Talk Your Problems Over

Do you talk about your problems?

I do not mean complaining. Who needs that? Corner me with some complaining and I'll find the fastest path out of the room. Oops, I think I have to count my socks or alphabetize something.

Not complaining. Constructive inquiry. Curiously wondering what's causing things to be other than you'd like them to be. Asking other people's opinions. Digging into the issues with an open, curious mind.

Not that you'd expect anyone else to solve your problems. But, what if they did? What if they had a brilliant notion worth exploring? What if they were suddenly so interested in the issue that they helped you solve it?

I've seen it happen. People like to help. And, they often see things much differently than I do, which helps me see with a new perspective. That could be where the best ideas live. That could reveal the wonderful answer to dozens of otherwise completely entrenched problems.

Talking about our problems is not the same as solving them. There is still work to do - analysis, solution finding, implementation, follow-up, review -- but talking about problems can be a great start.

There's no use in trying to hide them. Problems have very big egos and expect to be seen.

-- Doug Smith

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