Paul Matthews give us our weekly Alchemy for Managers Tip
Do you habitually talk about problems, or talk
about solutions?
Problem talk includes descriptions of what the
problems are, analysis of where they came from,
elaboration of the effects they are having, how
people feel about them, and speculation about
what they are leading to. It is any talk that
puts the focus on the problem.
Whereas solutions talk is about what is wanted:
it includes descriptions of how matters will be
when they are the way people want them to be; it
also includes talk of resources, strengths and
skills, of successful examples and of actions
that will help get to the desired state of affairs.
Notice when you do one or the other.
Notice how people react to each.
Notice what happens to the problem, and how you
feel about it.
People who talk about solutions are usually nicer
to be around. They typically have an upbeat and
positive outlook on life, and we all gravitate to
that more than we will ever gravitate to someone
who is just talking about what is wrong.
More on problem talk versus solutions talk, and
some short case studies
Article by Paul Matthews
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