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August, 2005
U.S. Library of Congress ISSN 1549-893X

Welcome to Leadership Hand™, a monthly e-newsletter
to increase your leadership effectiveness more quickly and
enjoyably with bottom-line results.

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1. Stumbling Block to Stepping Stone: Part II

In the July issue, I gave you simple steps for turning a stumbling block into a stepping stone. www.leadershiphand.com/resources In the same way that a tight knot has to be loosened first, these steps serve to loosen the problem so that it can be transformed into something useful like the discovery of a previously 'hidden' strength or resource--a stepping stone. Those steps are:

1. Choosing a Stumbling Block to Work On
2. How to Choose When You Have Several
3. Writing a Concise, One-Sentence Description of the Problem
4. Articulating What You Want Instead
5. Finding "What's Even More Important?"

In this issue, I'd like to offer another step for . . . hmmm… let's say "more intractable" problems.

What If This Problem Were Actually Helping You?

There are times when we're so stuck that we might like to "hunt it down and kill it"--"it" being whatever we perceive is contributing to or causing the problem. Complaining does not change the stumbling block. Worry doesn't. Forcing doesn't. What new actions do we take? None. We are working "at the level at which the problem was created." So, let's change the level.

"Behind every problem is
a brilliantly disguised opportunity."

What if this problem were actually helping you? Sometimes we know this to be true and other times, we can't even consider it. With pen to paper (or in conversation with another person), quickly list 10 to 20 ways that the current stumbling block is actually helping you directly or indirectly. You can generate even more ways when you have another person brainstorm this with you.

Usually the "ahas" come as we start to hear ourselves and see how we are being more resourceful or developing a desirable higher-level skill as a result of the stumbling block.

Here's an example:

A meeting planner felt that his senior management's lack of support for him and for his team's work was a major stumbling block. He had to fight for any budget increases and was struggling to get recognition for all that his team accomplished.

When I asked him, "How is not having support actually helping your team?" he looked me dead in the eye and said flatly, "It isn't." I knew differently.

"Are you so sure?" I asked. After a few moments reflection he said, "Well, it has caused us to push harder to excel and prove our worth." He paused, then said, "And we've pulled together as team. We've learned to better support each other working toward our goals."

"Sound like decent benefits to me." What was the business result?" I asked.

The dawning "aha" look on his face got even brighter. "Customer reviews of our events have gone from good to excellent in the past two years," he responded.

Until an individual or a team can see the benefits of a seemingly intractable situation, they will overlook the rich resources, the stepping stones that a stumbling block offers.

Before he had seen only a tightly knotted mass. Once the mass loosened, his perspective shifted. He saw with fresh eyes the skills and attributes his team had cultivated, and discovered "new" resources that could be effectively used as a stepping stone to address the immediate challenge--getting senior management's support and recognition--and, importantly, to achieve longer-term business objectives.

Every time I see this shift, I could swear a burdensome, invisible weight slips off the person or the team members. Wonder if I need to add the disclaimer "Results May Vary."

Here's to Discovering Brilliantly Disguised Opportunities!

Beth Hand

© Copyright 2007, Beth Hand. Beth Hand, MBA helps leaders increase their effectiveness and satisfaction, now and for the future. She can be reached at (+1) 703.820.8074 or via her website www.leadershiphand.com.

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