As I was preparing for the first session of the current Loyal Lieutenant online experience, I was speaking with a client whom I’ve been working with for over 15 years.

Our very first project was a 10 week coaching course for him as he stepped into the role of General Manager.

He had been promoted because the owner of the company observed that any time there was a problem, (and particularly when the owner was away), this employee sorted it out.

He was a natural problem solver.

We chatted about the mindset it requires to solve problems and to step into that 2IC role.

When I first started at Kip McGrath, I made a lot of changes to the systems, simply to make my job easier.

I too am a natural problem solver.

And I also believe this is both a skill and a mindset that can be learned and improved.

This is something pay particular attention to in The Loyal Lieutenant.

Problem solvers ask questions.

They look for easier ways to do things.

They don’t just accept “this is the way we do it around here” without questioning the efficiency of the way it’s done.

Problem solvers don’t ask for permission to fix things. They just fix them.

One skill problem solvers can improve though, is their ability to promote themselves.  Not in an arrogant or brash way, neither in a coercive or controlling way, but to let the boss know what has been fixed.

For example, “The franchisees were complaining that we were sending their materials to the wrong address. I talked with the dispatch manager to understand how this could happen and as a result, we now ask the franchisees what their preferred postal and delivery addresses are for letters and parcels. We haven’t had any complaints about delivery in the past few weeks.”

If you don’t tell them, they won’t know. Promoting yourself is also a key skill.

If you’re a natural problem solver, please embrace this. Continue to fix thing and make sure to let those in charge know what you’ve fixed.

If you’re not a natural problem solver, don’t despair. You can develop the mindset of a problem solver. Give yourself permission to become a problem solver and set about finding better ways to do things. The choice is up to you.

You can learn to be a problem solver. It’s a skill and a mindset that is very valuable and in high demand. Your boss will love you for it.

P.S. Invite your friends to get the Weekly Thought delivered directly to their inbox. Go to https://shirleydalton.com/Weekly-Thoughts.

Ross and I were discussing the subject heading for this weekly thought.

Should it be “I’m perplexed, I’m confused, I’m puzzled”?

When we looked up the Macquarie Dictionary, the old fashioned book format, the words seemed to be interchangeable.

So here’s why I’m perplexed.

I recently created some facebook ads and offered a Complimentary Private Career Planning Consultation to seconds-in-command or aspiring seconds-in-command to help them understand where they are in their journey and where they want to go. In other words, for the “Go To People” in your organisation.

A number of people completed the facebook form which asked for first name, email, phone number and country/region.  The country/region was so I could ensure I got the timezone right when I reached out to book their consultation.

The details entered were legitimate. I spoke to one lady who was driving at the time and whom asked me to send her an SMS message to work out some times.

I honoured her request. No response.

Similar results happened with the other leads.

Why would you go to the trouble of entering your contact details to “ghost” the person who is offering to help when they contact you?

I don’t get this. I really don’t.

Some people may be sceptical (cynical, disbelieving, doubtful) and that’s okay.  Don’t fill in the form.

But to go to the trouble of filling in the form and then not follow through for the consultation, that perplexes me.

Human behaviour and human psychology absolutely fascinate me.

My challenge now is to coach myself and not allow myself to start making up stories as to why people do that and then make it about myself and how I’m not good enough etc. or worse, reinforce old limiting beliefs that are not true.

As an example, I can tell myself, they are busy. They’ll come back when they’re ready or they’ve decided they don’t want to be a second-in-command now.  Filling in the form was actually helpful for them because it made them stop and think and ask themselves if that’s what they truly want.

My point is, we tell ourselves stories to make sense of what happens.  Rather than slip into our old habits of making up negative stories, we can choose the stories we tell ourselves, so choose useful stories. Choose empowering stories.

P.S. Invite your friends to get the Weekly Thought delivered directly to their inbox. Go to https://shirleydalton.com/Weekly-Thoughts.