by Richard Townsend,
Corporate Learning Consultant
http://www.orglearn.org
To continue from last week lets look at a list of attributes required in an effective “new economy” CEO to give as another set of ‘clues’ to the
problems we are going to face and what competencies we need to develop in today’s business paradigm. A short list of attributes: leadership qualities, creative thinker,
innovative, flexible, sensitive to culture, empowering, seeker of value adders, driven, able to leverage on technology and a able to achieve constant profit growth.
I guess the problem solving keys are creative, innovative, flexible and leveraging on technology. Being a creative problem solver is an often-used term...
but what does it all mean and how do we ‘creatively’ solve problems.
Having managed people in a number of countries I believe the world has two types of individuals: those that ‘think and grow’ [value adders] and/versus
‘idea eaters’ [energy suckers] that wait around to latch on to that which provides at least mediocre levels of mental and physical sustenance. The first group seems to be
in the minority whereas the second group is in abundance, which is perhaps why TV is such a successful ‘entertainment’ medium and management ‘gurus’ sell so many
books.
Thinking people realise that most problems are open to examination and creative solutions, whereas non-thinkers tend to look for answers based on past
successes, a strictly adhered to set of well-learned procedures or some other expert’s advice. “But we’ve always done it this way boss” - ‘god help us and save
us’ as my mother used to say. Thinkers are the people that can and will provide our organization with the only real product that will make a difference to our company’s
[and nation’s] fortunes in the future - IDEAS. Today’s business needs to be driven by people trained to create ideas rather than be anchored by people whose lives are
ruled by facts.
The main elements for problem solving are:
Check for existing solutions first as you may be able to use ‘what is’, as a basis to build, ‘what can be’... a better mousetrap is still a
mousetrap.
Begin by solving the simplest part of the problem. Many of those around you will advise the shortcomings of your solution and be happy to tell you that it
is only a partial solution. Ignore these people and stay focussed; total solutions grow from groups of partial solutions.
Build your solution incrementally and check each stage as you go. If your solution depends on a correct answer to part A of the problem and part A isn’t
really solved you can have big flaws by the time you get to part Z.
Try to look at problems in fresh ways. Don’t get bogged down in your own pet theory, try some ‘crazy’ solutions and never try to make just one
approach or solution fit by refining it rather than looking for a totally fresh approach. We often fall into this trap because we don’t want to waste our previous efforts.
Abandon hidden beliefs and attitudes and ‘common knowledge’ and any other ‘flat earth’ type assumptions.
Have patience and perseverance and keep looking. Never settle for the least inadequate fit, keep looking for the ideal.
Always remember nothing is carved in stone and no solution will ever be permanent. Constant change and the forces of nature will eventually prove all our
most brilliant ideas inadequate, even rocks turn into sand over time.
Worth a thought...
To contact Ric mailto: [email protected]
Toshimasa Arakawa, President of Arakawa Chemical (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Jun Nakai, vice president & general manager
from Mitsiam International Ltd. and Chakramon Phasukavanich deputy secretary general of BOI at the grand opening.
