Managers Must Solve Problems
Managerial Problem Solving
No matter what industry you are in, you will run into difficulties that are not planned. Your internal customers (anyone in your company that has an interest in what you are doing) may be upset with you. Your external customers may be upset with you. So, what do you do when everyone is so upset?
How Can You Improve The Situation?
Most companies have timelines or due dates by which things should be done. We’ll assume you are aware that there are problems with a given job. You may tell your boss about it, and you think the problem is out of your hands now. The mentality of “I told the boss, so its not my fault” will do you no good.
Just because your boss is aware of a problem doesn’t mean they’ll solve it for you. They often won’t solve it for you. When the chips are down, great managers know how to accomplish things! The problem is still yours, even if the boss is aware of it. You cannot win by tossing the problem to the boss if no one solves anything. You’ll both end up looking bad.
Solving Problems
Find a way to fix the problem! Once you know things are bad, search out a way to stop the issue. Talk with other departments if you need to as quickly as you can. Options can often be offered if there is still time. As time runs out, so do many options. At some point, there are no alternatives left except failure. Which is not acceptable. You have clearly exhausted your time.
Keep Your Eyes Open
Don’t wait for you subordinates to come to you and tell you things are not going well. Keep in constant contact with them, especially on high priority jobs or customers. If they are having difficulties, they will be afraid to report them and that will make things worse for you. Jump in there! Ask them how things are going. Ask when they’ll be done. Ask if you can do anything to speed them up. Your job is to get as much out of your team as possible. If that means moving materials to them, or making copies for them, etc… so be it. Maybe you’ll have to get in there and do the job yourself. So be it!
The end result is a happy customer – and a happy boss. Sitting on your hands and spouting that you told the boss about a given problem doesn’t help anything (least of all, your own position). Figuring out how to get around problems is what makes for a successful manager. This will help in leading your team if they can lean on you to help get things done. It will also make you shine to your own boss. When they know they’ve got someone on their team that solves problems and makes their job easier, you become very valuable.
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