The Best Leaders Are Not Solution-Based

And they take solutions for granted, not those who find them

a group of people hold hands and stand in defiance in front of an approaching wave of fire, digital art — by DALL·E

Problem Solvers

Most of us will have had the luxury of working with a problem solver. Although we often notice them most acutely when they leave, experience might allow us to appreciate them fully while they are alongside us. Problem solvers seem to have X-ray vision through which they see situations with uncommon clarity. They know to ignore screaming elements that aren’t essential, spot crucial components that seem hidden to everyone else, and — most importantly — they get things done.

Headless Chickens

Frequently, we take problem solvers for granted. The worst part isn’t how unfair it is on the subject in question but how dependent we become on them. When they leave, perhaps fed up with not being seen, the entire structure threatens to collapse. Suddenly, previously functional teams start asking unusual questions, running about like headless chickens with no answers. How did we miss this? Why did nobody think of that? What protocols should we establish to ensure it doesn’t happen again?

Erosion

From experience, many leaders and managers who claim to be solution-based are often troublemakers in disguise. It makes sense that those who create…