Leadership
Problems Welcome. Solutions Required.
Oct 30, 2024
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” —Albert Einstein
As leaders in the tech industry, before all else, we’ve faced a situation where someone says, “Hey, there’s a problem.” It’s admirable that engineers spot problems, but always being the problem solver can slow down progress and hold back team development. Let’s look into a way to make problem-solving more efficient and effective while lifting team spirits, minimizing burnout, and sparking creativity.
The 1-3-1 Method
1️⃣ One Clear Problem: Encourage your team to define the issue precisely.
3️⃣ Three Possible Solutions: Have them brainstorm three viable options.
1️⃣ One Recommendation: They analyze the options and present a well-considered choice.
What Changes When You Use It
Benefits for Managers: The 1-3-1 method reduces decision fatigue by providing thoughtful solutions, saving time and energy. It fosters strategic thinking among team members, allowing you to focus on higher-level strategies. It also enhances innovation through diverse ideas you might have yet to consider.
Benefits for Team Members: This approach increases ownership, engagement, morale, and cohesion. It reduces burnout by distributing problem-solving responsibilities and encourages skill development in critical thinking and decision-making.
Two Problems, Two Outcomes
Example 1: Deployment Delays
1️⃣ Problem: “Deployments are delayed by 45 minutes, affecting schedules and client satisfaction.”
3️⃣ Solutions:
Optimize Build Scripts: Improve efficiency.
Streamline Automated Testing: Remove redundancies.
Implement Incremental Deployments: Deploy smaller chunks more frequently.
1️⃣ Recommendation: Optimize build scripts for immediate impact with minimal risk.
Outcome: Deployment times reduced by 30% in two weeks. Team morale improved as members saw tangible results.
Example 2: Customer Support Efficiency
1️⃣ Problem: “Customer response times have increased, decreasing satisfaction ratings.”
3️⃣ Solutions:
Automate Common Responses: Use AI chatbots for FAQs.
Adjust Support Staff Schedules: Reallocate during peak hours.
Implement Ticket Prioritization: Focus on high-impact issues first.
1️⃣ Recommendation: Implement ticket prioritization to improve efficiency without extra resources.
Outcome: Customer satisfaction improved within a month; the support team felt more effective and less overwhelmed.
When Teams Push Back
Implementing the 1-3-1 method may face hurdles like resistance to change or difficulty defining obvious problems. Address these by leading by example—use the technique yourself and share success stories. Coach your team on framing specific issues, and emphasize that investing time upfront saves more in the long run by preventing misdirected efforts.
Making It Work for Remote Teams
Leverage collaborative tools like Slack or Miro for brainstorming. Schedule meetings considering different time zones to include everyone. Document everything in shared folders for transparency.
How to Start Monday
Introduce the Concept: Discuss it in your next team meeting.
Provide Resources: Offer templates or examples.
Set Expectations: Encourage its use for upcoming problems.
Celebrate Successes: Share wins resulting from the process.
Remember, outstanding leadership is about more than having all the answers. It’s about empowering your team to find them and fostering a collaborative environment where everyone thrives.
