Commentary by management consultant Michael Wade on Leadership, Ethics, Management, and Life
Friday, October 03, 2014
The Problem's Close Relations
The problem is often a symptom of another problem or a solution to another problem. That's why you may solve one problem and then find it returning or solve it and find that another problem has become worse. It helps to trace the family tree.
One method I like for getting to the root of a problem is asking for the story of the problem. I let people start wherever they choose and tell the story up to today (usually when we're meeting to solve said problem). When a group is in the room, members will correct each other and expand on each other's points. When they're done you always understand the problem better than before.
I really like that approach and can see how it would be especially effective with groups. Everyone loves to be an editor.
A related technique: when they give you a chronology, listen quietly until they are done and then go over it in reverse chronological order. It tends to jar their memory and you get more information. I've used that with individuals but never with a group.
4 comments:
One method I like for getting to the root of a problem is asking for the story of the problem. I let people start wherever they choose and tell the story up to today (usually when we're meeting to solve said problem). When a group is in the room, members will correct each other and expand on each other's points. When they're done you always understand the problem better than before.
Wally,
I really like that approach and can see how it would be especially effective with groups. Everyone loves to be an editor.
A related technique: when they give you a chronology, listen quietly until they are done and then go over it in reverse chronological order. It tends to jar their memory and you get more information. I've used that with individuals but never with a group.
Thanks!
Michael
I'm making a note to use that one. Since I use timelines for a lot of my writing, that adds another tool to my kit. Thanks.
Wally,
You're welcome. Thanks for the group story idea.
Michael
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