Why “Don’t bring me problems, bring me solutions” makes you the last to know
It sounds like a call for initiative, but your team hears: don’t bring me bad news. Hear the problem first, then ask for their best guess.
THE QUICK ANSWER
Say this instead: “Bring me the problem first. We’ll work on the solution together.” “Don’t bring me problems, bring me solutions” sounds like a call for initiative, but your team hears: don’t bring me bad news. A problem has to be understood before it can be solved, so people wait, the problem grows, and you hear late.
GO DEEPER
Why demanding solutions hides the problems
“Don’t bring me problems, bring me solutions” is meant to build initiative. You want people who think for themselves rather than hand you every difficulty.
But a problem has to be understood before it can be solved. If people must have the answer before they speak, they wait until they do, and the problem grows in the meantime. You hear late, when it is bigger and harder to fix. Some people stop bringing problems at all.
The goal is still good. You do want people to think about solutions. You just do not want to make it a condition of speaking up. Say instead: “Bring me the problem first. We’ll work on the solution together.”
Hear the problem first. Then ask for their best guess: “What do you think we should do?” You get early warning, and you still build the habit of thinking ahead.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Hear the problem first, then ask for their best guess. Early news beats a polished solution that arrives late.
TEST YOURSELF
An employee comes to you with a problem and no solution. What is the best first move?
PRACTISE IT
Try this lesson in the arcade
Quick retro games that start with this lesson’s situations. One thumb, one to three minutes, free.
