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This week’s tip: Don’t forget that effectively solving problems matters more than changing the system

I spent years changing the system and getting results – it was a total mistake.

Way back in 2007, I staffed an advisory council for the governor of Minnesota. As a group we brainstormed and recommended a handful of changes for how the State could better spend $300M annually. The goal was to transform the adult education system, thereby increasing employment and reducing poverty.

Over the next 2 years, I led committees, lobbied, and succeeded in enacting many of the recommendations.

We succeeded in changing the system!

But I felt terrible.

The system was different, but it wasn’t more effective at increasing employment or reducing poverty.

I realized that “improving systems” doesn’t necessarily solve any real-world problems.

Focus on problem-solving, not change-making.

When you spend most of your time brainstorming the changes you want to make, you miss what’s more important: defining the problem and how to solve it.

You see, the the advisory council and I were so invested in changing the system that we didn’t take the time to determine what exactly the problem was or how to solve it.

Essentially, we wanted to be change-makers more than problem-solvers.

Here’s exactly how to focus on effective problem-solving rather than just changing the system.

#1. Map the problem’s interrelated causes.

Gaining holistic understanding of the problem and how it functions should always be the first step. Here’s how:

Start by picking a specific problem rather than an issue. For example, choose “the high rate of homelessness of veterans in city X” rather than homelessness in general.

Next, brainstorm a list of the top 5-7 direct causal factors.

Finally, brainstorm second-order causes. It’s easy: list 1-3 causal factors for each direct causal factor. Now you have a map of 10-28 causal factors (some which are interrelated) to consider.

#2. Determine a specific objective.

Get really detailed about your problem-solving objective. Here are two approaches to avoid and their alternatives:

First, avoid using a high-level vision as a goal. For example, don’t adopt a goal of “ending homelessness.” That’s a wish, not a goal. Instead, choose something measurable and time-bound like “reducing homelessness by 10% in 3 years.”

Second, avoid any mention of “the system.” For example, don’t try to “improve the education system.” It’s too broad and vague. Instead, focus on specific problems within the system, like “low reading proficiency of middle school students.”

#3. Choose a strategy that matches your limited means.

Once you have deeper understanding of the problem and its causes (#1) and a specific objective (#2), assess your necessarily limited capacity to affect the problem. Ask this three-part question:

Can we realistically expect to achieve the objective given our A) budget; B) expertise; C) commitments to other issues and problems?

(Reminder: you won’t “solve poverty” or any other endemic social issue in just 24 months)

If achieving the objective is unlikely given your constraints, you should consider scaling back your goals and/or assessing alternative parts of the problem where you may be more effective.

To recap:

Don’t be like me and focus on systems change. Problem-solving is much more effective in the long run. You can do it!

See you again next week.

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Whenever you’re ready, there are two ways I can help you:

→ I’m a strategic advisor for the toughest societal problems like poverty, crime and homelessness. People come to me when they want to stop spinning their wheels and get transformative, systems-level change.

→ I’m a coach for emerging and executive leaders in the social and public sectors who want to make progress on their biggest goals and challenges.

Let’s find out how I can help you become transformational.