I was at an event last week where people repeatedly asked the same question. “What problem do you solve?”
It is not something I haven’t heard plenty of times before and my response is always.
Why does there have to be a problem? Why wait until things are challenging, have gone wrong or are broken?
When people are at the top of their game they don’t face problems in the same way, only seeking to move forward and capitalise on opportunities. Their current level of performance is the base line to build from, identifying those areas of improvement that will deliver significant impact.
The best look to get better, continually improve and realise their potential individually and collectively, knowing it is only when you stop doing this, you start to face real problems.
Too often I see people looking to maintain the status quo, rather than continually striving to be better.
Of course, you need understand where you are, what needs to be measured to understand ‘what is’ but this should only be with a view to what it could be, or whether it is still a relevant measure.
By way of example, a Powering Your Potential (PYP) client was the market leader in its field, had a finite number of units it could sell due to production limits and was growing significantly year on year selling this core product. Everything was going great no problems!
When demand outstripped supply, they suddenly felt challenged in their growth by success and the limited production capacity. While things were going well they hadn’t developed their offering with associated products and services, or promoting the premium rather than standard offering.
Like so many, their problem was a wealth of non pursued opportunity, which is why I too often write for clients something similar to.
“The issue for XYZ…. is not the challenges it faces, these can be addressed, it is not capitalising on the opportunities it has!’
Even when it comes to managing aggression and de-escalating conflict PYP always start with developing the activities that focus on customer engagement, understanding and preventing conflict before it occurs.
The question people should therefore ask is. ‘What opportunities can you help realise?’
If you still need a challenge or problem to solve, ask yourself.
How do I make my good people great, more teams more effective and enable us all to go further, faster?
Realising the potential in your business requires a focus on developing both your current and future leaders, creating more effective and higher performing teams and giving each individual the opportunity to pursue improvement.
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