Being Negative Creates Positive Value
The depth of the problem determines the value of the solution.
Your great ideas always face frivolous dismissal if they don’t solve a painful problem or a felt need. Don’t begin with solutions; begin with problems. Explore them. Feel them. Own them. Let their ugliness rise up.
Picking at scabs:
Do you know people or organizations that live with persistent pain and dissatisfaction? I do. It’s amazing to hear someone say, “I’m not ready yet.” Translation, it doesn’t hurt enough for me to change. Don’t help them by soothing their pain. Help them by acknowledging and spotlighting it. Pick at their scab.
You do yourself and others a favor when you stop pretending everything’s okay when in reality it isn’t. “Fake it till you make it” won’t solve real problems and persistent pain.
Real world positive thinking:
Positive thinking isn’t pretending problems naturally evaporate.
Successful leaders see problems and find solutions. Don’t allow, however, enthusiasm for your solution to prevent you from fully seeing, exploring, and explaining failures.
It’s foolish pretending problems will go away on their own; wise leaders grapple with problems, identify solutions, and take action.
Basic principle:
Run toward pain-points not away. Finding what works begins by courageously digging into what isn’t working. When you name the problem and help find solutions you become a person of tangible value. But remember, don’t rush toward solutions.
A great solution without a great problem goes down the drain.
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Have you seen great ideas fizzle because they weren’t connected with real problems?
How can leaders explore problems without becoming negative?
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Dear Dan,
I agree that great ideas wont work unless they address the real problems. And this is the major causes for personal or professional failure. We work harder, put more resources but unable to get desired result. The major part of solution lies in using wrong medicine. So, diagnosis of problem is more important and perhaps provides way for solutions.
I believe leaders can explore problems without becoming negative is by questioning, accepting, challenging and analyzing. It means you need to question what worked in the past that does not work now. Factors for success need evaluation and you need to challenge positively rather than being too narrow. Perhaps the most important thing is to belief in what is visible and what is possible. Putting effort and hard work on unachievable does not work. So, you need to understand the strength and limitation of people and system.
Dan,
Love the spirit of your article. My personal approach is that all pain points show us opportunity for improvement. Almost always, the improvement starts with us, because the pain shows where our direction and current choices are conflicting with our overarching desires.
So very often pain points and “negatives” may feel awful, but are actually aren’t truly negative in nature… they are trying to tell us something—they are telling us we are out of alignment with where we truly want to go. If we listen, and act with appropriate attitude, we may leverage the contrast of discomfort towards greater success.
Let’s not forget that aircraft take off INTO the wind. All it takes to lift off is the proper angle of attack… and attitude that allow the plane to climb out gracefully and powerfully… using headwind to advantage.
Dan, I’m also glad you make the positive thinking distinction. Positive thinking is more about focus and can-do and certainly NOT about covering over what we need to know.
Best,
Mark
Mark,
Thanks for sharing your insights. If I hear you right, you’re saying pain is a good thing. I agree. The physical world illustrates the importance of pain, ie. “take your hand out of the fire.”
Have a great Friday,
Dan
Hi Dan,
Very close to what I believe. I am actually with the Bard on this one: nothing’s either good or bad, but thinking makes it so. I realize that’s a stretch for many people.
To me pain is neutral. Regarding pain, there is only what I like, and what I don’t like. I don’t like the feeling of it. I do like that it can help me steer, and help me expand, if I get myself into a place where that feedback is necessary or happens.
I prefer proactive challenge and stress that *I* choose, but the sober reality is that some unexpected challenges and pains will come my way and do come my way, and when they do, my choice is to make the most of the situation.
You have a great Friday, too!
~Mark
This post makes an immensely important point – organizationally the “frog-in-the-kettle” syndrome prevails. I just saw this happen in senior management meetings — our CEO couldn’t get any traction for funding re-instatement of the corporate 401(k) match, even though it’s an important piece of our benefit package. The reason? Employees aren’t asking about it – they want to know about things like raises and bonuses. In other words, 401(k) isn’t a problem for most managers.
To answer the second question, I’ve found that the best way to de-personalize the investigation of a problem is a root-cause-analysis tool like the 5 Whys or Fishbone Diagram. And always start with measurement — just how big (or small) is the problem anyway? Sometimes a little bit of pain causes a lot of fear, but under the blood it’s just a scrape, not a gash.
Well, your title today really grabbed my attention, Dan! Once I dug into it, I understood your point. To me, what you’re talking about is shining a spotlight on a problem, to magnify it sufficiently that it gets the proper attention and focus. And, that’s far different than “being” negative in my book.
I absolutely agree with your point that successful leaders see problems and find solutions. One of the keys to leadership is taking action and moving forward. And, solutions without a problem are a huge waste to companies because it involves opportunity costs…what could those people have been working on that would have provided real tangible value to the organization? The fact that this happens could be a symptom of a lack of vision / leadership within the organization.
Failure is the absolute best way to learn something. It tells us that, without a doubt, doing the exact same thing the same way will yield the same results. You’ve eliminated an option, and sometimes that’s all you need to find success.
Dan,
Great article!
Valuable lessons to be learned when there is crisis, as crisis is an opportunity for transformation.
When things are going well, we don’t want to change, why should we-if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.
Dan,
This, to me, is one of your most insightful articles. I love how you tackle what many don’t want to even think about. This is much appreciated!
It is human nature (to a degree) to want to avoid conflict – in one-on-one situations as well as organizational issues. Leaders can do a lot to elicit solutions by nurturing an environment where the negative can be brought to light without penalty. I think, too, that when we are the people bringing up the problems, we have a responsibility to propose solutions (not just complain) AND to accept that the solutions we perceive as the best sometimes AREN’T.
And as far as the great ideas fizzling because they aren’t connected with real problems – you hit that nail on the head by pointing out that until we reach our pain points with issues, we often fail to embrace solutions that have the potential to increase productivity and satisfaction.
I suppose the other caveat I would add is that being vocal about issues (even when you are level headed, not whining, truly trying to point out problem areas) will not always be perceived in the way that you anticipate and may harm your credibility (at least temporarily). Some problems that exist are lingering because the solution may be perceived as adversely affecting a stakeholder (political, perhaps) and although I don’t espouse avoiding a solution to protect those stakeholders, it is important to be aware of this dynamic.
Dan,
Leaders can point out problems without being negative when they avoid criticizing people and use the team to find solutions. It also helps to speak in terms of improvement or opportunities rather than using negative terminology. Leaders that point out problems but are not part of the solution are just complaining.
Here is a related post on solving the right problem: http://wp.me/pZiRD-ZD
Thanks for another great post.
Chris
Well Dan is just in a negative space today eh! 😉
Does it make sense to pair negative space (literal & figurative) with opportunities for positive change? Perhaps a partial overlap.
Here’s a literal example in sports…negative space in soccer is creating an area where no one is, that makes sense. To create negative space, you may run toward your own side of the field, not the ultimate goal, the other team’s side. Being aware of opportunities to create negative space and then utilizing that space helps you actually move forward. (BTW Dan, awesome photo…there is a lot of power in that image of a negative space!)
Figuratively tapping in a negative space or negative thinking can be energizing, just depends on how you apply it. Because there is turmoil, that does mean there is an issue or infection that does need to be addressed.
And as Dan noted, you do have to ‘lean into’ it, which can be/usually is uncomfortable and even painful.
“Successful leaders see problems and find solutions.” Might modify that slightly with …and partner to find solutions. I would rather that the people in the swamp figure out how to deal with the swamp, the gators and the stumps than have to go drain the swamp, shoot the gators and clear the stumps myself.
I tell people all the time to look back in your past at your greatest failures dissapointments, struggles, or problems. There, is where you may find your greatest discoveries by embracing those struggles as opportunities to display triumph. As a result, you will have the solution, but only because you sought the problem first. Great post!
I tell people all the time to look back in your past at your greatest failures dissapointments, struggles, or problems. There, is where you may find your greatest discoveries by embracing those struggles as opportunities to display triumph. As a result, you will have the solution, but only because you sought the problem first. Great post!
Thanks for the article Dan.
I agree with some of the other comments that it is not about being negative, but it was a great headline to capture my attention.
I have been in the coaching business for years both corporately and personally and what I have noticed is we have a “it’s good enough attitude.” If it doesn’t really hurt then just leave it alone and don’t do anything about it. I am moving my business into relationship and divorce coaching as I write my book Divine Divorce. I think a lot of times we end up in divorce because we live in denial about the issues in our relationships, just like we ignore the smaller problems at work. Maybe they will go away, or I don’t have the time right now to deal with them. Then one day an event occurs and things blow up, we can’t ignore the issues anymore. Unfortunately at this stage things are too far gone and we end up in Divorce costing us a lot of money and hardship. This is not so different from what happens corporately when a problem blows up — it costs a lot of money to fix it and potentially there are also damaged reputation issues.
If we had been willing to really look at where their marriage was not as good as it could be and started working on the issues, I believe most marriages would survive or at least we would learn about ourselves in the attempt to resolve the issues. Some positive value would come out of this. The same is true corporately, if we didn’t settle for good enough and were more focused on constantly moving to the level where we want to be operating we have the big negative events.
Best,
Jacque
http://www.yourdivinedivorce.com
Powerful and true, Dan. Thanks for the reminder when I needed it.
Dan, great post. My experience of great ideas not lifting off because they do not “solve problem” is particularly in the personal development space. I have seen people that have a great deal of insight to offer, yet can’t seem to monetize the talent because nobody is willing to pay “that much” for it. A person will happily pay for a motor plan for their car and take it in for a service every scheduled period, but they will not fund any form of maintenance plan for their personal well being. Mind Blowing indeed.
A most insightful and motivational post Dan, thank you.
Yes, there is clear benefit in recognizing pain as a signal that demands attention. Additionally, negativity of pain works in tandem with positive thinking.
Yes, “Positive thinking isn’t pretending problems naturally evaporate.”
And yes, “Successful leaders see problems and find solutions.”
However, each situation requires it’s own analysis as you emphasize.
The first step is to confront the reality of the challenge and analyze the problem.
Once confronted, “Oh my gosh, I have this scab and I keep picking at it!” you might at that moment, apply positive thinking. “So here I have this scab. Hmmm, perhaps by leaving it alone, it will heal on it’s own, organically the way my system wants it to.”
In another scenario, when the scab isn’t healing, positive thinking is the next, most immediate step necessary to create a solution. Maybe it’s time to select a bandage.
Then again, if one scratches that festering scab right off, now instead of proactive action, reactive action is necessary. Once blood is everywhere, immediate positive action is essential.
The point is, positive thinking will come to the rescue even in worse case scenarios; you apply pressure and then maybe get yourself to the ER for a suture.
The outgrowth of acknowledging a problem is the application of positive thinking, thereby creating a strategy to address the problem to ultimately arrive at a successful solution.
In any and all cases when negativity yields positivity, the two work in conjuction and the team wins the game.
interesting point….i read this one 3 times and still think i only get it in part. the part i get is that you have to fully identify problems before you can solve them. life is so full of problems and so many times i find myself or see someone else trying to fix a problem without really knowing what it really is. just a thought……
Magnify and solve. Hard and true!
I especially like: But remember, don’t rush toward solutions. A great solution without a great problem goes down the drain.
We sometimes tend to solve fast to soothe the pain.
No matter what events or circumstances we face, it’s always boils down to how we react. It’s our response, not the unexpected events or circumstances, that ultimately determine our long term leadership success.