Blog about Leadership

Keep perspective: “More people are killed by deer than sharks, but you don’t see park rangers running around like nutcases” (Seth Godin).

Forget about panicking and stop the stupidity of worrying - this is my opinion on what to do about the worst recession since the Great Depression and the pending pandemic of swine flu. Once you recognize a problem, find a solution or better yet TEN solutions, and then focus on the solutions.

A while back I wrote an article about Creative Problem Solving for Leaders and I recommend that you read it. Thinking creatively about solutions is one of the most valuable skill sets to have. Continually exercising your creative mind to innovate produces substance that is above and beyond what most others produce.

But at the end of the day, don’t focus on the problems, find solutions and focus your energy and passion on the solutions.

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Persistence

Persistence – the act of enduring despite… regardless of… in the face of… even with… even though… A leader is persistent. If there are setbacks, if there are obstacles, if the going gets tough, a leader is persistent. It’s the act of determination that stems from the depths of confidence and the strength that is derived form experience.

Leadership quote from Peter Drucker:
“It is easy to look good in a boom.”

Right now, in the US, we are faced with the prospect of a recession – technically defined as two or more consecutive quarters of negative growth. So, right now, we need a greater emphasis on leadership in organizations. We need those business man and women, who through experience and knowledge, are able to drive our businesses through this economic period where only select businesses will “look good” while others are merely positioned to endure through this an economic downturn and still others will crumble under the weight of tough times.

It takes leadership to look good in a decline.

Creativity and Innovation

When economic times get tough, then it is time for leaders to rise to the challenge and find creative solutions to the problem. This is not as straight forward as cutting costs or cutting jobs. These, short-term solutions may cause more long-term problems. Sometimes the solution is a realignment, restructuring, or, some other, repositioning of the business.

No “One” solution

There is never a one-size-fits-all solution. Some corporations have a problem of too much money on hand, like Berkshire Hatheway, while others may have cut costs a bit too far and are now losing value, the Dell and Wal-Mart problems.

Leadership

It’s the job of leadership to determine the best path. It’s not as black-and-white as to say the correct path, for there may be more than one correct way to go. Rather, it’s an indeterminate measurement of “best.” It’s a matter of core competence in conjunction with the market’s evolution and countering competition. Sometimes the best answer is to R & D an entirely new product, modify the existing product, or add a service to complement the buyer’s experience. Whatever the “best” answer, the job is leadership.

Rise to the challenge and persist.

Leadership quote from Thomas Edison:
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

The leader does not give up.

For assistance, see Creative Problem Solving for Leadership.

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Creative Problem Solving

There are always problems and often there is more than one solution to the problem.  The task of leadership is to know the right path to lead an organization, while the task of management is to know the right way to trudge that path.  As leaders, we know that the best solutions or the optimal outcome is not necessarily the easiest, the clearest, or even the best reasoned.  Sometimes there is more than meets the eye.

Leadership quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson:
“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

When I first heard about the term “creative problems solving,” I learned a valuable exercise.  I was told to create a list of ten solutions to each problem you encounter.  You may find that the first or second solution is optimal.  However, learning how to exercise the mind and find nine more solutions, teaches you how to think outside the box, how to see every angle to a problem, and how to determine some very creative solutions.

7 Solutions

Creative solutions are not dealing with the straight-forward causal-type of reasoning, but delve deeper to find what may be better than you could ever have reasoned before.  It’s determining that new frontier to lead your organization.  With the promise that developing your creative outlook to problems will benefit you and your organization, I present a list of 7 Solutions for Creative Problem-Solving:

1. Sleep on it

Creativity stems from the unconscious, and more powerful, mind.  Sometimes, in order to bring the thoughts to your conscious, you need to give your mind a rest.  You don’t always need to give it a full nights sleep, but sometimes a good power-nap will work wonders.

2. “Clear the mind” meditation

If taking a nap may be a bit too unorthodox for your workplace, then try to clear your mind.  Having already given great thought to the problem, take a moment to stop thinking about it, just clear the mind.  The creativity will work its way to the forefront of your conscious with relaxation.

3. Sit in a whirlpool or take a shower

Water works wonders to help you relax and relaxation works wonders to bring out the creative.

4. Go to the gym

A good work out will focus the exercise of your muscles and release important chemicals in your body.  Those chemicals help to counter stress and clear the mind.

5. Go for a walk

This is the technique that I use the most.  It’s quite easy to get up and walk around the building or walk around the block.  A brisk walk will produce similar effects to a work out, but without the need to shower afterwards.

6. Go to lunch

Break for lunch and feed your body.  The body naturally responds positively to a healthy lunch and you can find the break to be sufficient for the creative juices.

7. Have a jovial conversation

Joking with friends and colleagues is very healthy.  The laughter creates positive effects on the mind and the break will allow you to find the solutions to problems.

Innovation

Whatever technique you utilize, continually seeking 10 solutions to every problem will teach your mind to think creatively (the great business concept of innovation) about problems and solutions.  You will be able to think up solutions that may even surprise you at time and may prove wonders for the success of your organization.

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