The scene is a classroom where a hundred or so students are seated all facing the inside of a round seating arrangement. At the center is an instructor who speaks of the dangers of the job they are about to begin training for he tells them that it is very possible that someday their job will present them with a life or death scenario. Then the instructor made a fantastic statement that we can apply to leadership. He said, “When the day comes when your problems appear to be insurmountable, stop and think. Do the math, solve the first problem, and find an answer. After that, solve the next. That’s how you’ll make it home alive.”
Now, most of us are not going to be faced with a life or death problem to solve, but the longer someone is in a position of leadership, the greater the odds that they will be confronted with what seems to be an insurmountable problem. Often, problems of such magnitude bury leaders to the point that they become paralyzed and unable to do anything to address the problems that their organization is facing. When this happens, the leader is stuck between taking a risk that things might not get better if changes are made, and the surety that doing nothing will bring about further deepening of the problems. One thing that is for sure is that paralyzation guarantees things won’t get better. So, what’s the answer to insurmountable problems that threaten to take an organization down?
The answer lies in the line quoted above. “Stop and think. Do the math. Solve the first problem.” When circumstances seem bleak and impossible to overcome, the first thing to do is stop and think. A lot of issues can be resolved just by taking a moment to slow things down, avoid premature reactions, and think about what is going on around us. Next, do the math. What this means is to gather all the data available and utilize the knowledge and experience we already have in using the formulas that have brought us success in the past. Scientists are able to remain focused and find the right answer to even the most complex of issues when they use the right formula. Instead of being intimidated by it, they just do the math. Finally, remember that one doesn’t have to have all the answers to all the questions before progress is made. The old proverb that a thousand-mile journey begins by taking one step applies. Answer the first question, then move on to the next. Insurmountable problems are only insurmountable when one tries to jump from the first step to the last step without stepping a thousand steps in between. But when steps are taken in order, solutions emerge and problems become surmountable.
Leaders will often be faced with challenges. They may be with people, finances, a shrinking market share, or a host of other issues that can derail a once-thriving business. Dealing with it all is part of a leader’s job, and we must avoid paralyzation at all costs. When we become paralyzed, it’s only a matter of time before everything sinks to truly insurmountable depths. We must stay in motion, but only after we stop and think, do the math, and solve one problem at a time. This is what leaders do when faced with insurmountable problems.
Lead well.