The Shift to Solutions

Being Solution-Driven

A state of awareness in knowing a specific problem exists and having a sole focus on finding, developing, and providing solutions.

Would breaking a cycle of negativity help you?

Can shifting away from being problem-driven guide you to find more significant improvement?

Will stepping away from the status quo of daily activities bring you a deeper level of determination?

If you answered “YES” to any of these questions, then a solution-driven shift might be for you!

Think about a problem you are currently facing. Maybe you aren’t sure what you want to do after work tonight, or maybe you’re dealing with a particularly difficult adjuster during the day. Whatever problem you’re considering, let’s go through three steps to activating your solution-driven mindset:

STEP 1: DISCONNECT FROM THE EMOTION

Any problem tends to come with an array of emotions tied to them. Your first move should be stepping away from those feelings and looking solely at the facts. Let’s use the adjuster problem mentioned above as our example:

This adjuster is just plain rude, dismissive, and is constantly rushing me off the phone no matter when I call. I can’t build a relationship with him, let alone talk about this case.

Remove all emotions from the statements:

The adjuster was only able to discuss the case details for about 5 minutes today over the phone and did not respond to relationship-building attempts when I tried.

You’ll note the revised statement creates a new, clearly defined situation to address compared to the first statement, where the problem seemed to be a rude person. Disconnecting from the emotion of a problem helps you isolate the potential areas that need to be resolved.

Attempt to remove the emotion and state solely the facts with the problem you thought about earlier. Is there already a more profound difference in the statements?

STEP 2: DETERMINE THE INTENTION

Once the situation is more straightforward, you can then determine your intention. To be solution-driven, you want to focus on how you can get from “Point A” to “Point B.” This is where you need the commitment to be fully immersed and unwavering in your pursuit. Roadblocks and barriers are hurdles to jump over and will NOT remove the idea that a solution can be found. The key is understanding what exactly your “Point B” will be.

Continuing the example above, a solution-driven mind might define the intent as two-fold:

1. The adjuster should be given clear and concise information regarding the case that is not filled with additional irrelevant details.
2. The adjuster may need to see that I am an ally in case handling and understanding his needs – this includes not surprising him with unexpected calls.

Once the intent is fully discovered, the mind will automatically start to fit additional puzzle pieces together so that new options can be explored.

Keep thinking about the problem you are working through in your mind and figure out your intention. What do you logically need to make happen? What intentions can you set?

STEP 3: CREATE THE PLAN OF ACTION

With step one, you logically established your “Point A.” Step two helped you discover “Point B.” Now it’s time to determine the plan of action that will get you there. A solution-driven mindset has a few rules in place to maintain being effective:

Rule 1: Distractions consist of anything that deters from getting to Point B. Ignore them.

Rule 2: Limited or no resources are NOT a reason to stop looking for the solution.

Rule 3: Creativity & perspective drive ideas. Strategize outside the box (within reason).

These three points help you build logic that maximizes your potential. The more you keep them as fundamental necessities, the more your mind will shift into a constant state of resolution.

Completing our example above, possible solutions might include:

1. I’m going to send the adjuster a simple e-mail with the critical bullet points he needs to keep things moving forward so that he has the information at the ready.
2. I’m going to schedule a meeting with the adjuster around his schedule so that I can go through critical case notes that I will have prepared before our call. This will be when I express my appreciation for his time and ask what other needs I can assist with to help reduce his workload.

These solutions create value for the adjustor while building rapport, but what happens if there isn’t enough time to accomplish those actions or your schedules don’t line up? Keep going. This is why the rules above exist. A limitation cannot stop the drive to move forward. The more you practice finding solution after solution, the more you’ll see barriers as steppingstones to your goals.

Finish out the problem-solving example you’ve been thinking about in your mind to express your solutions, and don’t allow potential distractions, fears, or limitations to get in your way. What actions have you come up with to help you reach the intentions you set?

The art of shifting to a solution-driven mindset starts with your desire to want improvement. Practice the steps daily on all problems from big to small, and eventually, you’ll begin to notice a new world of possibilities opening for you.

Want to explore more about developing a solution-driven mindset? Come chat about the problems you’re facing, and let’s turn them into a world of solutions!