LEADERS ARE PROBLEM-SOLVERSPrinciple:
“Problems are the building blocks of leadership. Every
problem has within it the potential to produce a
leader.”Since leadership revolves around people, people represent problems! It’s
that simple. We must never forget that as long as there are people, there
will be problems. The more people there are, the more problems there are.
People problems are the greatest challenge of leadership. If a leader wants
to eliminate his problems, all he has to do is to eliminate his people! No
followers – no problems! Many followers – many problems! There is no
such thing as a totally abstract problem. Almost every problem has a major
“people element” in it. Most problems become personified and incarnated
in a particular person or group of people. Virtually every problem Paul
dealt with was people-oriented – like the ones in Corinth. However, the
person is not the problem. It is the problem that is the problem! In dealing with
a problem, wise leaders must carefully separate the person from the problem.
They must seek to defeat the problem without destroying the person. To win
over the problem at the expense of a loss of a person, is never successful
problem-solving. That is a win-lose scenario. A good leader always works
toward a win-win solution. He wants to win over the problem while at the
same time winning over the person. But that does not mean winning OVER
him by defeating him; but rather by WINNING HIM OVER to your side.
Every effective leader has learned through personal experience that it
takes careful interpersonal surgery to separate the problem from the person.
The first step in confronting an issue is for the leader to objectify the
problem. He must first do all he can to remove the subjective element from
the problem in his own heart and mind. Even though he must deal with
the problem personally, he must not take the problem personally. Many leaders
see a problem as a personal affront to their leadership. They emotionally
interpret the problem as a personal attack upon their authority. A leader
must begin by first working for a de-catharsis of his own emotions that are
involved. That’s because passions always intensify problems! If his passions
are inflamed by the problem, then all he will do is lead with his emotions.
At that point, the atmosphere becomes “emotionally charged.” He will
“draw up the battle lines” and begin to “fight with his feelings” – rather