Lesson #5 - The Quickest Way to Gain Leadership: Problem Solving
Question #1- How do you think your attitude toward problems helps or hurts you?
Question #2- How do you handle situations in which you’re asked to do something beyond your capabilities?
Please answer both questions and respond to others in the post
*** "The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it is the same problem you had last year."
— John Foster Dulles
Former Secretary of State
Former Secretary of State
Question #1 – I believe our attitude towards problems sets the tone for how it will be solved. Not just personally, but it affects your team’s attitude as well. Good leaders can rise to the occasion and will be defined by their response. You can either learn and grow or you can let it become discouraging and affect your attitude. The book states that “leaders must think we.” I feel if we are able to have this mindset, then we will not feel as if we have to solve the problem alone. We can empower our people to take on and share responsibility. We have to solve problems with the mindset that the experience will make us better and help us grow. If we have a negative mindset we will attract negativity as well.
ReplyDeleteMike, I too like the quote you pulled. The "we" attitude and not going it alone sure seems to be a positive approach!
DeleteI like the quote “leaders must think we.” also. To be a leader, you need followers, and if you have followers, you are not alone. Sometimes we get caught up in our busy lives and forget that our attitude can affect those around us.
DeleteMany times if you allow others to get involved they turn out a better product than you could imagine. Plus it allows them to feel the accomplishment
DeleteVery well said Mike. Love the empowerment piece. I feel it’s such a powerful way to motivate people.
DeleteQuestion #2 – I take these situations as learning opportunities. I look at the situation and ask myself how I can learn from this and how this can make me better. These situations will help me gain further knowledge in areas that I am lacking, and it will give me more tools to grow and develop. Also, if I am asked to handle something in which I am not capable, it will allow me to reach out to people to assist in accomplishing my goal. This will give them a sense of empowerment and responsibility, which will further develop them, and it will allow me to connect and build relationships.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1
ReplyDeleteA positive and “can do” attitude sets a great stage for accomplishing the goal and solving the problem. I like what is written in the book, pragmatism allows a person to take things that others would consider problems or distractions and see them as opportunities. What a practical approach. By simply changing a mindset from having a problem into an opportunity is a tremendous way to improve attitude moving forward. On the contrary, having a mindset of problems, procrastinating and feeling defeated prior to even starting sets a much different stage. A stage of empty negative talk and lack of meaningful action. John C. Maxwell’s analogy of the two buckets carried by each individual of an organization is spot on. He says everyone has a bucket full of water and another full of gasoline. When they come across the “spark” of a problem, they choose which bucket to use on it. Will they dump gasoline on the spark and create a real fire, or with they throw water on it and put it out? I believe it is extremely important to be the “firefighter” in this situation and encourage the team to do the same.
DeleteAbsolutely Travis, I know at Chino we all use the term “stirring the pot.” Once the “pot” is stirring, it is hard to stop the momentum.
I like that Foster. Focus on the problem, you keep the problem. Focus on the solution, you solve the problem.
DeleteGreat post Travis. The bucket analogy is perfect. A tiny spark can explode quickly if we approach it the wrong way. What a terrible feeling to look back and realize how easily a problem could have been handled with a different mindset.
DeleteI can definitely recall times that I knew I should’ve kept my mouth shut but ended up pouring gasoline on a conversation that was negatively charged. Each time I walked away with a sinking feeling that I didn’t represent myself, my values nor the topic well. My crappy comments just stunk up the place. Man, I was disappointed in myself! Practicing self-control, and realizing the power and weight of my words have helped me to be more cautious at jumping into those conversations. Something that has helped me improve is a slightly different “bucket” reference. Kris Vallotton, a christian leader that I enjoy listening to has a saying, “we need to hang around people that pour water on the fires of our fears, and throw gasoline on the passions of our dreams.”
DeleteThis is where true leadership starts, it’s the ability to stop the spread! We are all guilty of not standing up for what’s right. We need to change that
DeleteThank you gentlemen for the replies and added conversation. Arn, We have all been guilty of adding fuel to the fire...it seems to be the easier of the two routes. I really like the saying from Kris Vallotton that you included and will certainly try to incorporate that into my life. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteGood point Travis. Many times the way in which we frame a situation can determine our attitude towards it. Changing our mindset can shift the way we view a problem which in turn may change the way we ourselves and others respond to it. Problem versus Opportunity or Bad situation versus Challenging situation. You can grow from a challenge, but usually endure a bad situation. We all have less control than we probably think we have and more influence than we know.
DeleteTravis, this is a great way to approach things. Simply telling yourself that this is a great opportunity instead of a problem instantly changes your attitude toward the situation.
DeleteGreat point Travis. Burden and stress is something we can carry on our shoulders as long as we choose to. We can carry it around all day long and let it ruin our attitude and mindset or we can get rid of it and succeed.
DeleteQuestion 2
ReplyDeleteIn these situations, I first try to educate myself to have a better understanding and then I solicit help. Something I find extremely helpful when soliciting help is that you get to learn from other peoples experiences and mistakes. This usually prevents you from stumbling on the same things and makes the process go smoother. These are excellent opportunities to learn new skills, build relationships, empower others and grow as a team.
Travis, learning from others experiences and mistakes is such a useful tool. I know when I was younger I truly was afraid to fail. As I matured, I took those failed moments as an opportunity to learn. I hope to pass on my experiences to my children as well as my coworkers.
DeleteMike, I think your perspective is great and I'm sure some of your "learning opportunities" have already helped your kids and co-workers along their journey!
DeleteI agree 100% I have and continue to learn from all of you. The conversations within this blog are a true testament to that.
DeleteTravis I like how you stated you first like to educate yourself on the situation. I think all to often people are quick to ask for help, which is ok, but they don't take the time to do a little research on their own. My kids do this all the time.
DeleteQuestion #1
ReplyDeleteYour attitude has a direct impact on your problem because your attitude is based on your beliefs. Your beliefs will determine your actions. Your actions will create your results.
Question #2- How do you handle situations in which you’re asked to do something beyond your capabilities?
I have no problem seeking advise and perspective from others especially when asked to do something that may be beyond my capabilities. All about learning from the right people to achieve the results your looking for. Mentorship is the GPS to life. It helps you get to where you wanna go the quickest. Its like the blue print to building something. Things are a lot easier when you have directions and someone by your side teaching you how to accomplish the task. I am all about collaboration. Two brains is better than 1.
Phil, I wish I had more of this perspective when I was younger. Learning things the hard way, being a graduate of the school of hard knocks, used to be a badge of honor for me. How foolish! I know that this mindset I had actually made me miss out on a lot of opportunities to learn from people like my dad. He fixed EVERYTHING around our house, cars included. My parents said since I was a little guy that I was “stubborn as a mule”. I let my pride and stubbornness steal from me learning and bonding time that I needed with my Dad. I’m glad to know you aren’t fooled by this prideful thing that tricked me. Good on you Phil!
DeleteGood post Phil, we need more of our future rank to ponder on these things.
DeletePhil, I like your thought of mentorship being the GPS to life. That's good stuff! You certainly have some great ideas and perspectives to learning and growing.
DeletePhil, I never looked at mentorship like that. Thats an awesome way of looking at it. Some people see mentorship as something they HAVE to do rather than something that will help them in the long run.
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ReplyDeleteQuestion #1- How do you think your attitude toward problems helps or hurts you?
I believe attitude is everything. When we are introduced to a problem, it is all about how we deal with that problem. I learned at a young age; If we have a bad attitude, it will make it difficult to solve that problem. Whenever I would face a problem and have a bad attitude about it, My father always told me, “Mark, there are only two kinds of can’ts; If you can’t do it, then we can’t use you, and if you can’t do it don’t let the door hit you where the good lord split you.” As I grew older, I started to understand what he was saying. When you come into a problem, there are two options, complain about it and give up or accept it for what is and move forward to be an asset to the people around you. When I am handed a problem, sometimes I can feel my eyes rolling in the back of my head or a big sigh coming out of my mouth, then I stop myself and tell myself it could be worse and try to resolve it. If I can’t resolve it personally, I look to the people around me for advice or help.
Mark, I really like your dad's saying about two kinds of cant's and your understanding of it. You are absolutely right, if you aren't helping then you are hindering. If you are a hinderance, you are just in the way and might as well move over so those with a positive attitude can get to work.
DeleteTotally agree that a bad attitude just makes things worse and also affects how others might see the situation and also how they view you.
DeleteMark, I have always looked at you as a positive individual and have admired how you don't let most things bother you. You always keep pushing forward.
DeleteQuestion #2- How do you handle situations in which you’re asked to do something beyond your capabilities?
ReplyDeleteIn life, we will eventually be asked to do something that may be beyond our capabilities. This can be very overwhelming. It makes us uneasy because it is not in our comfort zone. One thing I have learned is to take on those challenges. If we don’t push ourselves, we will never excel and learn from our mistakes. Pushing ourselves in challenging situations allows us not to be stagnant in thought. It allows us to evolve, learn new ideas, and be innovative. When I am given a situation that may be beyond my capabilities, it allows me to evaluate. I can think about the skills that I can bring to the situation, but it also allows me to know my crew well and think of the skills that each one can bring to support the situation at hand. As a captain, it is important to know yourself and know those you work with so that you can leverage talents from a variety of resources to fulfill the needs of a situation or a goal.
Great perspective Mark. In chapter 5 John C. Maxwell wrote, "in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." When we exit our comfort zones we often learn more than anticipated.
DeleteMark, In response to both of your answers You have an attitude people admire. Your always positive and usually the devils advocate giving different perspectives on things. Your never afraid to try anything new and have many skills to achieve it. Keep it up brother. Love your dads quotes too.
DeleteWeek 3, Lesson #5
ReplyDeleteQuestion #1
Attitude when faced with any challenge is crucial. As discussed in previous lessons, leadership allows us more opportunity to influence others. This opportunity makes it even more important that we maintain a positive attitude. In chapter 5 the author mentioned “mental agility”. I think that is a brilliant way to approach problems we may face as leaders. Every problem has an answer, oftentimes more than one. If we approach problems with a poor attitude we are destined to get poor results. Small problems not addressed or addressed poorly will compound into bigger problems. If we face problems as an opportunity to grow we get will better results and be better for it.
Bobby, these are great thoughts and I think you are absolutely right about addressing each issue, including the ones deep rooted, to solve the entire problem. I also like that you said they must be addressed well or you could have poor results. Good Job!
DeleteGood perspective on the “approach”
DeleteEvery problem does have an answer, I like that Bobby. Sometimes we have to work harder at finding a solution, but I like the positivity of that statement.
DeleteWeek 3, Lesson #5
ReplyDeleteQuestion #2
The first thing I try to do when when faced with a situation beyond my control is gain as much knowledge about the situation as I can. In todays world I have found that through the use of Youtube or the internet I can gain some knowledge about almost anything. If I still feel the situation is beyond my capabilities I ask someone I trust and feel is knowledgeable about the situation for help. I have found it easier to grasp what leaders teach me if I do some research of my own prior to asking. I struggled asking for help earlier in my career as I felt others would view me as incompetent. One thing I have learned through training new hires is that some leaders enjoy helping and feel complemented when you ask for there input. More often than not, the more competent the leader, the happier they are to help.
Bobby, I like how you try and figure out the situation first by gaining some knowledge prior to asking for help. I like to do this as well, you get a better understanding and learn more by having some knowledge so the next time you might not have to ask for help.
DeleteLesson 5, Q1.
ReplyDeleteWhen I’ve been faced with a problem and my initial response came out of negativity it always inhibited or limited me. I can recognize that when I have a negative response to a problem it’s usually coming from a feeling of inadequacy. That negativity is a shovel that digs me into a hole, and the lower the hole the larger the problem appears to be. I’ve grown to have a better response to problems that I face. Facing problems with a different perspective keeps the playing field level. Even if I feel inadequate, I’ve learned that feelings can be a good servant but a terrible master. I’ve also learned that I am NOT my feelings, I’m much more. I have also learned that problems in life don’t determine if I’m living a good life. Everyone faces problems, they’re a part of life. Maxwell has been saying in these past few chapters that it should be expected to frequently deal with problems. In fact, we should expect to be dealing with problems a few days a week. I’ve heard the following phrase many times over the past 15 years, “perception is reality”. But I believe this next phrase to be even more true, “perspective is everything.” Hebrews 12:2 says, “…..keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” I endeavor to more like Jesus.
Arn, I love you analogy of the negativity being a shovel digging you deeper into the "hole/problem". I have certainly felt this way before as well and it wasn't until I came to terms with the problem did I begin filling that hole back in. In reality, this approach is so much more work.
DeleteI will say that I have never know you to do this...your found perspective is working!
Arnie, I couldn't agree more with what you've said. I have always steered clear of problems whenever possible. But knowing that problems are a reality and they should be expected, maybe I can get better at dealing with them when they come.
DeleteArnie, that response was so rich in wisdom! Feelings do betray us, feelings do paint our perception, and therefore they skew what we see and how we see. This is where I try and focus on what is TRUE. The truth is stubborn, it doesn't change, on a good day or a bad day, truth remains.
DeleteLesson 5, Q2.
ReplyDeleteThis is an area that I have grown. I used to be burdened by not having the answers to everything or not being able to do everything that was asked of or offered to me. The good part was that did spur me on to learn more. The bad is that I would carry that burden, even though it wasn’t mine to carry. The older I get the more I realize, it’s okay to not have all the answers. I won’t carry burdens that aren’t mine anymore. This enables me, when I’m asked to do something beyond my capabilities to seek help. Before my growth, I wouldn’t have been able to rely on other people. My false burden of needing to have all the answers created a judgement within me that kept me from being able to trust other people. I’ve come to know a lot of very capable people that are equipped to do things that I am not. I’m no longer burdened with the idea that I must have all the answers or have all the ability. I believe this growth enables me to be a better leader. Being a leader does not mean you have to be capable of doing everything your team must do. It is knowing how to identify the strengths and weaknesses in our team so that tasks can be assigned to the right people in order for the team to be successful. In the fire service very few members are the “guru’s” for every discipline. Conversely, many members are the “guru’s” for something. Identifying peoples strengths and weaknesses allow for opportunities for the team members to help each other grow, thereby making the team more capable, stronger and building esprit de corps.
You are right. We can’t know everything. That’s why we can’t be afraid to ask for help when we need it. It is ok to depend on one another. That’s what makes us a great team.
DeleteQuestion #1
ReplyDeleteMaxwell wrote, “You don’t have to be happy all the time or be a cheerleader. You do need to model an attitude of positive vision during rough times. A leader’s attitude must exemplify resolve, tenacity, focus, determination and commitment”. I truly believe this. Everyone has a positive attitude when things are good but how is their attitude during the “dark days”? How do people’s attitudes change when things get rough? I agree with you all in the fact that a positive attitude breeds positivity, but I also believe a positive attitude in the face of adversity breeds strength and resolve in others. I have seen and met many people who have shown me strength and positivity when faced with problems out of their control. I will never forget the mindset and “attitude” they exemplified, it encouraged me and drew me to want to be around them more. I guess what I am trying to say is that my attitude may not always to that of a cheerleader, and I may not always be happy but I am able to see the good in the bad and I hope that will help me solve problems and influence others.
Like the point Travis. Totally agree that you can nspire others in how you work through challenges and difficulties.
DeleteThat's a very good point, Travis. It definitely lead me to ask myself that question and be more self-aware on how I handle my attitude in the "dark days."
DeleteQuestion #2
ReplyDeleteI hope I don’t sound to naïve when answering this question but I don’t believe anything is out of reach of your capabilities. I say this because we are all capable of asking for help. We are all capable of doing research to find the answer. No, we are not all “capable” of performing open heart surgery, but I am definitely capable of finding a doctor who can. I like to think this question is all about your mindset. How will we respond when faced with a difficult task that you may not know the answer to? I like to take it as an opportunity to grow. There is no “shame in my game”, I have no problem asking for help, I am not afraid to put in a little work to get the desired outcome. I like to think we are all “capable” of doing a lot more then we think. The extent of your capabilities are only limited to what you believe.
I genuinely admire the Can-Do-Attitude; mindsets like this are truly contagious! As you stated, “you don’t have to be a surgeon; you just need to know where to find one.” In this case, looking to your peers is always a positive solution. Great Answer, Travis!!!
DeleteI agree whole-heartedly with you Travis. You are absolutely right...not all answers to solve the problem have to or even will come from you alone. You simply have to have the courage to ask for help and get the right people involved. Well stated!
DeleteThis is exactly why I love the fire service. I think everyone is capable like you said Travis, but its the confidence of knowing as a team we can be stronger and more efficient to get the desired outcome.
DeleteGreat perspective Trav, I look at Navy Seals as an example of pushing your mind beyond what we think we are capable of. In reading some books about the SEALs not one time have I heard a successful SEAL say it is the physical demand but rather the mental side of it that makes or breaks guys. I think we can all reflect to a time that we have been pushed or pushed ourselves to do something we did not think we could do.
DeleteWell said Travis. We have to believe in the ability to achieve and there’s is always someone to help work the problem.
DeleteYou guys are right. I believe the difference in succeeding in something and failure is believing you can do it. Believing in others to help you when needed. Without that belief you are destined to fail.
DeleteLesson 5 Question 1:
ReplyDeleteIt certainly depends on the problem. I am always up for a challenge but fear the negative outcome or failure. I know that either way its a learning process. If I solve or address the problem I am proud to have had the courage to work through it. I may think of ways I could have done it easier or better. If I am not successful Im still going to find out how to succeed and at least do something. To me wether at work or at home problems need to be addressed in the moment so they don’t get worse or have a greater impact on people.
Usually at home in my marriage Imm not going to address it and hope it goes away. I can guarantee you no problem has ever gone away until it was addressed and usually is worse for not having addressed it in the moment.
Lesson 5 Question 2:
ReplyDeleteIn situations where I am asked to do something beyond my capabilities I am honored to be asked. It tells me someone sees potential in me to accomplish a task or wants to test my abilities. Maybe at home Ill test my abilities with home project worst case I loose some money and end up paying someone to fix it or actually do it. At work there is a little more stress because people lives or property are the cost of failure. Before making a final decision Ill elicit help from people like the book says 10-80-10. Rely on others thoughts and abilities to work the problem. I fear failure to not be able to accomplish what I am asked but that might be the purpose. I tend to learn best by trial by fire. I don’t think its 100 percent successful but its 100 percent learning on what not to do next time.
I agree with you Kyle that some of our best learning comes by trial and error. I seems to make a much more lasting impression in my brain. I know this isn't possible for all circumstances but I also believe training frequently with our team sets us up to be more likely to succeed. This is the idea of being a Highly Reliable Organization. Work out the errors in training which is also very effective to prevent the same errors when the real call comes.
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ReplyDeleteQuestion 1
A quote my high school football coach used to say, "it all starts and ends with attitude." This is true in all aspects of life, especially when dealing with problems. When discovering areas that need attention, implementing this phrase has always helped me. Approaching the situation from an unbiased, positive attitude, I can remain open-minded and see the whole situation. In contrast, when I’ve let my attitude dictate my response, I often ended up having to stop and repeat due to poor performance, which further degraded my attitude. The hard part is stepping back to regain the right perspective. A simple phrase within this chapter that can help with this transition is, “when you find yourself in a hole, the first step is to stop digging and put the shovel down.” As Company Officers, we must help guide conversations and attitudes in the right direction to help facilitate a healthy and productive workforce.
Hey Koester either you have a really good poker face or you really do apply this saying really well. It seems like you're always in a good mood and have a positive attitude all the time.
DeleteAttitude sets the tone for the day. We have all been with those who come to work mad many times and set the mood for others. We should never let that happen, others should not dictate our mood. Stay positive as much as possible. Steve your attitude has always been good, keep the positive-ness going!!!
DeleteSteve I totally agree with you. Your attitude going into something will totally dictate how the outcome will be. I think one of the hardest things we can do is stop and reevaluate our situation if the outcome is not going how we would like. Good stuff Steve!
DeleteYou are 100 % correct Steve, as Company officers we have a tremendous influence on how our attitude reflects on our crew.With such a younger department and members stepping into new positions, it is crucial we set the next generation up for success.
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ReplyDeleteQuestion 2
Problems that exceed my capabilities are relatively easy to solve. Specifically, due to my personality, most know I am a social and outgoing person. These traits, along with humility, allow me to seek counsel and help in times of feeling overwhelmed. The ability to work alongside others has always been a personal strength. I believe this initially attracted me to the fire service, as working with others to solve problems is where I feel most comfortable.
I certainly agree with you Steve, you do a great job here. I have personally seen you hold your hand up high to give something shot...even if for the first time. Your willingness to put yourself out there is a great attribute that you possess! You make it look as if there is no fear at all, of which I know is not true. You definitely have a great ability to get others involved in the overall mission. I witnessed this first hand when we went to a regional HazMat drill together. You took the bull by the horns and ran the show. To say the least, I was impressed...this will continue to serve you well!
DeleteTotally agree Steve. Teamwork drew me to this career as well, and I believe that this career fits my personality perfectly. Even when you feel like you’re exceeding your capabilities, working through those times demonstrates that you are capable of more than you understand. This builds confidence and gives you the ambition to continue engaging in solving problems that you initially thought were beyond your capabilities. Still, I agree with your point that we are capable of so much more as a team that we are individually.
DeleteTotally agree Steve. Teamwork drew me to this career as well, and I believe that this career fits my personality perfectly. Even when you feel like you’re exceeding your capabilities, working through those times demonstrates that you are capable of more than you understand. This builds confidence and gives you the ambition to continue engaging in solving problems that you initially thought were beyond your capabilities. I agree with your point that we are capable of so much more as a team that we are individually.
DeleteSteve, I have to agree with what everyone is saying. You do a great job with this and see a leader in you. The confidence you have to always volunteer knowing if you get in a bind, you're not afraid to seek help from your "team" to complete the task at hand as a team.
DeleteQuestion #1
ReplyDeleteI’m always up for a challenge and when faced with a problem, I approach the problem with a positive attitude. I try and solve the problem with my past experiences or knowledge, but I’m not afraid to seek help from someone that has more experience in the subject matter. In chapter 5 they use a reference of having two buckets to solve a problem “spark” one bucket is full of gasoline and the other bucket is full of water. I really liked the reference and feel like it couldn’t be more true.
Tommy, I really liked that reference as well. Sadly, I feel we (the Fire Service) are really good at applying water to literal fires and gasoline to our fire station problems. How do we get better at using water all of the time and not just on literal fires?
DeleteDC Cooke,
DeleteYou have to start with yourself by leading by example, making a contious effort to apply "water" to every situation. When conversations start to get negative or start to take a turn, you need to stand up for whats right and be the "firefighter". If we all start to make an effort, I believe positivity gets contagious and you don't want to be the only person being negative. This is a concept that I'm working on with myself. I've been the person using the gasoline, after the conversation I didn't like the way I felt because I broke someone down instead of taking the situation as an opportunity to build someone up. As brothers and sisters in the fire service, we are to quick to break each other down instead of putting the time in to being mentors to each other.
Tommy yeah that reference with the two buckets was perfect. I've throw some gasoline on some sparks for sure that could have easily been put out with a few drops of water.
DeleteQuestion #2
ReplyDeleteIndividually the situation might be beyond my capabilities, but we work as a team on incidents. This allows individuals to rise to the occasion and work as a team to accomplish something that they couldn’t of handled by themselves.
Teamwork is huge, we all have strengths and weaknesses that are valuable on a team. Use the strengths and strengthen those weaknesses
DeleteTommy, we all have our particular strengths that we are passionate about. Being able to utilize our team and "bounce" ideas off of each other has been instilled into me since day 1. We can truly learn and grow from each other's knowledge and experience if we allow ourselves to be open.
DeleteBC Skibar, Teamwork is the foundation in the fire service. If we all strengthen our weaknesses, "WE" as a department and "TEAM" will be limitless.
DeleteMike, I completely agree with you. Bouncing ideas off each other engages everyone and allows people to learn from each other. I think if WE all can be open and know that everyone is there to help instead of break down each other, WE can create a great learning environment.
DeleteQuestion #1. How do you think your attitude toward problems helps or hurts you?
ReplyDeleteHaving a positive attitude is what gets us through virtually every call we respond on. We (the Fire Service) pride ourselves on the fact that our job is to help solve peoples problems. We always talk about why do people call 911? Because they have a problem and they don't know what to do. How do we solve their problems? We come together as a crew and we figure out a solution, whatever that may be we show creativity, we show, compassion, and we show a positive attitude.
My point in this analogy is that it is proven of how successful problem solving can be when you have a positive attitude about a problem. I try and apply this same attitude towards everyday problems that come in my own life whether it is a big and serious problem or something quick and easy, at the end of the day regardless of your attitude, the problem will still be there and odds are there will be another one to deal with tomorrow. There may be problems I am not sure exactly how to fix, just as there are calls at work that we scratch our heads and don't always have the answers to, but we do our best to figure out a helpful solution. Imagine if every problem we faced at work was dealt with a bad attitude. We would have a lot of upset customers and a very long career.
Joel I totally agree with you. We are in a business of helping others. We will always have problems and issues that arise these are all a given. Understanding this and like you said coming together as a crew with a positive attitude will make us successful not only as individuals, but a crew, and a department.
DeleteYou are absolutely right Joel, we are in the business of problem solving...no matter how insignificant it may seem to us at the time. You make a great point, we solve peoples problems every day and when we do with positive attitudes and commpasion they will love us for it. I think your approach is just as the fire service needs!
DeleteTotally agree Joel. Like many things in life, so much is in the delivery.
DeleteIts all about perspective, it is an honor to help people solve their problems or what they perceive as a problem. Attitude is huge in customer service and leaders should keep their guard up regarding how to treat people!
ReplyDeleteLesson 5 question #1 How do you think your attitude towards problems helps or hurts you? I think your attitude towards problems is the key to the outcome of your Goal or solution. We have all faced times or situations in our life where we all said to ourselves “there’s no way I could do that “. You now have two options: you can feel sorry for yourself and quit or you can grind it out and work on bits of it at a time. As John Maxwell said use problems to “make you not break you”
ReplyDeleteWhen you're in a hole stop digging. Reevaluate what you are doing and come up with another solution. Maxwell says there's always a solution as long as you never give up. I would rather spend the time figuring out a solution to a problem rather than wishing it would go away because it’s not going to go away. With age and experience I have learned that it’s better to take on a problem right away cause in the end it goes away faster vs lingering.
Lesson 5 question#2 How do you handle situations in which you are asked to do something beyond your capabilities? If I find myself in a situation where I have been asked to do something beyond my capabilities, I will spend time investigating it on my own to try and figuring it out. With today’s technology there are way more resources available then in years past.
ReplyDeleteBest leaders are the best problem solvers. There have been many times I have asked friends or co-workers to show me how to solve a problem or for advice how to solve a problem I know they have been through. With age and experience when you have accomplished something that you thought was beyond your capabilities and you accomplished it or came up with a solution it gives great confidence for when your next problem arises.
Well said Brian. It certainly is a boost of confidence when we accomplish a difficult task.
DeleteYes Brian and the more you do this, the more your confidence grows.
DeleteQuestion #2- How do you handle situations in which you’re asked to do something beyond your capabilities?
ReplyDeleteI personally look at it as a challenge, being in a situation and doing something outside your capabilities is a challenge and takes us out of our comfort zone. This situation will test us, it can be mentally, physically, or both. I think if you don't put yourself in these situations, you really will never know what you are capable of. It is easy to stay in our comfort area with things we are used to or comfortable doing. I think for myself, when I was doing crossfit it seemed that each day I was pushing myself at something different,something that I was not used to doing or comfortable doing. Over time I realized that it was something that I was going to have to work at and was not going to come easy to me. So I did , I pushed myself each day and gained confidence and pushed myself to limits I never had or would have on my own. And when you perform something out of what we "Think" is out of our capabilities it builds character, and confidence which both honestly I feel are needed to continue to push yourself and have success in whatever it is we are doing out of the norm.
Joel I agree. Challenging helps us grow as individuals. You never know you can do something until you try.
DeleteQuestion #1- How do you think your attitude toward problems helps or hurts you?
ReplyDeleteOftentimes, I have a tendency to take a hard stance on what I feel is the correct solution to a problem without considering others' opinions on what they feel would be a better solution. Maxwell says "I have had to let go of my need to be right and focus on the greater need to do right." A positive attitude in these cases is extremely important, as well as delivery and patience. Patience is not something that comes easy for me, which hurts me in the area of problem-solving.
Question #2- How do you handle situations in which you’re asked to do something beyond your capabilities?
My first thought when dealing with situations that are beyond my capabilities is to ask for help from someone that is fully capable or who has dealt with a similar situation. I have had the privilege of working around great people of all ranks and I find no issues in asking for advice when help is needed. One person's weakness or shortcoming could be another's strength.
Question #2- What is your single greatest takeaway from this lesson? Why?
ReplyDeleteThe greatest take away from the chapter is to express gratitude for the small and ordinary things. What a great story about the immigrant shopkeeper. It brought to mind the saying imagine tomorrow if you only had the things you were grateful for today. I will admit that there is so much more to be thankful for that I take for granted on a daily basis. I really want to do better at acknowledging the little things in life.
Q1
ReplyDeleteWhen dealing with problems Attitude it’s the key factor in your decision making process that has a direct impact on how smooth and wether or not you are successful.
Q2
When being asked to handle a situation that is beyond my capabilities the first thing that comes to mind is the feeling of being overwhelmed, or impending failure to execute, however this is when I feel I have grown the most as a person. These situations cause me to be uncomfortable and push my limits leading to growth.