The Spirit of Teamwork

“For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat and wrong.” H. L. Mencken

A message from Terry: Wouldn’t it be nice if things always went according to plan?

Well, dream on. Even on our best days, schedules change, appointments get broken, and emergencies arise. And on our worst days, team members get sick, snowstorms turn the roads into a skating rink, and the power goes out, both personally and globally.

Problems come in all shapes and sizes. Some are unique, one-time-only occurrences that you can deal with and move on. But other problems are more persistent, recurring again and again as if daring us to solve them. For them, we need a plan!

If so, remember that solutions aren’t a one-size-fits-all phenomenon. If you can find a simple cure that’s easy to implement, good for you. But don’t be daunted if that stubborn problem refuses to roll over and surrender. That’s when you have to be willing to think outside of the box. But how?

For starters, step back and take a good, hard look at the problem. Make a list of occasions when it has arisen. Look for common denominators. Does it usually happen at the same time of day? Does it involve the same members of the team? Does it crop up when a certain procedure is being undertaken? Then involve other members of the team and gather their thoughts and observations, as well. When you have collected all the data you can, look for common threads. Search for patterns. Assume nothing. Lay it out, like a team of detective who have collected all of the evidence.

Then look for solutions. You may be surprised by what you find!

What stubborn problem has been nagging at you? What new way could you approach it?