Real problem solving starts long before the whiteboard comes out. When Flight 427 went down in 1994, it took investigators nearly five years to find the answer, not because they lacked evidence, but because premature theories are seductive and discipline is hard.
Most workplace problems aren’t life or death, but the same trap catches us daily. We hear “productivity’s down” or “customers are unhappy” and jump straight to solutions, skipping the one question that matters: what exactly is the problem?
Three disciplines cut through the noise. Define the problem with precision instead of reacting to a vague description of one. Bring in the people who actually live with the process, not just the ones in the meeting room. And focus energy on what’s genuinely within your control, not what’s merely worth complaining about.
Sometimes the fix isn’t a better solution. It’s finally asking the right question.
For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit:
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/
More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper:
https://ishangalapathy.com/
