Clarify Misunderstandings

Are you ready for a bold statement?

I don't know if it's statistically sound, but intuitively it feels true. See what you think:

More than half of our problems are simply misunderstanding our situation.

Misunderstandings come in all sizes:

what someone said
what they meant by what they said
how strongly someone feels about something
a person's willingness or unwillingness to help
the measurements we are relying on
deadlines
specifications

You get the idea. Unless as leaders we constantly clarify the meanings we are seeking we are open to misunderstanding the situation. And that can lead to serious problems that, left misunderstood, only grow worse.

Start by clarifying the situation. Maybe you don't even have a problem after all. And if you do, then now you know more about what that problem is.

-- Douglas Brent Smith

Interested in helping your team develop its problem solving skills? Bring our one-day workshop Solving Problems to your location. It's surprisingly affordable and develops the types of skills your people will use over and over.

doug@frontrangeleadership.com

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