{"id":6142,"date":"2016-08-29T06:01:53","date_gmt":"2016-08-29T11:01:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/?p=6142"},"modified":"2023-05-11T19:32:43","modified_gmt":"2023-05-12T00:32:43","slug":"problem-with-problem-solving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/problem-with-problem-solving\/","title":{"rendered":"The Problem with Solving Problems"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div>\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"6142\" class=\"elementor elementor-6142\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-41ccae3 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"41ccae3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9a037b3\" data-id=\"9a037b3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-198ce36 elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"198ce36\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"12411\" class=\"elementor elementor-12411\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1255d61 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1255d61\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6264de3\" data-id=\"6264de3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61125fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"61125fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Problem with Solving Problems<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c1117e elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"2c1117e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-fcfa45b elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/author\/lbwebmaster\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-user-circle\" viewBox=\"0 0 496 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M248 104c-53 0-96 43-96 96s43 96 96 96 96-43 96-96-43-96-96-96zm0 144c-26.5 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href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/2016\/08\/29\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-calendar\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M12 192h424c6.6 0 12 5.4 12 12v260c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48H48c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48V204c0-6.6 5.4-12 12-12zm436-44v-36c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48h-48V12c0-6.6-5.4-12-12-12h-40c-6.6 0-12 5.4-12 12v52H160V12c0-6.6-5.4-12-12-12h-40c-6.6 0-12 5.4-12 12v52H48C21.5 64 0 85.5 0 112v36c0 6.6 5.4 12 12 12h424c6.6 0 12-5.4 12-12z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time>August 29, 2016<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-9c8288a elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"commentCount\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/problem-with-problem-solving\/#respond\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-comment-dots\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M144 208c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32s14.3 32 32 32 32-14.3 32-32-14.3-32-32-32zm112 0c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32s14.3 32 32 32 32-14.3 32-32-14.3-32-32-32zm112 0c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32s14.3 32 32 32 32-14.3 32-32-14.3-32-32-32zM256 32C114.6 32 0 125.1 0 240c0 47.6 19.9 91.2 52.9 126.3C38 405.7 7 439.1 6.5 439.5c-6.6 7-8.4 17.2-4.6 26S14.4 480 24 480c61.5 0 110-25.7 139.1-46.3C192 442.8 223.2 448 256 448c141.4 0 256-93.1 256-208S397.4 32 256 32zm0 368c-26.7 0-53.1-4.1-78.4-12.1l-22.7-7.2-19.5 13.8c-14.3 10.1-33.9 21.4-57.5 29 7.3-12.1 14.4-25.7 19.9-40.2l10.6-28.1-20.6-21.8C69.7 314.1 48 282.2 48 240c0-88.2 93.3-160 208-160s208 71.8 208 160-93.3 160-208 160z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-comments\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNo Comments\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a17d19d elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"a17d19d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"text-align:center;\u201d>\r\n<span class=\"bsf-rt-reading-time\"><span class=\"bsf-rt-display-label\" prefix=\"Reading Time\">\n\t\t<\/span> <span class=\"bsf-rt-display-time\" reading_time=\"3\"><\/span> \n\t\t<span class=\"bsf-rt-display-postfix\" postfix=\"mins\"><\/span><\/span>\r\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-70a0327\" data-id=\"70a0327\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-228f411 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"228f411\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/hammer-qon9i23y7810df5myfikmfkr1kvu93fi8zqiz9mvwg.jpg\" title=\"hammer-mso\" alt=\"Hammer\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-29a6694 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"29a6694\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fcb1ac7\" data-id=\"fcb1ac7\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a33ffae elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a33ffae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Life is \"Problematic\"<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b5aabe7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b5aabe7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Let&#8217;s agree. Life can be\u00a0<b><i>problematic<\/i><\/b>. Problems and challenges pop up automatically. There&#8217;s no need to go looking for more. Problems will find us\u00a0both at work and at home. And they never call in advance to make\u00a0an appointment.<\/p><p>The more experience you have, the better you get at solving your routine problems. \u00a0You become a <strong><em>highly skilled problem solver<\/em><\/strong>. Being an expert problem solver is an unquestionably valuable executive skill. \u00a0That&#8217;s part of why you get paid the big bucks.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-72b07fb3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"72b07fb3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-24b61a3e\" data-id=\"24b61a3e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac5c369 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ac5c369\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What Gets Rewarded Gets Repeated<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4360ebb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4360ebb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Once you&#8217;ve become comfortable exercising your problem solving muscles, you use those muscles instinctively. \u00a0What happens when your problem solving muscles get really well-developed? \u00a0You can become\u00a0<em>muscle-bound<\/em>. \u00a0How does that work with problem solving? \u00a0Can it become&#8230;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7dd609 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b7dd609\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Too Much of a Good Thing?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-1912bd2 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1912bd2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-b36afd1\" data-id=\"b36afd1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1506862 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1506862\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Consider the axiom:<\/p><blockquote><p>If the only tool you have is a <strong>hammer<\/strong>, all of your problems look like <strong>nails<\/strong>.<\/p><\/blockquote><p>Has <strong><em>problem solving<\/em> <\/strong>become one of your overdeveloped skills? \u00a0Are you reaching into your management toolbox to grab your problem solving hammer\u00a0the second you sense a challenge? \u00a0You&#8217;re not alone.<\/p><p>When is it time to discover:<\/p><h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">Your overdeveloped skills are actually your weaknesses.<\/h4><p>How about now?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-b50bf03\" data-id=\"b50bf03\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d35675 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8d35675\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"624\" height=\"476\" src=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/hammer.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5603\" alt=\"Hammer\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/hammer.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/hammer-150x114.jpg.webp 150w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/hammer-300x229.jpg.webp 300w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/hammer-393x300.jpg.webp 393w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" title=\"\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-546c655 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"546c655\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What's The Problem with Problem Solving?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e4a729 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3e4a729\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>How often do we\u00a0hear this approach from <em>muscle bound problem solvers<\/em>?<\/p><blockquote><p>Problem? \u00a0What is it? \u00a0Let&#8217;s solve this and move on!<\/p><\/blockquote><p>There are potentially several\u00a0problems with when your <strong><em>hammer<\/em><\/strong> (over developed skill) is<strong><em> problem solving<\/em><\/strong>. \u00a0You will&#8230;<\/p><ul><li>Tend to deprive others around you of opportunities to build their own problem solving muscles and skills. \u00a0They struggle <a href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/why-cant-my-people-think-for-themselves\/\">to think for themselves<\/a>.<\/li><li>Become\u00a0reluctant to delegate. \u00a0You solve first, ask questions later (if at all).<\/li><li>Find yourself putting solutions ahead of empathy.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06e77d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"06e77d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Do You Put Solving Ahead of Understanding?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ead215 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3ead215\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This one is a dangerous trap for all of you highly <strong><em>task orientated<\/em><\/strong> folks. \u00a0Task orientated people\u00a0have a natural get-it-done mindset.\u00a0That mindset can blind you\u00a0to the possibility that sometimes people need <strong>understanding<\/strong> more than they need your\u00a0<strong>solution<\/strong>. \u00a0With this blindness, you\u00a0start hammering out the solution when a more effective and undertutilized tool is available.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-7ec1ae8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7ec1ae8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-34c81ce\" data-id=\"34c81ce\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-118ec55 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"118ec55\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>My colleague\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/about\/executive-coaches\/#Bill_Voigt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Bill Voigt<\/strong><\/a> is an advanced communications expert. He shares his expertise with this solve-first dynamic\u00a0in his coaching and workshops.\u00a0Bill teaches us that when someone approaches you to share their\u00a0challenge, you should \u00a0<strong><em>never assume<\/em><\/strong> that they are asking you to provide\u00a0a solution. \u00a0In most cases, they&#8217;re NOT. \u00a0If we were <strong><em>actively listening<\/em> <\/strong>to capture the emotions expressed in their request, we\u00a0would recognize their need\u00a0and respond appropriately. \u00a0But nearly no one does. \u00a0As a result, your <strong><em>hammering<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0with <em>problem solving<\/em> only makes matters worse.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-4a06920\" data-id=\"4a06920\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f1a328 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3f1a328\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"240\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/empathy-alert.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6144\" alt=\"Empathy Alert\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/empathy-alert.png.webp 240w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/empathy-alert-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" title=\"\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-beb04af elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"beb04af\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Learning The Empathy-First Approach<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d20b76c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d20b76c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>According to Bill, the person with the problem primarily needs your <strong><em>understanding<\/em><\/strong> of how they <strong><em>feel<\/em><\/strong> about the situation. \u00a0 He proposes a simple, yet magical two-step response.<\/p><ol><li>Restate the <strong>facts<\/strong> of the situation as you heard them.<\/li><li>State the <strong>emotion or feeling <\/strong>\u00a0that you sense they are conveying when sharing their problem. \u00a0Or you might instead share the <strong><em>effects<\/em><\/strong> of the stated fact.<\/li><\/ol><h4>Simple Example:<\/h4><blockquote><p><strong>Other person<\/strong>: <em>&#8220;My password isn&#8217;t working any more!&#8221;<\/em><\/p><p><strong>You:\u00a0<\/strong><em>&#8220;So, you can&#8217;t seem to log in. \u00a0You must be really frustrated.&#8221;<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote><p>Remember, it&#8217;s not about how <em>you<\/em> feel. It&#8217;s about conveying an understanding of how the other person is feeling. \u00a0Stop making it about YOU and stop making it about your solution. \u00a0If they want your solution, they will ask. \u00a0Keep your hammer in the tool box. \u00a0Another problem will come along soon enough.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8086616 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8086616\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Choose Carefully\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-436db9b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"436db9b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When someone\u00a0shares their problem or challenge, you should carefully choose\u00a0the best tool for the situation: <strong><em>the hammer<\/em><\/strong> or <strong><em>the handkerchief<\/em><\/strong>. \u00a0To make the right choice, you must listen actively and emphatically to capture both the facts and feelings. \u00a0Then, simply share what you&#8217;ve heard: first the <em>facts<\/em>, then the <em>feelings<\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0You can then\u00a0quietly observe how this approach can calm those emotions as have fulfilled the other person&#8217;s desperate need to feel listened to.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e192b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0e192b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"276\" src=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/hammer-or-hanky.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6270\" alt=\"Hammer Or Handkerchief\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/hammer-or-hanky.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/hammer-or-hanky-150x64.png.webp 150w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/hammer-or-hanky-300x127.png.webp 300w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/hammer-or-hanky-500x212.png.webp 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" title=\"\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e0a2d4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2e0a2d4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What's Really Important?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-229ded9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"229ded9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This Bill Voigt recommended video illustrates\u00a0the problem with the impulsive need to use the claw side of the hammer and the potential value of the <strong><em>handkerchief approach<\/em><\/strong>. \u00a0And it&#8217;s hilarious.\u00a0 If you find yourself laughing, ask yourself; Who are you really laughing at?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c273898 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"c273898\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/-4EDhdAHrOg&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-958b489 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"958b489\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b813629 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b813629\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-96acf70\" data-id=\"96acf70\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f29091c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f29091c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Related Problem Solving Post: Delegation Reluctance<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-313dbf0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"313dbf0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There&#8217;s yet another potential problem with the\u00a0<strong><em>solve first, ask questions later<\/em><\/strong> approach. \u00a0When we routinely do this, we deprive others of the opportunity to both think\u00a0and solve\u00a0for themselves. \u00a0Leaders who develop this habit find themselves asking: <em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/why-cant-my-people-think-for-themselves\/\">Why Can&#8217;t My People Think for Themselves?<\/a>\u00a0 <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e2a183 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"7e2a183\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-md\" href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/why-cant-my-people-think-for-themselves\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Read About Delegation Reluctance<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-48ba69f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"48ba69f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-57665a8\" data-id=\"57665a8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c81bd5a elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"c81bd5a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Once you&#8217;ve become comfortable exercising your problem solving muscles, you use those muscles instinctively.  What happens when your problem solving muscles get really well developed?  You can become muscle bound.  How does that work with problem solving?  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