Problem-Oriented vs. Solution-Oriented

Published by Pastor Mike on July 30, 2020

Let’s be honest problems will arise in your organization and you have two choices to make.  Will you become a problem-oriented leader or a solution-oriented leader.  Most people fall into the first category which is problem-oriented.  They are good at identifying a problem or they know that their organization is struggling, but that is as far as it goes.  They panic, they ignore, they complain, they blame, but they don’t change.  However, there are those who are solution-oriented that not only see the problems but react in a manner that figures out the solution.  They take responsibility for their organization, they understand that a decision has to be made, and they rally the team to help move the ball forward.

So let’s look very quickly at 5 steps to become a solution-oriented leader when problems arise:

1. Stop & Breathe

Listen very quickly EVERY organization has problems that pop up.  I know you may be sitting here and saying, “you don’t know what I have to deal with” and you are right I don’t. However, I can promise you that I have felt that overwhelming feeling before and I know many other leaders that have felt that way also.  Problems come up and sometimes they are huge and sometimes they feel more like annoyances, but they are problems none the less and problems are just a part of running an organization.  You are not alone and you are not a failure because you have to deal with the issues at hand.  However, I do have some bad news for you… The problems only get bigger as your organization grows, but the sooner you develop this mentality the more resilient you become to those problems.  Stop and breathe!

2. Pray

This sounds cliche to some, but the reality is God is practical just as much as He is spiritual.  Check out James 1:5 “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.” He gives wisdom and He gives peace, but you have to stop and ask. There is something that happens in the heart and mind of a leader that walks around knowing that God always has your best intentions at heart and that He guides those that listens.  You will have a peace and joy in the midst of the greatest storms that the world just cannot understand!

3. Hunger for Growth

You have to develop in your spirit that good enough is NEVER good enough.  I celebrate wins, but I am always anticipating greater wins.  I never have a heart that wants to settle and I’m always looking for opportunities to grow and learn.  Build-in your mindset the understanding that progress builds happiness and that stagnation kills purpose.

4. Get the Facts

Do not put your head in the sand and ignore the facts.  Most leaders don’t like to look at the numbers or hear the truth because they feel that the facts reveal that they are failures.  So they develop an out of sight and out of mind mentality.  The reality is the only thing that will define you as a failure is not whether you have a problem, but what you do with those problems.  You cannot solve a problem that you don’t have a clear picture of what the problem really is.  Gather facts and face the reality of the situation and I promise you and your organization will be better for it in the future.

5. Take Steps 

As leaders, we have this tendency to think that we need a HUGE answer to solve our problems.  If I got “x” amount of dollars in, hired this person, or landed that account all my problems would be fixed. That is a big fat lie because you didn’t actually change anything you just put a bandaid over the problem and sooner or later that bandaid will fall off and reveal the problem all over again.  You have to take this thing one step at a time.  If you remember anything remember this that small changes over time lead to a big change in your organization. Think of it like this that if you fixed or changed one thing a week you would be 52 steps closer to a solution than if you just sat around hoping for a miracle.  Not only that but you are developing a culture that will prevent that certain problem from arising again in the future or preventing it from rising to the magnitude that you know it as today!

We all face problems, we all have to grow, and we all have to learn so remember that you are not in this thing alone.  Stop, pray, desire change, get the facts, and start taking steps toward your solution!  The future looks bright you just have to start walking towards it!