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Name of author Rick Baker, P.Eng.

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A 3-Step Strategy for Solving Problems

by Rick Baker
On Jul 25, 2014

Step 1 of 3Identify the form of the Problem

Problems appear in three forms:

  1. The problems you perceive in the form of other People's thoughts, behaviours or actions...from non-action to argument to errors.
  2. The problems you perceive in the form of less-than-acceptable Processes...from flawed software to broken hammers to grinding gears.
  3. The problems you perceive when you face certain Situations...from new Situations to fearful Situations.
Note the repetition of the words "the problems you perceive". As the saying goes, One Man's Trash is Another Man's Treasure...Problems are always in the minds of their beholders.
 
Step 2 of 3: Help People focus on solving the Problem
 
When problems arise many people experience negative thoughts and feelings. These negative mindsets cause them to waste energy (1) trying to identify and analyse where things went wrong and (2) trying to place the blame on other people or, even worse, trying to place the blame on inanimate objects. While there is value in identifying the roots of problems, in most non-emergency situations and many emergency situations that isn't something that needs to be done immediately. It is best to spend energy focusing on solutions rather than diluting energy by trying to focus on both solutions and causes. The side-benefit, not to be underestimated, is people feel more comfortable working on solutions than working on identifying causes or placing blame. 
 
Step 3 of 3: Teach People how to learn from their Problems
 
The best way to help people learn from problems is to have a process for handling problems and make a practise of following that procedure until it becomes a skill. When people know a process will be followed to address problems and find solutions their anxieties are reduced. With less anxieties clouding their thoughts, people are able to focus, concentrate, and think with clarity. And, as a side benefit, their ability to remember increases. 

Here is the process we use to teach People how to learn from their Problems...
 

7 Steps to Learning from Problems:

  1. A Problem Arises [100% guaranteed to happen...Identify them]
  2. STOP [focus attention - multi-tasking won’t work]
  3. Get Present – no ‘past regrets’, no ‘future worries’
  4. Be Thick Skinned – admit errors
  5. Be Objective – no fault, observe, ask questions & learn
  6. Talk & Walk P=2S+O
  7. Talk & Walk P=O2L
[About that P=O2L...every Problem provides an Opportunity to Learn...the smartest, most self-reliant, and most-successful people know this principle and put it to use.]
 
 
 

Tags:

Business Contains Only 3 Things | Solutions & Opportunities

The Law of Attraction...for unbelievers

by Rick Baker
On Jul 14, 2014

When you have a positive mindset you tend to see the positive things in situations and people.

When you are upbeat and enthusiastic about the future you tend to see the positive things in situations and people.

And upbeat, positive, and enthusiastic people tend to attract people who hold similar mindsets.

When brought together in a spirit of harmony upbeat, positive, and enthusiastic people tend to energize one another.

With high energy levels and positive mindsets groups of people are able to perform large volumes of goal-focused actions.

Naturally, all of these things combine to promote success and the achievement of goals.

With thoughts like those outlined above it is relatively easy to come to the conclusion that positive mental attitudes, reflecting belief in the abilities of people, can lead to better handling of a range of situations. With these mindsets situations can be handled well, in real time as they arise. Seeing people in a positive light and handling situations well are the proven ways to achieve goals and obtain success.

That is one way to look at the Law of Attraction.

I recognize this is a limited way of thinking about the Law of Attraction. I recognize there are far-expanded versions of the Law of Attraction that take people deep into the realm of metaphysics and cosmic thought.

The Law of Attraction does not have to be metaphysical. It can be thought of in common-sense terms.  It can be thought of in practical terms. It can be thought of in simple terms.

In simple terms, the Law of Attraction is - Like Attracts Like.

Positivity attracts positivity. Success-orientation attracts success-orientation. With these common-sense facts of life in mind, it is easy to understand how we tend to get what we wish for when that wishing is done with a mindset laced in enthusiasm and positive energy.

We do not have to enter the territory of metaphysical zealots to believe in the Law of Attraction.

We just have to step back and use a little common sense.

Sometimes Ernest Seller responds to make-or-break situations by making errors & breaking rules.

by Rick Baker
On Jul 11, 2014

[No text]

Tags:

Business Contains Only 3 Things | Ernest Seller | Thought Tweets

On Incompetence Road: we stumble over people and processes; we get bogged down in problems' potholes and ruts.

by Rick Baker
On Jul 9, 2014

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

1.     There are lots of potholes where I drive and I listen to self-help CDs while I am driving.

2.     Business Contains Only 3 Things: People, Process, & Situations

Like roads, some Situations contain potholes.

Tags:

Business Contains Only 3 Things | Humour | Solutions & Opportunities | Thought Tweets

When you boil them down [of course, figuratively not literally] people have not changed.

by Rick Baker
On Jun 27, 2014

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Don't let new communication technologies and media-options confuse you.

Yes, I accept the fact many people face computer lights hour after hour, day after day, and that probably has changed the way many of us read. For example, this probably has reduced both our interest in and ability to read lengthy paragraphs 'on-line'. So, we probably do prefer bullet points over lengthy on-line prose.

And Yes, I accept we are inundated with advertising messages after advertising messages [the Attention Dilemma]. So, the things we communicate must be interesting to catch and hold other people's attention.

Don't let these things confuse you - people have not changed.

We just need to pay more attention to them.

Tags:

Business Contains Only 3 Things | Humour | Thought Tweets

Bosses can easily be lured into the Parent Trap.

by Rick Baker
On May 26, 2014

Bosses can easily be lured into the Parent Trap...I mean the trap where they treat the people who report to them like Children. 

I have heard bosses say they are like parents and the people who report to them are like children. Recently, while listening to a self-help audio book I heard Brian Tracy recommend bosses behave like parents and treat their people like children. 

I disagree.

Sure, I get the importance of being considerate, caring, compassionate...and having a level of sensitivity, sympathy and empathy. I just do not see those qualities as the defining qualities or Parents. First and foremost, at a very early age the vast majority of us learn our parents are authority figures...in fact, figures of absolute authority. 

Many people, likely the majority of people, carry negative memories of parental-authority with them throughout their lives.

I favour the wisdom of Transactional Analysis

In the workplace, people are adults.

If bosses don't want people to act like Children, bosses have to act like Adults.

Tags:

Business Contains Only 3 Things | Family Business and CFFB | Personalities @ Work

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