Solving vs Managing A Problem

It's challenging to know what's really a problem and what isn't if you weren’t ever taught to discern the difference between both before.

I consider myself to be a pretty proficient problem-solver overall, yet there are still times when I find myself managing a problem versus solving it.

However, thanks to coaching, my growing ability to self-coach, and working through my conditioned patterns, when I’m able to notice I’m in management mode, I can course correct pretty steadily.

And, knowing this not only helps me in my business, but in all areas of my life.

First, let’s understand what solving a problem looks like with a real life example.

Let’s imagine you want to make spaghetti for dinner.

This means (at the bare minimum and for the sake of simplicity) you’ll need noodles and sauce.

Except, you don’t have either of those ingredients at home so you’ll need to go to the store to pick up them up.

If we zoom out, the math looks like this:

Desire: You want spaghetti.

Problem: You don’t have the ingredients at home.

Solve: You go to the store, buy the ingredients, cook, eat.

You’ve made this dish before, so you already have a preferred pasta and sauce you use. You know which aisle they're each in so satisfying this desire is pretty straight-forward.

So, you go to the store, you grab the spaghetti noodles, but they’re out of the sauce you normally use.

The math changes:

Desire: You want spaghetti.

Problem: You don’t have the ingredients at home.

Solve: You go to the store and buy the ingredients.

Problem: The store doesn’t have the ingredient.

Solve: Buy a different ingredient or go to a different store and buy the ingredient.

You update the math to reflect the new information discovered and you keep moving forward.

Despite the store not having what you wanted, the objective is still to get the ingredients you need to make spaghetti; whether it be an alternative ingredient or driving to another store for what you want.

You get to decide!

You start managing a problem when your thoughts keep you from solving the problem.

When you discover the store doesn’t have the sauce you normally use, you might think something like:

• “Ugh, they don’t have the sauce I use. Now, I can’t have spaghetti anymore and I have to make something else.”

• “There’s so many sauces to choose from. I can’t choose.”

• “This store is stupid. It’s a popular sauce. They should always be stocked!”

• “Great. Now I have to go another store. I don't have time for all of this.”

• “Forget it. I’m not hungry any more.”

Leading you to feel:

• defeated and wanting to abandon your original desire.

• overwhelmed and unable to choose from the flavors and brands.

• wronged and ready to blame the store for the inconvenience.

• resentful and gripping at the thought of going to another store.

• defeated and deciding to scrap dinner altogether.

If you can relate to any of this,… welcome to being HUMAN!

NOTHING HAS GONE WRONG! We all experience this.

You’re simply managing the problem now instead of solving it.

It's not a problem to be managing the problem because you always have the opportunity to redirect yourself back to solving the problem.

Except when you don't know you can pull yourself back on track, let alone how to do it, you often end up spending your time in an unmanaged emotional experience constantly managing a problem that only keeps you from fulfilling your desire.

Again, not a problem.

It's simply important to know what's on the table so you can retain your power and authority to make decisions and advocate for yourself.

And, my guess is that if you could do something to lessen your time in management mode, you’d want to.

It starts with knowing the difference between solving a problem and managing one.

Once you're aware of the distinction between both, you can then start to identify what it looks like for you in your life and business.

The reason people most often get stuck spinning in managing a problem is because they're unaware a problem exists in the first place.

And, when you lack the awareness, OF COURSE you're going to create problems within a problem.

(Some of which might not even be problems to begin with!)

Not because you're doing something wrong or you're incapable of solving problems.

(We only believe in whole, empowered beings here!)

But, unless you knew this, you wouldn't know to look for it let alone recognize it!

So, when it comes to having big important goals and desires on the line, distinguishing between the two becomes critical.

It becomes your lifeline to effectively managing your time.

It teaches you to focus on what matters and to leave the rest.

It reserves your emotional energy for things that truly deserve it.

Because that vision, those goals, that dream... they matter without question.

And, this is simply another piece to the puzzle that will help you get there.

Boldly,

Lynne x