THE EFFECTIVE PROBLEMSOLVER #077
Most people in the social sector see tough issues and spend their time fixated on solutions.
Take student debt, for example.
Advocates focus on debt forgiveness without addressing why graduates can’t repay their loans or how interest-free money has dramatically driven up the price of college. This fixation on a solution ignores how loan policies themselves are a key driver of the problem.
Many of the change initiatives I encounter as a consultant look something like this:
Pick a big issue → Brainstorm solutions → Vote on the best solution → Fundraise for solution → Implement solution
And when the chosen solution fails to make an impact, they just start the process over again.
Today – with a little help from Alice in Wonderland and Marcus Aurelius – I’m going to talk about why the best solvers don’t spend much of their time thinking about solutions.
Then, I’m going to give you three superior actions that lead to problem improvement.
Why the Best Solvers Stop Dreaming
There’s no way to put this delicately:
The best solvers hate brainstorming solutions with big groups of stakeholders.
Why?
Because when the problem is not structured – which means that everyone is talking about a big issue without specifying which aspects of it are problems and why – it’s not possible to determine which ideas will be effective.
You see, without the parameters that problem structuring provides, it doesn’t matter what ideas you generate.
It’s like Alice in Wonderland:
Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here? The Cheshire Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to. Alice: I don't much care where. The Cheshire Cat: Then it doesn't much matter which way you go. Alice: ...So long as I get somewhere. The Cheshire Cat: Oh, you're sure to do that, if only you walk long enough.
If you don’t understand the problem, brainstorming will just lead you down the rabbit hole in which any direction sounds like progress.
You’ll have a lot of ideas, but they are unlikely to get you where you want to go.
So effective problemsolvers spend most of their time developing deep problem understanding before even considering how and in what direction to brainstorm.
That’s because they recognize that complex issues are more than just a collection of symptoms needing quick fixes.
It’s not a matter of idea generation, but of appreciating the problem’s multiple dimensions and complications.
Applying this to the student debt problem, instead of immediately jumping to debt forgiveness (or any other so-called solution), we should first study the various factors contributing to student debt.
For example, by investigating why graduates struggle to repay their loans, we might uncover issues such as high tuition fees, the availability of interest-free money driving up college costs, and the mismatch between education and job market demands.
Or we may look at the number of students who take out loans but never graduate, leaving them with big loans and small job prospects.
Understanding these interconnected causes allows us to address them as fundamental drivers of the problem rather than offering a random collection of temporary fixes.
Here’s why this approach is essential for tough social issues:
1. Complexity and Interconnectedness
Complex problems, like student debt, homelessness, or poverty, are woven from numerous interrelated factors. By deeply understanding the problem, solvers can identify these connections and underlying causes, leading to more effective and sustainable solutions.
2. Avoiding Superficial Fixes
Jumping straight to solutions often results in addressing symptoms rather than more fundamental causes. Without understanding the problem’s depth, solutions tend to be superficial and temporary. For instance, forgiving student debt without addressing the underlying issues of rising tuition costs and loan policies only offers a temporary respite while the problem grows even bigger.
3. Informed Decision-Making
Thoroughly understanding a problem equips solvers with the knowledge to make informed decisions. This reduces the risk of unintended consequences that often accompany poorly understood problems. When solvers comprehend the nuances and complexities, they can devise strategies that target the problem’s driving factors.
Actions That Lead to Problem Improvement
So if you’re not brainstorming and fundraising for that big solution that is supposedly going to solve the problem once and for all, what should you be doing?
Here are 3 tried and true strategies:
1. Study the Problem’s Interrelated Causes with Research and Problem Mapping
Begin by researching the problem extensively. Use problem mapping to visually represent and understand the interconnections between various factors. This method helps identify root causes and how they interrelate, providing a comprehensive view of the problem. For example, in tackling homelessness, map out how housing costs, mental health, substance abuse, and employment opportunities interconnect.
2. Talk to Everyone Involved to Gain Their Perspective
Engage with all stakeholders, including those directly affected by the problem, experts, and other relevant parties. Listening to diverse perspectives provides valuable insights about why earlier initiatives failed and uncovers aspects of the problem that may not be apparent from a distance. For instance, understanding why students struggle to repay loans requires talking to graduates, financial advisors, educators, and policymakers.
3. Develop a Process to Manage the Problem Over Time
Create a structured process to continuously address and manage the problem. This includes collecting data, testing changes, and transparently reporting outcomes. Implementing a cyclical process of assessment, intervention, and evaluation ensures that strategies remain effective and adaptable over time. For instance, in managing urban poverty, regularly track economic indicators, test various support programs, and adjust based on feedback and results.
The Problem is the Way
Stop fixating on quick solutions.
Start seeing problems for what they truly are by delving into their complexities and understanding their intricacies.
Marcus Aurelius wisely said, “The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our acting. The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”
In modern parlance, focus on the problem itself (and not its theoretical solution), and in doing so, you’ll uncover the path to effective and impactful change.
TL;DR
Without problem understanding, brainstorming solutions is worthless.
The fundamental solution is embracing the problem itself.
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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.