“Houston, we have a problem.”  This has become so famous that we say it ourselves, even though we don’t work for NASA.  Problems come up almost every day.  Some as small as breaking a dish when it drops on the kitchen floor.  Others require us to drop everything else to deal with them.  Like most things in life, effective problem solving is a skill we can learn.  And solving problems with love?  That’s what this episode is about.

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On This Episode

Rhythm of Life – Sometimes You Just Know
Random Riffs – A Storm By Any Other Name
Feature Segment – Built With Love: Problem Solving

Today’s Quote

We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them. – Albert Einstein

Rhythm of Life – Sometimes You Just Know

It started in my den.  With a phrase that is always near the surface of my mind.  “You are stronger than you know.”  The beginning of a new song.

I’ve had the idea for quite a while, and couldn’t seem to write it.  In fact, I wondered if it was possible for me to write it.  It felt too big.

But, on this day, I’ve got the beginning of an idea, and I write the chorus.  Then, working with my coach, polish it and add a verse.  The next thing I know, I’ve got an entire song.  Except I don’t like it.

Listen to the episode to hear what happened.

Sometimes you just know, you know?  Don’t ignore that voice.

Random Riffs – A Storm by any Other Name

Yesterday the Northeast had a huge storm.  Rain and high winds.  In some places, gusting to 100 mph.  And what do they call this storm?

Not a storm.  Not a Nor’easter.  Explosive cyclogenesis or a bomb cyclone.

I thought they were just hyping it by calling it that.  It turns out there’s a clear definition for explosive cyclogenesis, and this storm fit the bill.  But why haven’t I heard that term until a few years ago?  Can it be that it sounds more scary than a Nor’easter, so they’ve taken to using the technical term?

What if they dialed down the drama instead?  Listen to the episode to hear another naming option that might not be quite so terrifying.

Feature Segment: Built With Love – Problem Solving

“Uh, Houston, we’ve had a problem here.”  Those words, uttered by the crew of Apollo 13 when an oxygen tank exploded and crippled the rocket that was headed for the moon, sent everyone at Mission Control into problem-solving mode.  Trying to get the crew home alive.

They had a strong motivation to figure it out.  A life-or-death situation will do that.  And they did get the 3 men home alive.

But imagine how it could have gone.  If they didn’t know how to effectively solve problems as a team, it could have been a disaster.

The Challenger explosion is a case where it didn’t go well.  There have been several analyses done about where NASA went wrong.  It wasn’t so much the lack of technical know-how.  It was about the process of making decisions.  Recognizing and solving problems effectively.

Problem solving a skill, just like learning to code, fix a car, or play the guitar.  On today’s episode, we’re talking about solving problems with love.

Say what?  What does love have to do with solving problems?  Listen to the episode and you’ll find out.  You’ll find that ego has no place in the room when solving problems.  Here are the highlights as to how to solve problems with love.

1. Externalize it

Put the problem outside the group, on the other side of the table.

2. Dial-down drama

We can’t solve problems when our stress response is in control of our brains. Dialing down the drama gets our cognitive brain back on track.

3. Listen – especially the leader

Not just listen, but listen with respect and presence.  Practice Yes. And.  To hear more about that, listen to Episode 069.

4. Evaluation Criteria

Decide how you’ll decide before you have to decide.  And agree to align behind the decision once it’s made.

Problem solving with your ego is competitive, even combative.  Problem solving with love is about doing what’s best for the people with problem.

For Your Action:  Think of a problem you recently had to solve. If more than you were involved, how did you do?  How effective was your problem-solving technique?  Was there one area that wasn’t as strong as others?  If so, then decide in advance how you’ll do it the next time around.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this Built With Love mini-series.  To listen to all the episodes, go here.

Built With Love Series

Or scroll to the bottom of the post to see all the links.

Remember – you build what you love.  Not what you say you love.  Make sure they’re the same.

Built With Love Series

115  – Built With Love
116 – What is Love?
117 – Your Team
118 – Your Culture
119 – Your Product
120 – Your Marketing
121 – Your Relationships
122 – Your Communication
123 – Your Story