Solve that problem or others will
"Identify your problems, but give your power and energy to solutions." Tony Robbins
"Walk by a problem without addressing it and you've created a new standard." I heard this often in my military career. This statement captured the essence of standards and discipline, something we strove for in order to perform at our best and keep soldiers alive in combat. While lives may not be at stake, this concept still applies in a private business. If you don't address the problem others will assume it is acceptable behavior. "Well the boss didn't say anything..." I'll take it a step further; If you don't address the problem, others will.
By others I mean two groups. The first one is your employees. Ignoring a problem doesn't mean it goes away. If Stan cheated on his sales reporting yet brought in big numbers this month, a leader might be apt to ignore his dishonesty. His peers will not. They will see this behavior and they, not you, will fix it. Their solution, however, may not be the one you are looking for. It may involve them emulating Stan's behavior, creating a culture of deceit, or they may decide to leave the company creating another problem - employee turnover.
The second group are your customers. Fail to create a create a positive work climate where employees are appreciated and invested in (a problem) and Alicia may mistreat a customer. Fail to address a problem of poor internal operating standards - tasks completed routinely and on time and your customers will solve it for you. Their solution will be to take their business elsewhere.
Address problems for the sake of the team. Address problems because you are an exceptional organization with exceptional people. Address problems because the company's survival depends upon it. Address problems because it is the right thing to do.
You can address problems in group meetings by using some of the reasons above. You don't have to single out anyone. You can focus the discussion more on learning than on fixing blame. You can rally your team to capture lessons and improve themselves by reminding everyone that, "We are either an exceptional _______ company that addresses our problems head on or we are just a basic _________ company who admires problems and allows them to fester."
You have a choice. Gather the courage to address and solve problems or let others solve them. Choose the former. Be exceptional. Lead.
Make it Personal!
Rob
Rob Campbell