Problems, Problems

Problems.  Every organization has them.  And most leaders dislike having to deal with them, myself included. However, recently I discovered problems can actually be platforms to discover the greatest stars among my staff.

Recently, a problem I was trying to figure out led to another that led to a whole can of worms being opened. As the list of problems grew so did my anxiety.

I put my head on my desk and willed myself to keep breathing. Don’t give into the frustration. Stay logical. Pray hard. Gather smart people around you. Get advice. Pray hard again.

As I walked through my problem, I started really studying how other people were reacting. Some were reacting in ways I wanted to emulate. Others made me bug my eyes out and shake my head.

Watching others helped me see several categories of problem reactors:

* The sky is falling reactors- These people panic.

When a problem arises they feel an urgency that if things aren’t fixed immediately then they are doomed. They talk about the problem in extremes using words like, “never,” “always,” “huge,” and “urgent.” They want to pull others into their panic and seem to thrive off of the adrenaline of the moment.

* Eeyore reactors- These people shut down when problems arise.

They want to avoid dealing with the issue at hand. They would rather navigate around a problem than solve it. Eeyore reactors hope someone else will figure it out or that the problem will just go away on its own. They let the anxiety of the problem pull them into a funk. Then they resign things will probably not get better anytime soon. Misery loves company so they invite others into their pity party.

* Thinking reactors- These people are the stars!  They see a problem as an opportunity to think rather than an obstacle that will hold them back.

They want to bring solutions to the table instead of just talking about the issues. They manage the stress of the problem by researching possible solutions. Thinking reactors thrive on inviting the wisdom of others who have experience in dealing with this type of problem.

The sky is falling reactor magnifies a problem.

The Eeyore reactor feels paralyzed by a problem.

The thinking reactor solves a problem.

Our choice.

I want to be like Aibileen from the lovely Kathryn Stockett Novel, The Help, who can “take the most complicated things in life and wrap them up so small and simple, they’ll fit right in your pocket.”

I want to be a thinking reactor. 

I want to identify the thinking reactors within my organization.

They are the stars. They will help my organization shine even in the midst of problems.
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Study the Word…

The Sky is Falling Reactor- “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?  There is more hope for a fool than for him,” (Proverbs 29:20 ESV).

The Eeyore Reactor- “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person,” (Matthew 15:18).

The Thinking Reactor- “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding,” (Proverbs 17:27).