“If we are going to be part of the solution, we have to engage the problems.” — Majora Carter
Viewing entries tagged
problem solving
A recent LinkedIn post by a fellow marketing exec, Jo Ann Herold, got me thinking about the best advice I have ever received.
I have been blessed with many wise mentors, coaches, and peers from whom I have learned. It is hard to pick just one piece of advice. That said, one did stand out.
Ask more questions
Maybe like you, I am a time-starved, experienced, and opinionated person who makes their living solving problems, anticipating problems, and rallying others to do the same. So, I am quick with answers. But I have learned (or am learning, to be more accurate) that more is accomplished with questions. Through questioning, root cause can really be established, customer needs can be fully understood, the talent of team members can be brought to bear, and alignment occurs more naturally. Asking “why?” five times is the staple of lean thinking and there is magic in asking questions. As a communicator-at-heart, my tendency to tell or sell can get in my way. I know I am not alone.
The other reason that asking questions is powerful is that there are more things to know than I will ever know. Others have forgotten more about subjects that I don’t know anything about. The pace of innovation, information sharing, and interconnections between us is growing so fast that the only skill or knowledge that any of us can hold for any length of time is the ability to learn and be curious.
I have a sticker on my laptop that says “Ask More Questions” (which my son picked up for me at an Alpha class he attended and thought I would like). It is a good reminder that I could heed more often.
“The right time to start a business is when you solve a problem.” – Nick F. Nelson (Brandprenuer)
“Markets generally figure out how to deal with problems of supply and demand.” – Levitt and Dubner
To solve the problem, you must first define it. And your first question probably isn’t the right one to ask.
You own the problems that create problems for your customers. They might not be your fault, but they are your problem.
For more about your relationship with customers, read "Customer Feedback."
Millennials aren’t the problem. They are the solution.
For more of my thoughts on millennials, read Generation Gaps, Millennials, and the Future.
I started a new job this past month, so I am back to being an amateur. No matter how many years of experience one might have, starting anything new is by definition…new. The view of the beginner is refreshing and can often lead to new insights. It’s a good perspective to cultivate and one that we must nurture in today’s dynamic and technology-fueled markets. But any time of learning can be error prone. And for any experienced person who finds themselves an amateur, fear of making mistakes can be a weight and a worry.
So, how do we free ourselves from a fear of making mistakes, so that risk taking, leadership, fresh insights, and a sense of urgency can flourish?
The fastest way is to change our frame. What if mistakes are not real? What if they represent not failure, but a lack of imagination. Thomas Edison, one of the most prolific inventors of all times, is credited with responding to a critic by saying “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” What if that is the attitude that we should foster? Instead of being paralyzed by the fear of failure, how do we make failure part of our forward progress? Why aren’t mistakes seen as a result unto themselves, not just eliminating alternatives on your journey to success, but rather a solution unto themselves?
There are some amazing new discoveries that were accidental or based on a mistakes. The microwave oven, super glue, saccharin artificial sweetner, Teflon, and even the Slinky were all accidental inventions. What began as a failed adhesive for one project became the perfect for another. What began as a spring that was dropped on the floor during a Naval experiment, became one of the most memorable and creative toys in history. Rather than “making a mistake,” they actually “made a solution.”
Next time you “make a mistake” (after you apologize and do any necessary clean-up), ask yourself the following question: based on the outcome that I have observed, what problem WOULD this solve? How did you inadvertently “make a solution” on which you can take action or take away some learning?
In the recent art film, The Last Word, a cantankerous, but insightful character played by Shirley McClaine said “You don’t make mistakes. Mistakes make you. Mistakes make you smarter. They make your stronger, and they make you more self-reliant.” Perhaps when you make your next mistake, the thing you are developing the most is you.
Originally posted on LinkedIn Pulse. All opinions my own.
Before proceeding with a solution, ask yourself the following:
“Do we have enough data to know if customers have a problem that we have a unique right to solve?”
You will save yourself a lot of money and time if you ask this ahead of time and use it as a strategic filter for investment. If you don’t know why you will win, then you won’t likely win.
We just got a new thermostat in the house from EcoBee. Their claim to fame is that instead of one sensor (at the thermostat), you can put temperature measurement devices around the room or space to generate a better picture of the living environment, be more comfortable, and save energy. Pretty cool, new solution to an old problem: how do we allocate expensive and scarce resources (in this case, heat), more effectively?
I wonder what business problems could be solved by moving from a single point of measurement to multiple measurement points. The sensors have to be cheap (either embedded into a process already done or solved with cheap technology). Instrumenting various other parts of the organization might lead to allocating expensive and finite/scare resources more effectively?
Why don’t the makers of hybrid vehicles take a playbook from the wearables and fitness apps space and gamify their cars so that you can compare your mileage to others and compete with your friends to be the most green driver? Would that create a network effect that might drive more brand loyalty in the space, as the options for hybrids and electric cars continue to grow.
Read more about companies can take inspiration from other industries to grow their businesses. Download the free eBook “The Payoff of Paying Attention”.
"If you want to build a big business, solve a big problem." - Scott Cook, Intuit
Why doesn’t Taco Bell, with their expansive supply chain and access to Pepsico’s resources, create an upscale Mexican food chain? Like Honda has Acura and Toyota has Lexus. They could start the first non-GMO, vegan friendly, gluten-free Mexican food chain in the country – which would be very on-trend and popular in Portland.
Read more about companies can take inspiration from other industries to grow their businesses. Download the free eBook “The Payoff of Paying Attention”.
To learn more about how Google is addressing the two seemingly conflicting problems of bots scanning forms and OCR technology reaching the computer’s limitations. Download the free eBook “The Payoff of Paying Attention”.
Modern buyers are allergic to the old ways of marketing. The unsolicited emails, direct mail, the interruption-based advertising. If not allergic, then they are immune. In any case, the old ways don’t work anymore. And we must find a new way.
Jennifer's blog Solving the Whole Problem was recently posted by the Technology Association of Oregon.
I personally find it very helpful to frame a problem in the form of a question (namely a "how" question), especially if you are seeking input from others. The more specifically you can articulate the problem, the better you will be at identifying solutions.