Again thank you for your wisdom and writing on your Taming Wicked Problems website. By reading your writing for the last 16 weeks in Dr. Martyn Kingston’s Leading and Managing Change course at Colorado Mountain College in Steamboat Springs, we have discussed your compelling ideas on our own discussion board, and now with you on this website.

“What is the 84th Problem?”
Not accepting that problems exist and have to be addressed is the 84th Problem. You give a interesting example of an unhappy farmer describing why he is frustrated and dissatisfied and how he struggles because he doesn’t want to struggle or have problems. Buddha just tells him that he needs to realize he’s creating another problem for himself by thinking life can be lived without facing difficult challenges. As you point out by citing Robert Peck, “..it is in this whole process of meeting and solving problems that life has its meaning. Problems are the cutting edge that distinguishes between success and failure. Problems call forth our courage and wisdom. It is only because of problems that we grow mentally and spiritually.” Your writing encourages everyone to accept how difficult and complex life is.

I learned that by addressing and dealing with problems (embracing the mess), individuals can grow & transform not only themselves, but also their organizations, communities, friends and families. Demonstrating courage and wisdom during difficult times adds meaning to life, and separates the roses from the thorns. People who accept the messiness of life and face their problems are more apt to find success as they grapple and grope. Leaders who understand these truths will effect positive change, and find ways to manage problems that might otherwise never be addressed.

I think this is a great piece of reflective writing, and can be applied to much more than just the business world. Although I am not a religious person, reading this story makes me think of “The Serenity Prayer”, which advocates acceptance of one’s problems in the pursuit of happiness. “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change” is the relevant line, as well as “Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace”. Overall, I think the message here is that a person will always have problems, and to try to deny or change this is futile. This is, of course, not to say that one should not try to address the problems in their life, but rather that someone should work to tackle them one by one, and not expect their supply of problems to ever be exhausted. In fact, problems are an integral part of life, and that the tackling of problems is the very thing that causes us to learn and grow as people. To anticipate neutralizing some final problem, and crossing the horizon into a problem-free life is folly, and if you base your happiness on this expectation you are only burdening yourself with another problem, and this one could be otherwise avoided.

The article then goes onto to show how managers go about finding those strengths, growing the strengths, and learn how to trigger such strengths within each employee. This type of work will always be messy, it wont always come easy, why? Just like mentioned above we are dealing with people, usually people much different then us, and we have to learn to face the problems and learn to cope and learn to try and bridge, narrow, or close the gap between employees their wants, skills, needs, and the business wants skills, and needs in a way that creates harmony and advantage.

We all have 83 problems don’t let you 84th problem be a problem with having problems.

“We all have problems. And we always will.” (J, Bentley)

It is what we do with our problems that ultimately defines who we are.

“..its is in this whole process of meeting and solving problems that life has its meaning. Problems are the cutting edge that distinguishes between success and failure. Problems call forth our courage and wisdom. It is only because of problems that we grow mentally and spiritually.” (M. Scott Peck)

“TAMING THE WICKED PROBLEM”;

REFRAMING AND CREATIVITY

In order to reframe the problem and look at it through a creative light we must change our point of view.

Step outside the box and change our point of view!

“I push my chair into the hallway to change my viewpoint and stimulate my creative juices.” – Dilbert

Drawing distinctions as well as linking the similarities between past experiences and new ideas allows us to reframe and use creative problem solving.

Wild connections!

“See old things in new ways!”

“Try

untried

circuitry,

new

fuses,

Tell it like it never really was,

Man”

It’s not going to be easy!

“Only those who will risk going to far can possible find out how far one can go.” – T.S. Elliot

In order to be a true leader and trailblazer you must not be:

– Concerned with what others think

– Lack emotional intelligence

– Be restricted to the current rules, norms, expectations and guidelines

– We must use creativity to ADD VALUE

“Creativity is the connecting & reframing of knowledge”

Analysis:

As business leaders and therefore action-oriented problem solvers we must “Embrace the Mess!” There are inherent problems in all aspects of our lives and especially in our organizations as leaders we must recognize this way of life and face these problems.

To be a highly effective leader one should use the theories and frameworks presented to reframe the problem and use creativity to find the necessary connections between past experience and new ideas in order to manage or solve it.

The process of creating something new and exciting is what most business people want to be apart of and strive for. The fun part of business is creating something new and learning from the problems your confronted with. In confronting these problems you progress mentally and increase your emotional intelligence broadening your view of the business world. In business, you must be aware of the changing markets to improve and innovate a new product that consumers want. In the article How (Unethical are you?) Mahzarin R Banaji Max H Bazerman and Dolly Chugh they had the example of sending employees out to spend time in clients organizations as a way to improve service and create an environment that counter acts stereotypes reinforced in their organization.

Summary and Analysis:

EVERYONE has 83 problems, the 84th problem is not wanting anymore problems. There are 3 options when facing problems: RUN AWAY, DENY, or FACE UP.

“The problem is not that there are problems, the problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem.”
“Problems do not go away, they must be worked through or else they remain forever a barrier to the growth and development of the spirit.”
Avoiding problems will not get you very far in life. Figuring out how to deal with your problems in a creative way will benefit you personally and professionally.

BENEFITS:

Mental and spiritual growth
Success rather than failure
The achievement of meaning and purpose
New ways of learning and thinking
TURN TOWARDS your problems instead of running away or being in denial FACE UP TO THEM.

EMBRACE THE MESS:

Being skilled in dealing with problems efficiently and effectively is essential as a leader. Each problem teaches you something and helps to develop the mental tools needed to take on challenges.

If you can accept that there will always be problems, and that EVERYONE has problems, and realize that the only way to have forward progress in life is to address them head on with an open mind and utilize your creative brain, you will succeed. Not to say that making mistakes or failures is a bad thing, it could be the only way to success.

The importance of mistakes and failures is crucial in the learning process of problem solving.

“To find a few ideas that work, you need to try a lot that don’t.”
“If we’re not making mistakes, we’re not going anywhere.”
“Success represents the 1% of your work which results only from the 99% that is called failure.”
Having strong emotional intelligence and good communication and language will get you far. Being self-aware and self-regulated will help you to keep control and stay focused on the task at hand.

“People who have mastered their emotions are able to roll with the changes.”
Facing problems straight on will give you a better understanding of it, and will help in bridging, narrowing, or closing a GAP. Creative thinking is a good way to think and act in new ways that may ultimately add value to your problem solving process.

“Having problems is perhaps the only way to become who and what we want to be.”

Be well and keep writing my friend.