Problems Reveal Genius

Posted on June 7, 2012

Problems are servants. They help you grow and lead to better things, both within your organization and in your life. To resist them is to avoid growth and progress. Embrace and get the best from the challenges in front of you. And understand that the only people with no problems are dead.

An unhappy customer yelling at you might seem like a problem. But to a person thinking like a leader, that scenario is also an opportunity to improve the organization’s processes to ensure that doesn’t happen again. So the problem has actually helped to improve the company.

An interpersonal conflict at work can seem like a problem. But if you think like a leader and use the circumstance to build understanding, promote communication and enrich the relationship, the problem has actually made you better. It has been fodder for your growth and served you nicely.

An illness or a divorce or the loss of a loved one might seem like a problem. Sure it’s painful (been there, done that). But I’ve been shaped by my saddest experiences. They’ve brought me depth, compassion and wisdom. They’ve made me the man that I am. I wouldn’t trade them for the world.

Problems reveal genius. World-class organizations have a culture that sees problems as opportunities for improvement. A mistake is only a mistake if you make it twice. And world-class human beings use their stumbling blocks as stepping stones. They use their failures to bring them closer to success. They don’t see problems. They see possibilities. And that’s what makes them great.

Posted in Leadership