If I had to summarize my highest value to others, it’s the ability to create clarity out of an otherwise unclear situation. Just listening or mindmapping the parameters of a situation helps start the problem solving process. It brings issues to the table and organizes them for everyone to see.
I am not sure when it started, but having had years of working with people on their strengths, I realize that a lot of people’s abilities are innate. We each have intuitions that have been there for a long time. For some reason, I can navigate the weeds of ambiguity to get to answers. Many times, the answers have been a desperate search for a while. But having an outside perspective with clarity helps a great deal.
If I had to think about how that process works, I would say it starts with listening, observing and intaking. It’s such an important step which take s a lot of focus. I have to hear the details, the facts and the emotions. They all constitute the underlying issues. I look for the clues.
Then I think about the constraints. This takes a lot of probing. I believe anything is possible. But there are always limitations.
What are you willing to spend?
Are you willing to hire?
Are you willing to learn new ways of doing things?
Have you managed before?
These are all boundary conditions that define why certain things have not been done before. Usually, they are extremely important to what is feasible.
Once I have the problems I hear and the constraints, I move to solutions. Sometimes I move slowly depending on the complexity and politics of a situation. But usually, I’m there pretty quickly in my mind. It’s almost a quick zeroing in.
A lot of this is from collective knowledge over the years, the thousands of hours solving problems in the marketplace, trying out solutions and putting things in play in my own business.
Where there’s a lack of clarity, it’s a great opportunity to change the world for someone. We’re both hoping for relief and answers. It’s fun for me.
So where are things unclear these days for you?
