Rethinking A Problem

Facing problems at work sometimes can take all the joy out of showing up. Most of us don’t have the option to be self-sufficient millionaires, so we push through. What about that time when you just don’t want to face a problem, don’t understand the problem, or know you don’t have the energy to take care of a problem?

Let me share a story with you about a mother camel and her baby.

A mother and a baby camel were lying around, and suddenly the baby camel asked, “Mother, may I ask you some questions? Mother said, “Sure! Baby said, “Why do camels have humps?” Mother said “Well son, we are desert animals, we need the humps to store fat for those times when food and water are scarce”. Baby said, “Okay, then why are our legs long and our feet rounded?” Mother said, “Son, obviously they are meant for walking in the desert. You know with these legs I can move around the desert better than anyone does and the wide feet keep me from getting stuck in sand!” Baby said, “Okay, then why are our eyelashes long? Sometimes it bothers my sight”. Mother with pride said, “My son, those long thick eyelashes are your protective cover. They help to protect your eyes from the desert sand and wind”.

Baby after thinking said, “I see. So the hump is to store fat when we are in the desert, our legs and feet are for walking through the desert easily, and these eye lashes protect my eyes from the desert. If that is all true then what in God’s name are we doing here in the Zoo!?”

This interaction between mother and baby can represent challenges we face at work. It also identifies a few strategies we have with dealing with problems.

     1.  Do we have a problem?

The baby camel has not stated that having a hump, having round feet, or long eye lashes is a problem. In organizations, many projects and expending resources occurs when there is no clear understanding that we even have a problem. Before you go off the rails and start wasting time and energy, first decide objectively if there is an actual problem to solve. I believe you will find in many cases you should gather more information to make a determination that a problem actually exists.

     2.  Be inquisitive about the situation.

The baby camel saw his situation and was curious. Many leaders and followers are curious. Not many act on that curiosity. When presented with an issue, become inquisitive. Ask questions. Work to fulfill point one of this article and determine if there is a problem. In your fact gathering phase, talk to different people in the problem chain to ensure you have a full and robust understanding and are not missing a critical angle to the problem. It is not good enough to have a lot of data, it is more important to have the correct data.

     3.  Seek advice about the situation.

The baby camel did not understand all the facts. So the baby camel sought out a wiser person, in this case his mother. When faced with challenges look for help from another colleague or mentor. Many will have information or advice on how to tackle the problem facing you. They have the opportunity to provide guidance or a different perspective on the problem which could give you the insight for resolution. Teamwork always brings out a better answer to a problem than a solo walk.

So when you are faced with a new problem at work, make sure it is actually a problem, ask inquisitive questions to gather information, and don’t forget to use help to find the solution. These problems at work will provide you an opportunity to stretch your leadership wings and provide a positive impact on your organization. Surely it is better to get to a great solution then to live in a zoo!

Please share your thoughts on this topic and comment.  Have another point to make?  We would love to hear your thoughts!