Ask The Right Questions, Solve the Problem

Luke 18:18 (NKJV) "Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, 'Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?'" 

A young wealthy man had a problem. Something was missing in his life. So he went to Jesus and asked Him, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Knowing the man's real problem, Jesus gave him the typical rabbinical response, "Follow the Law." 

The young seeker answered and said that he had done this his entire life, but still something was not right in his life. Jesus was waiting for this comment and cut right to the heart of the matter. He told him to sell everything and follow His leading. The cost was too high for the young man so he walked away in despair. 

When faced with difficult problems, we need solutions, but how do we identify the best answer to our situation? How do we solve our problems and know that we are making the right changes?

“Read the question.” 

These words were written at the top of the exam's first page in my Organic Chemistry class at Georgia Tech. I wish I had taken time to let those words sink into my my head. I wish I had taken time to let those words sink into my my head. Instead I jumped right into the test, worked the problems, finished ahead of everyone else, turned in my paper, and smugly walked out knowing I had aced the exam. When my paper came back, I was shocked at the "D-" written in red pencil at the top of the page. There was also a note  - and a note from the professor, "Read the Question." Apparently, I had not read each question carefully and there were a number of trick questions designed to not only measure the our knowledge of the subject, but to train us to think clearly. 

That incident changed my entire approach to solving test problems and also difficult personal problems. In addition it helped me raise my grade in that class to a high "B" even with that first bad grade. The need to understand the problem has stuck with me and has become my guiding principle when solving complex issues. 

Too often we do not understand our own issues and problems, nor listen clearly to what others say.

We don't take the time to fully consider all aspects of problems we face in relationships, business, politics, or scientific issues. As a result we work to correct symptoms without ever facing the root problem. Just as a child finds a hammer and believes everything in the house requires hammering, we find a solution and look for a problem to which it can be applied. For Washington's politicians, their hammer is money. Whatever the problem, send money. In this day and age, nobody fixes things anymore, they throw it away and get a new one. This is true of computers, cell phones,  and relationships. Rather than find out what is wrong and fixing it, we throw it away and get a new one.

If we are to solve problems, we must identify what  went wrong and understand the real problem. Once we are able to define the problem clearly, the solution or solutions often become obvious. Solution are not hard - often the problem itself is so complex. Then we fail to spend the time and energy to get to the root of an issue. As a result we end up with a "D-." on our report card.

The biggest example is seen in bureaucracies. There are some that believe that the solution to every problem in business, healthcare, the economy, and relationships is more government regulation. Regulation is the hammer - the panacea - and everything must be regulated.

Even in our own lives we keep looking around for that magic hammer that will solve all of our problems in our relationships, finances, and careers. So we attend every webinar, read every new book, and look at what worked for someone else and try to apply it to our particular problem without a careful understanding of our individual problem. "How To" books are the largest sellers on Amazon. "How To" videos get the most viewing on YouTube. 

You cannot solve a problem if you do not understand the problem. But if you fully understand it and can clearly state the issues, the solution will usually become obvious. When we truly understand the problem, the solution or solutions become obvious.

Steps to Problem solving:

James 3:17 (NKJV) But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

1.   Ask the right questions. 

Get at the root cause of the issue. 

One prayer that I have found God answers is, "What am I doing wrong?"

Get beyond the symptoms and find out why the symptoms exist. Symptoms are not the problem, they are the result of the problem. If your knee hurts, don't just take pain meds, determine the source. If your business is failing, identify what may be wrong, products, production, marketing, etc. Then look at where that can be improved. 

My first experience with a business consultant was very early in my career. He came around and asked questions of everyone, including me. Later when we received his report, it was obvious he just regurgitated our answers. The best way to find out what is wrong in any situation is to ask questions.

2.  Consider available solutions

Once the root of the problem is identified, it is time to consider a variety of solutions. Do not just pick up someone else's hammer. Consider even the wildest of ideas. This will help stimulate your creative juices.

3.  Evaluate potential solutions. 

Evaluate the potential solutions based upon James 3:17. Is the potential solution based upon a pure heart? Does it give you a feeling of  peace in your spirit? Are you willing to yield your rights? Will it yield good? Is it non-partial? Is it without hypocrisy?

4  Select the best, cost effective, solution. 

5.  Take Action on the solution

6.  Be flexible. 

If the path you have chosen is not working, you may have missed the root and are treating the symptom. If that is the case go back to step one. Do not just give up and throw in the towel. Solve the problems.

Problem Solving Made Easy

Solving the problem is easy - once you understand the problem!

We are all looking for solutions to our many problems.

"Read the Question." Those words were emblazoned at the top of the first page of my chemistry test. Unfortunately I failed to heed the warning. Instead I jumped in and tried to solve each problem as quickly as possible. After all isn't that what many of us do?

Turning in the exam and walking out of the room, I smiled at how easy it had been. When I got the test back, I did not smile. The problem was that I had not read each question carefully and there were a number of trick questions which were placed on the test to measure the our knowledge of the subject and also to train us to think clearly.

In problem solving we often fail to read the question carefully, listen clearly to what others say, or take the time to fully consider all aspects of the problem. Our problems in technology, business, religion, government, and personal relationships fail to be solved because we do not read the questions properly.

As a result we try to solve problems by treating symptoms without ever facing up to the real problem. We are often like the child who finds a hammer and believes everything in the house needs to be hammered. We look for a solution before we understand the problem. Then when we find one solution we run around using it to solve every problem whether or not it is appropriate.

We need to first read the question and understand the real problem. Once we are able to define the problem clearly, the solution or solutions become obvious.

It is not solving problems that is hard; it is in understanding the true problem.

The biggest example can be seen in bureaucracies. There are some in governments that believe the solution to every problem is regulation. So they want to regulate technology, business, healthcare, the economy, and relationships. Government regulation is the hammer and everything must be hammered.

But, in our own businesses, churches, and personal relationships we have a similar practice. We keep looking around for that magic hammer that will solve our problems. We attend webinars, conferences, and read every new book looking for the thing that worked for someone else, then try to apply it to our particular problem. We do this without a careful understanding of our individual problem.

Before we buy that new course or apply that hot program, we must be introspective and look at ourselves and understand our specific issues. Then we can pick the proper solution that applies to our situation.

You cannot solve a problem if you do not understand the problem. But if you fully understand it and can clearly state the issues, the solution or solutions will usually become obvious. Then we can pick the one best suited for the issues we face.

When we truly understand the problem, the solution or solutions become obvious.

Where have all the leaders gone?

Where have all the leaders gone, long time passing?

Where have all the leaders gone, long time ago?
Where have all the leaders gone?
Young folks pick them, every one
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?

[apologies to Pete Seeger]

Leadership is a lost art today. Where did it go? Our leaders have morphed into managers. Rather than defeat terrorists, we manage them. Rather than lead a nation we manage a nation. Rather than Generals leading their troops, they manage a war.

In ancient days, kings went out in front of their armies as the battle was joined.  In front of their men they got a clear view of the goal and a feel for the cost of victory. In that position, they would be vulnerable to the slings and arrows of the opposing forces. The soldiers loved it because their hero and leader was by their side. They readily followed their leader. Of course there was a huge risk to the king, but a triumphant victory was worth taking the risk. For the leader, the material rewards of gold and land were valuable, but the intrinsic reward of personal achievement was even more important.

As time passed, kings began to believe survival was more important than material rewards and personal satisfaction. So they became managers and sent others in their place. Generals now led the troops into battle and gained self actualization. But soon the generals decided it would be safer to manage and survive. And so it went.

Leadership, throughout history, has been a risky business. Leaders stand out. They have a big target on their back. You do not have to guess who are leaders, they are the ones others are following. You can repeatedly say you are a leader, but if you look behind you and there is no one to be seen, you are not leading. Leading from behind is not leading, it is at best managing, or just following.

While living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, we went crabbing on the local pier. A smelly chicken wing in an old crab pot would trap a few crabs in about ten minutes. The catch was put into a bucket as we dropped the baited pot for another load. A lid on the crab bucket was not necessary. When you have more than one crab in the bucket, the crabs won’t escape. If one tries to crawl out of the bucket, the others reach up with their claws and pull him back into the bucket. Crabs will always pull others down to their level. Eventually the brave crabs will forget their desire to climb above the other crabs and settle down and “just get along,” and be ordinary.

Most people give up after the crabs keep pulling them down to their level and we learn to live with mediocrity. We play it safe and try to manage instead of leading. Leadership becomes a bad thing.

The transition from leading to managing has impacted our entire society. In business managers today's bottom line becomes an idol, reducing long term planning and research and development. As a result our nations creativity has fallen victim to the managers. Quality has been replaced by quantity and shoddy products. Just do enough to get by. In our schools grades become less important because someone might try to lead and get a higher rank over another. In kids sports, everyone gets a trophy whether they were deserving or not. 

Mediocrity has taken over and is greatly over-rated. In giving everyone extrinsic rewards, we have done away with the intrinsic motivators of autonomy, mastering a skill, and/or getting a hard earned  victory. 

In the political arena the emphasis is no longer on individual leadership but on keeping the party in power. Leaders are pulled down to the common level by the rest of the crabs in the bucket. We become Borglike and as we are assimilated.

Presidents and kings today, sitting in their war rooms push a button and a drone attacks. How can the highest official do anything but manage. He cannot feel the heat of battle, he no longer knows his troops, he no longer takes personal risks. And at the end of the battle, he can not take any pride at personal accomplishment.

I do not propose that presidents pick up rifles and lead the troops into battle. What I do propose is that we begin to encourage individual initiative, creative leadership, and a purpose beyond ourselves. Encourage people to take risks. The rewards are still out there.