Solutions Thinking
Before starting my own business, I worked in a marketing capacity for a range of organisations. Each one had a different work culture, and different types of bosses. I have learnt a lot from my previous bosses - the good ones helped me grow and improve in a positive way, and the horrible ones taught me what NOT to be like, painfully.
In my mid-twenties, shortly after starting a new job, I went into my then boss’s office to explain a problem that had occurred in running one of our international events. After listening to me, she said “Ok. What’s the solution?” I sat there dumbstruck as I was expecting HER to have the answers. She said gently, “Don’t just come to me with problems. Think of a solution and let me know”.
Those wise words have had a huge impact on me. It has become a fundamental personal principle of mine, and has served me well throughout the years - both professionally and personally.
Thinking about problems doesn’t give you any insight or solutions. Reorient your thinking by asking how you can solve the issue. At work, it shows a proactive, creative and solutions oriented thinker - who wouldn’t want someone with these characteristics on their team?