In a previous Blog post, I wrote about the importance of starting out your day and staying locked into the right mindset. If you lose touch with the right mindset, you can fall into victim mode. This causes a person to focus on the problem(s) and just complain and point fingers somewhere else and feel they can’t do anything about the situation. This can put a person into a paralyzed state where nothing gets done and can result in frustration, depression or even anger. If you find yourself in this mode, go back to mindset and refocus yourself.
It is easy for a person to get focused on all the problems. The result though is no resolution, no traction and no movement. If you can train your brain to recognize when you fall into that mode, you will be able to recover and shift your focus to thinking about solutions.
Solutions focused is a key to being successful. Solutions focused helps you be creative in solving problems, looking at things from a fresh perspective, improving current situations or processes, etc. Being solutions focused helps fuel and maintain the right mindset, and moves you forward.
I remember working with some engineers and a safety manager once who had been trying to install some new equipment. They spent close to an hour going through this intense packed spreadsheet about all of the issues they were having with the install and the poor functioning of the equipment.
There was one issue really causing them to get heated with each other. The safety person said it was unacceptable for the machine to leak oil on the floor from an environmental and a cost perspective of having to always clean it up not to mention the slip hazard it created. The engineers were complaining because they were working with certain specs and constraints and it was the maker of the equipment’s fault for the oil leaking.
They were in a downward spiral of victim mode just pointing fingers and complaining. I was sitting there listening to the complaints from both sides while examining some pictures of the machine they had up on the screen. I asked about designing a trough-like system running underneath and at an angle allowing the flow of the excess oil back to a drum so no more spilling on the floor, reducing expenses, recycling the oil, etc. They were shocked that a person who had not been involved in the installation at all came up with this idea.
I simply listened to the issues and problems, shifted my mindset and started thinking about potential solutions. Once I snapped them out of the victim mode and focused them on a solution, they came up with a great design that worked.
Being solutions focused isn’t for only when a problem arises though. A solutions focus should be used proactively. Always look for situations or problems that could arise and work on solutions to prevent them from becoming issues.
Here are four steps I use to stay solutions focused:
- Get in the right mindset: Step back from the problem and move to a positive and growth mindset. Recognize and label when you fall into victim mode as that will help you move past it.
- Ask questions: Focus on asking yourself and or others open ended questions, or use the 5 Whys technique.
- Inch-by-inch: Some problems can seem overwhelming to the point you don’t know where to start so it can keep you from starting. Break down bigger issues and break them into smaller manageable pieces if you can.
- Reflect: Allow for time to just think and reflect. Sometimes when we find ourselves stuck, just stepping away and taking a walk to think, reflect and clear your mind can create the aha moment you need. I experience this on my runs often.
Stay solutions focused and you will accomplish more, be better and reach further than you imagined you could.
Be Great…Today!
Brandon Brazeel, MBA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Chief People Officer
bookmarked!!, I really like your site!