5 Steps to fix any work problem

Written by: Brett Lyndon – The Pro Forum Community of Practice

This article is based on the TED talk by Anne Morriss given in April 2023

One of worst, most enduring corporate traits is the slow approach they normally take towards problem resolution. This slow and careful approach has little to recommend it as a successful strategy. I can understand management not wanting to get it wrong or make things worse but consider the inevitable trade-off when moving slowly and taking time to consider all the options and consequences. The problem does not get better by itself in this time, it continues. This continuing problem can cause significant company damage in terms of reputation, disgruntled staff, and economic loss.

The most successful corporate executives deal with problems swiftly, providing a solution, often with change and then move on to the next big issue. In other words, they get stuff done! They do not sit on their hands thinking about it.

So, what are the 5 steps?

For simplicity and to encourage rapid action, to overcome delay and procrastination, I am going to borrow further Anne Morriss’ talk and relate each step to the days of the working week.

Step 1 Monday – Get curious about the problem.

Do not assume the problem is as it appears on the surface. Investigate the problem and understand the root cause. Why is this happening? What has led to this situation? And so on. I am staunch advocate of stakeholder engagement, and this is no exception. Talk to other people with a stake in the problem and get their thoughts. Be brave. Ask the tough questions and be prepared for the hard truth.

Only when you understand what the real problem is, can you being to find a solution.

Step 2 Tuesday – Create a good-enough plan.

Now that you understand the real problem, you need a plan to fix it. Your plan, at this stage, does not need to be perfect (there is no such thing as a perfect plan), it is a starting point for the conversations to follow. Your plan might not be feasible, practical, or even workable at this stage, but that does not matter either. It will get better.

This step is all about producing the first idea of the solution to your problem.

Step 3 Wednesday – Make new friends.

It is true that we make friends with people who are like us. We share similar values and beliefs, and because of these similarities, we often think in the same. These people will not necessarily help our ‘good-enough’ plan become better. They simply agree with our perspective. What we need is challenge and diverse ways of thinking, so ditch your current friends and make some new ones. Engage with people who are completely different from yourself and get their opinions. These alternative points of view will help turn your’ ‘good-enough’ plan into a better plan.

This step is about challenging old beliefs and identifying new ideas and solutions.

Step 4 Thursday – Tell the story.

Good stories have a past, present and a future. Share the story of the past, how did you get here? There could be some good reasons for the current situation, which may no longer be relevant or did not work out as intended. This is not about blame; it is about fact. Do not burn bridges by blaming others. Tell the story of the present and the problems you are facing and why things need to change. Take them on the journey into the future, the solution and vision for a better workplace. One the most powerful learning tools humans have is story telling. It infiltrates every aspect of our lives from children’s books to corporate business analysis. I rely heavily on story telling in my role as a vocational educator and trainer. When we have the story, the learning or message is more easily understood.

This step is about sharing the story.

Step 5 Friday – Take massive action.

Armed with this knowledge, the real problem, and a great plan, having shared the story, it is now time to take swift and decisive action to resolve the problem. All decisions and actions decided over the last 4 days are now promptly executed. Sweep the hurdles and obstacles aside and just get it done! Fix the problem! There is no better time than right now, today, to act and resolve the problem you have spent the week working on. Nike said it best in their advertising campaign, “Just do it.” Do not tolerate administrative hurdles or unproductive processes. Your plan may still not be ‘perfect,’ that is okay. Imperfect action always achieves better results that perfect planning.

Step 5 is all about taking action to fix your problem.

There you have it, a straightforward, 5 step plan to fix any problem at work. I hope this helps you get in there and sort that problem for a better workplace.

The 11 minute Anne Morriss talk can be found here Anne Morriss: 5 steps to fix any problem at work | TED Talk