area of interest to me.
5. Evaluate each solution based on the criteria in #2.
6. Select the best solutions.
7. Develop an action plan. The plan should include:1) key
stakeholders, 2) key metrics that you will measure, and 3) a timeline.
8. Implement the plan. Adjust the plan along the way and record the
changes so that a process becomes clear.
9. Measure the outcomes and communicate the progress. The
culture of any organization, family or group relies on clear
communication. Tell your plan to someone who will hold you
accountable to it.
Executing this strategy closes the gap between a desired solution and
a current situation in a straight forward way. For a personal issue this
promotes an assessment of all viable options in an objective manner.
For teams, this allows for everyone to weigh in with opinions and for
everyone to own the outcome. Start now!
Email this information to a friend. Follow Mary Lee Gannon on
Facebook via her name and on Twitter at StartingOverNow.
Get Mary Lee's free tip sheets on Seven Killer Ground Rules for
Effective Meeting Facilitation and 12 Steps to Lead a Killer
Productive Meeting an dozens more tips at her Articles and Tips Page.
Mary Lee Gannon is the president of Gannon Group - an executive
coaching and consulting firm that produces higher individual and
organizational performance through Executive Coaching, Fundraising
Coaching, Organizational Development, Board Retreats, Visioning,
and Planning. Mary Lee’s personal turnaround came as a stay-at-
home mother with four children under seven-years-old, who endured a
challenging divorce that took she and the children from the country
club life to public assistance from where within a short time she worked
out of that to the level of CEO. Her book "Starting Over - 25 Rules for
When You've Bottomed Out" is available in bookstores or at Amazon.
Get her FREE ebook – “Grow Productivity – A Leader’s Toolbox.”
Problem solving is often difficult whether the problem is yours alone or
one that requires group consideration. If the problem is personal in
nature, you may feel ‘stuck’ in moving forward. In working with groups
of people either at work, in volunteer activities or in your own family it
may seem impossible to generate fresh ideas or for a group to come
to a consensus. Resources may be thin. Strong personalities may
weigh with heavy influence. Personal agendas may come into play.
Different constituents may have different goals. The following steps
will help you to solve any problem whether it needs a group solution or
it is a personal issue.
Nine Steps to Killer Problem Solving
1. Define the problem. Write down exactly what the issue is and gain
agreement from all parties. If working with a team, it is imperative that
there be buy-in from everyone involved in order to gain the best
solution. Is the problem that sales are down? Or is it that production
cannot keep up with orders? Are you stuck and can’t make a decision
on your life purpose?
2. Establish criteria for evaluating solutions. Do not consider the
solution when doing this. Instead think of what will make a solution a
good solution? Will it be cost efficient? Will it require low overhead?
Ask the question, “The solution should be one that _______ and does
not __________.” Ie: The solution should increase sales and not
necessarily increase costs – thus a redistribution of resources not
spending more. The solution should provide me with fulfillment in
mind body and spirit and nothing is too far out to consider.
3. Identify a root cause of the problem. The root cause can most
easily be defined by asking ‘Why?’ five times. Why did we miss our
goal? Because we didn’t sell enough product? Why not? Because we
didn’t have enough opportunities to get in front of our ideal client. Why
not? Although we closed a high percentage of the clients we met with,
we didn’t acquire enough leads for appointments. Why not? Because
our internal sales force did not have enough training nor were they
incentivized? Why not? We didn’t develop a program for this strategy.
4. Generate alternative solutions. Ie: 1) We establish a training
program with skilled trainers. 2) We invest in better training for our
trainers. 3) We establish an incentives program for the internal sales
force. 4) We establish a referral program whereby existing customers
get a price reduction for every lead that converts to a sale. Or: 1) I will
devote 60 minutes everyday to doing something I have never done
before. 2) I will schedule coffee meetings with three people this month
that have achieved success in an area of interest to me.
5. Evaluate each solution based on the criteria in #2.
6. Select the best solutions.
7. Develop an action plan. The plan should include:1) key
stakeholders, 2) key metrics that you will measure, and 3) a timeline.
8. Implement the plan. Adjust the plan along the way and record the
changes so that a process becomes clear.
9. Measure the outcomes and communicate the progress. The
culture of any organization, family or group relies on clear
communication. Tell your plan to someone who will hold you
accountable to it.
Executing this strategy closes the gap between a desired solution and
a current situation in a straight forward way. For a personal issue this
promotes an assessment of all viable options in an objective manner.
For teams, this allows for everyone to weigh in with opinions and for
everyone to own the outcome. Start now!
Email this information to a friend. Follow Mary Lee Gannon on
Facebook via her name and on Twitter at StartingOverNow.
Get Mary Lee's free tip sheets on Seven Killer Ground Rules for
Effective Meeting Facilitation and 12 Steps to Lead a Killer
Productive Meeting an dozens more tips at her Articles and Tips Page.
Mary Lee Gannon is the president of Gannon Group - an executive
coaching and consulting firm that produces higher individual and
organizational performance through Executive Coaching, Fundraising
Coaching, Organizational Development, Board Retreats, Visioning,
and Planning. Mary Lee’s personal turnaround came as a stay-at-
home mother with four children under seven-years-old, who endured a
challenging divorce that took she and the children from the country
club life to public assistance from where within a short time she worked
out of that to the level of CEO. Her book "Starting Over - 25 Rules for
When You've Bottomed Out" is available in bookstores or at Amazon.
Get her FREE ebook – “Grow Productivity – A Leader’s Toolbox.”
StartingOverNow.com
Articles
Turnaround Solutions for People & Organizations
Whether you are an executive who is "stuck," your company needs
better productivity, or you are in a life transition you represent the
people and organizations Executive Leadership Coach Mary Lee has
helped. Learn how to clarify direction, create strategy, upgrade skills,
optimize your environment and wipe out fear and doubt. Make it fun =
get more done!
Mary Lee’s strategies from her book “Starting Over” helped her in her
own transformation from stay-at-home mother with four children living
a country club life to the reality of a difficult marriage, divorce, poverty,
welfare and then on to president and CEO. Eliminate self doubt, under-
performance, money fears, relationships woes, and negative influence
so that you may soar. Then lead others to improve their lives and your
business. Start now! For a FREE introductory coaching session via
phone at 412-874-3918 or email info@startingovernow.com.
Whether you are an executive who is "stuck," your company needs
better productivity, or you are in a life transition you represent the
people and organizations Executive Leadership Coach Mary Lee has
helped. Learn how to clarify direction, create strategy, upgrade skills,
optimize your environment and wipe out fear and doubt. Make it fun =
get more done!
Mary Lee’s strategies from her book “Starting Over” helped her in her
own transformation from stay-at-home mother with four children living
a country club life to the reality of a difficult marriage, divorce, poverty,
welfare and then on to president and CEO. Eliminate self doubt, under-
performance, money fears, relationships woes, and negative influence
so that you may soar. Then lead others to improve their lives and your
business. Start now! For a FREE introductory coaching session via
phone at 412-874-3918 or email info@startingovernow.com.
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Gannon Group/StartingOverNow.com
Executive Leadership Coaching - Productivity Solutions for People and Organizations
Executive Leadership Coaching - Productivity Solutions for People and Organizations
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Manager's Toolbox"
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Productivity Grow - A
Manager's Toolbox"
and the Executive Coaching
Newsletter.
Mary Lee Gannon's
Book "Starting Over" is
available in bookstores
everywhere or at
Amazon.com - 5 Stars!
Book "Starting Over" is
available in bookstores
everywhere or at
Amazon.com - 5 Stars!
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