Can Problem Solving Be Fun?

Do you look forward to solving problems? Is it really fun?

Much of the time, problem solving feels like a necessary hardship. We do it because we must. But what if it was fun? What if people looked forward to it? What if it became the best part of your day?

I've worked with many skilled problem solvers who also just happened to be artists, musicians, actors, and other creative types. We faced difficult, deadline-driven problems like how to get a set built overnight, how to make a boring three hour play a fast moving two-hour thriller, and how to raise enough funs to get a production launched. We dealt with mechanical failures, black-outs, labor strikes, and blizzards. We dealt with personality disorders, customer melt-downs, and lack of resources. But thru each instance, the creative teams pulled together, shared ideas, broke bread together, cried and laughed and laughed some more.

is that kind of team work transferrable to a business environment? I've seen it prevail there as well, and when it does it is usually because of the steady, good-humored, positive thinking, centered leadership involved. Centered leaders really do make a difference in problem solving. They can help hold together groups of people long enough to get the job done.

Centered leaders make problem solving fun, imaginative, and important.

Changing problem solving from a crisis mentality to a daily practice speeds it up and makes it so much more enjoyable and reliable. Wouldn't your people benefit from that?

What can you do this week to improve your team's ability to solve problems positive?

-- Douglas Brent Smith

Learn more about centered problem solving in our workshop, Solving Problems

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