The Biggest Leadership Problem Of All

If there is a one clear primary function and responsibility of authentic leaders, it is the job of minimizing, avoiding and eliminating “problems”.

 

While problem solving is a prerequisite core competency of leadership at every level of your organization, the biggest problem facing the vast majority of leaders … Is their glaring inadequacy when it comes to problem solving.

 

If you have yet to grasp the true magnitude of the problem solving “problem”, I would ask you to cite any type of leadership challenge that you have previously or currently face. Each and every leadership challenge ultimately comes down to a problem solving issue. No ifs … No ands … No buts.

 

Leadership issues that pertain to organizational culture, planning, human resources, talent acquisition, talent retention, day to day operations, fiscal management and every other matter of business … Are in the end, problems to be “solved”.

 

While you would fully expect leaders in mass to be talented and adept problem solvers, the overwhelming fact is that they are not. Competent problem solvers are fast becoming a rare breed of leaders. Although each leadership situation demands a very real solution, all too many leaders opt for the less than ideal solution which is both obvious and expedient.

 

To become an accomplished problem solver, your organization’s leaders must commit to the rigorous work of creating a highly engaging work environment and structural process for the development of exceptional solutions.

 

Sadly, all to many leaders aren’t even aware that they have a problem solving problem until their organizational cultures have become toxic, productivity impaired and highly negative. As an authentic leader, you need to become acutely aware that without exception … Every decision that you execute has potential “consequences”.

 

Moreover, your organization, your people and the customers that you serve are destined to bear the long term consequences of ineffective problem solving and poor decision making on the part of your leadership team.

Copyright © 2017 Developing Forward Leadership | Thomas H. Swank, CBC | All Rights Reserved.