No duct tape needed...

I love Google — in .39 seconds I can get 174,000,000 results when you query "definition of problem". The first result defines a problem as a matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be dealt with and overcome.

There you have it, a straight forward definition so let's move on to dealing with problems (and overcoming them) because that's the fun part.

Wait a moment, maybe not quite yet. 

Let's consider the so called "problem" for a moment because deep down we know that if we really don't understand it fully it will bite back, and make dealing with it a real shit show. 

Intuitively we know that complex problems are more of an issue than simple problems, but how do we define this? I mean, is the complexity of a problem defined by the problem itself, or by how easily the problem is solved? I'm not going to use any examples that involve leaking pipes and using duct tape as a viable solution because it's just a bunny hole for quality problem solving and the utility of duct tape. 

However, let's say that the light bulb burns out in your lamp, which is now a problem —  should be a simple problem to solve with a new lightbulb. But what happens if it goes out again two days later —now maybe it's a more complex problem involving a defective lamp or broader wiring issues. Determining the problem (and the broader situation surrounding the problem) is the foundation for effective problem solving, and definitely if creative thinking is needed down the road. I think it's fair (and practical) to say that simple situations tend to require simple problem assessment, and complex situations more complex problem assessment. 

With that said, why then do we hear this in business (which is very complex)?  "Revenue is down, we have a problem...we need some creative out of the box thinking!!". I've actually heard this so I will make the grand leap and say that it was not just a one off statement in the history of modern business. 

The reality is revenue being down is not the problem, just the bi-product. The problem is somewhere else, probably rather complex and nasty (with two rows of teeth). Maybe that's why we don't hear "Revenue is down, we have a problem, we need to know what we are dealing with". 

Back to my light bulb example — I bet you know of one or two people who would just keep putting a new bulb in the lamp every time it goes out (or just stop using the lamp all together) because they didn't know how to identify the problem, or worse don't really want to. 

There is a certain fearlessness that comes with facing problems — although most are straight forward and mostly inconvenient, there are some that can have great consequence. I'm currently reading a book called "The 50th Law" by 50 cent and Robert Greene that speaks about this so I'm certain I will have more thoughts on this at another time — good read so far and worth checking out.

Creative problem solving should not enter the picture until a Problem is really understood.

I didn't want to get into the detail of problem and situation analysis per se, but I most definitely want to emphasize that problems need to be assessed from both an internal and external perspective — for most of us this forces looking at situations differently and probably not in the way that we are used to. Assess problems thoroughly and differently (and bravely). 

Of course, this is easier said than done. 

iamgpe