i'm a leader: part eight.

Last Wednesday in class we were faced with a problem. Long story short the scenerio was that the Lincoln Memorial was having major problems because the foundation and structure was cracking. We, as a group, had to figure out what was wrong with it and how to fix it. We asked as many questions as we wanted, and then proposed our solutions. Our group's answer wasn't too bad.. fill the cracks, get a good sealant, and then be more gentle when washing it. However, we had been trying to fix the wrong problem. The solution that was used in real life (it apparently was a real problem) was centered around the birds, bugs, and creatures that came to the memorial. Instead of all this labor, all they did was turn the lights on one hours later every night. Good thing the government didn't come to us to fix the problem.. it would have resulted in way too much effort and funds.

I tried to think about how often this happens in my life- focusing on and fixing the wrong problem. The most common situation that comes to mind is when I put the blame on the wrong "thing", person, idea, situation, etc. If you don't know the real problem, you can't really fix it. The best way I think we can always make sure our perspective is right is to not be so narrow minded. When we focus on the big picture instead of just our small problem, it all makes more sense. Lately this applies to priorities in my life. If I am too consumed in one project, I completely forget the other five things I need to do. It goes hand in hand with many of the other lecture topics we've discussed like time (focusing your energy evenly), teamwork (seeing everyone's perspective), and being a leader that cares about those that you are leading (when you are so caught up in the problem, you forget why you are even trying to solve it and your purpose). Proper perspective when problem solving is prudent. And yes, I did try and make that into a tongue twister. Learn from my team's mistakes!- Ask the right questions, know the real problem, and you'll find the best solution.