2. |
Put Your Problems to Work for You |
In his book Illusions, Richard Bach wrote, “There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for us in its hands. We seek problems because we need their gifts.”
Whether or not we seek out problems is not nearly as important as how we handle them when they appear. A great technique I learned many years ago is to change the word problem to challenge. I realize this may seem like simply a matter of semantics, but hear me out.
Problems tend to be things we try to avoid, while challenges are things we step up to and fix. Making this seemingly insignificant change in vocabulary can have a big impact on how you deal with a situation.
If you view it, as Bach suggests, as having a gift for you or at least containing an opportunity within it, your challenge could be turned to your advantage. A challenge in the workplace, while representing an obstacle for some, can actually present you with an opportunity to showcase your talents. The next time a challenge presents itself, rather than trying to avoid it, welcome it. Ask yourself what you might do to turn it into an opportunity. Explore how you might best use it to your advantage.
A case in point is what happened when Domino’s Pizza asked their customers how they liked their pizza. What they learned was that people didn’t like it; they thought it was terrible and told the company so, by the thousands.
This must have hurt the folks at Domino’s, but rather than bury their heads in the sand, as some companies do, they chose to embrace it. They made major changes to their product line and, from all indications, have transformed the company and won back customers with their improved pizza.
Making necessary changes can be difficult for many companies, as I’m sure it was for Domino’s, but it pays off. When you and your team are faced with what appears to be a problem, try approaching it differently. Look at it as a challenge. Ask a better question. We’ll explore the idea of powerful questions in chapter 15, but for now simply change the way you typically handle those less-than-desirable occurrences at work and, for that matter, in the rest of your life.