Wynneing Ways: Are you aware of how you think when you have a problem to resolve? Do you examine an issue or ignore it? Do you try to come up with a solution but give up easily if it's not working?
Are you the persistent type who will not give up until you find a solution? Do you have a belief that you must work it out yourself or do you have the freedom to seek help and advice?
What might happen if the next time you encounter a problem you look on it as a challenge and an opportunity? Will your attitude change if you believe there are no problems, only opportunities?
Altering a word is such a simple strategy but one that has huge potential to change how you feel. Say your manager has a problem he wants you to resolve. How adaptable he is in communicating the issue will influence the response you give.
If he describes the issue as a "problem", he will probably get a different response than if he calls it a "challenge" or an "opportunity". I'd be challenged and motivated by one that invited me to discover an opportunity but I'd be reluctant to agree to deal with a problem.
There is always a communication problem that needs to be resolved when colleagues refuse to cooperate. The wrong word can create misunderstandings.
Two managers may say exactly the same thing but get totally different responses because they have different relationship skills. One smiles, walks to the desk and says: "Have you got a minute?" in a friendly tone. The other stays at his desk and shouts: "Have you got a minute?" when the person passes his door. The same words but different messages.
You can learn to find the right language to get the intended message across in a way that will avoid misunderstandings. To find solutions, you need the emotional intelligence skills of self-awareness, empathy, reality testing and adaptability.
I devised the "Solar System" as a strategy for problem-
solving. It is a simple, effective method for communicating about a problem and finding a solution. SOLAR stands for:
State your case: be specific about how you see the problem. Describe it accurately.
Offer suggestions: brainstorm regarding how the problem can be resolved. At this stage you are not interested in whether they will work. Write everything down. Be creative.
Look at the advantages and disadvantages of each suggestion. Questions like "What will I gain if I adopt that suggestion?" and "What would I lose?" are helpful.
Action: the solution may be to take immediate action or you may have to agree to defer action or compromise.
Review: set a date and time to review the outcome of the action you take so you can reflect on what you have learned and how you will use it.
Marvin Levine, author of Effective Problem Solving, suggests three rules for problem-solving. Externalise - have all the elements in front of you. Visualise - imagine yourself as you solve the problem. Simplify - break the problem down to its simplest common denominator.
Knowing how to use effective problem-solving strategies will give you the confidence to confront problems rather than avoid them. When you understand how you think, that understanding will give you the skills to change a potential problem into a challenge and an opportunity. Change happens the instant you change your mind.
• A "Wynneing Ways" life skills seminar using coaching, NLP, emotional intelligence, takes place on February 12th, at the Montrose Hotel, Dublin. For more information email: info@carmelwynne.org