A Guide to Being Solution-Oriented
“I don’t want to hear problems, I want to hear solutions”
A phrase embedded in my brain courtesy of one boss over 15 years ago. These days it’s probably considered semi-toxic on some level, but personally, I find the vibe to be right. Not in a bullshit Lunatics of LinkedIn ‘advice for managing upwards’ kind of way, but as a core way to live your life.
Start with the problems, yes. And then focus on the solutions.
Living through interesting times means there’s an abundance of problems to go around and much that is more than worthy of our criticism, but the solutions in circulation appear to be few and far between - or more likely - simply lack the emotional trigger needed for engagement & virality.
I don’t have the words for the state of the world right now so here it is via the ever cool Daria (just sub the tv for our phones and it’s about right, right?)
All Talk, No Trouser
Our lizard brains cling to the drama of problems and gloss over the snoozefest of solutions. Or get caught in the perfectionist trap: in pursuit of the fantastical silver bullet. But no single solution is a fix-all because the problems are the work and frankly, if every single one of our problems vanished tomorrow, we’d probably be quite bored. Celebrating at first yes, but bored later. More bored than reading about solutions.
A little less conversation, a little more action please
How to be more solution-oriented? Well, it all starts with us.
So you’ve identified a problem and you’re ready to rage against the machine. Great.
Step One
Now step back from the emotion and take a walk. Avoid immediately posting anything, anywhere; it’ll give the dopamine of a job well done, without any real-world change having taken place. The days of sharing information with the goal of driving awareness are what’ve got us here. Now we have to add in the action…first, not second.
For especially shitty problems or even seemingly pointless problems, I like the reframing of ‘The problem is the work to be done’ which flips the switch to opportunistic thinking quick-time.
Step Two
Problem identified, walk taken, emotional turmoil (semi?) detached. Now it’s time to get curious. Ask all those Warren Berger What Ifs? And put that imagination to use. We’ve all got one, it’s just that these days it’s mostly put to use imagining all the worst ways in which the world will go to shit. Put it to better use.
Step Three
Make up a silly little story in which the problem has been solved. Who solved it? How? What had to happen to start and what were the mini challenges along the way?
Step Four
Now share this silly little story with others and use ‘You know how…[insert problem], but wouldn’t it be cool if…[your amazing solution]’ to frame it. It’ll help to keep it accessible, light and makes it easier for people to immediately grasp the problem, solution and - most critically - where they can help.
In the end, problem solving isn’t a personality trait but a human trait. It’s a part of why we love things like music and stories: trying to figure out how it’s all going to come together in the end. Well…that and pattern recognition.
Note: systemic problems cannot be simply positive-mindsetted out of, that’s a bit on-brand for cruel optimism. Instead, let’s think big by starting small and view individual action as the starting point, the first domino to fall in a long, long line towards collective action. Everything is connected afterall.
Being solution-oriented is part of the motivation behind starting nouvôt. I’ve nearly two decades helping brands look good online and more compelling to their potential customers, so why not put that to better use than just selling pointless collabs nobody asked for?
Basically, by focusing on being a little less shit and a bit more solution-oriented we can start to right some wrongs. The future isn’t inevitable, it’s intentional. Think big by starting small. And it’s never too late to start.
The problems aren’t for posting, they’re the work to be done.