Years ago I discovered an idea that immediately jumpstarted the productivity of our team. I had developed a great team who was extraordinary at seeing problems. However, seeing a problem doesn’t fix a problem. So I took the next step and told them, “Don’t come to me with a problem unless you have at least one good solution.”
That did three things:
1) It eliminated anyone who was trying to score points by just pointing out problems. (Face it, you have those folks on your team too.)
2) But it also took the pressure off, because they didn’t have to bring the ultimate solution, just a possible solution.
3) In most cases, their solution either worked, or it kickstarted our thinking and we all came up with a solution.
In 1984, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had this to say about Lord David Young, a member of the House of Lords who advised her Conservative government:
Other people come to me with their problems, David Young comes with his achievements.
In her memoir she remarked that he “understood how to make things happen.”
Does your team know how to make things happen? Call the meeting today and make the rule:
No one points out a problem with out offering at least one solution.
See how things change.
This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.
