How to Develop a Solutions Oriented Mindset

Problems aren't roadblocks. They're invitations. An invitation to innovate. To rethink. To leap. The difference between stuck and unstoppable? It's not the challenge. It's you. Your lens. Your toolkit. Your willingness to dance with the difficulty. As a tech leader, your ability to solve complex issues can make or break your career. I've led teams across continents, industries, and crises. Here's what I've learned: 𝟭. 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 Peel back the layers. Ask "Why?" repeatedly. You're not fixing a leak; you're redesigning the plumbing. 𝟮. 𝗦𝗪𝗢𝗧 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 Map your battlefield. Know your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Sun Tzu would approve. 𝟯. 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 Visualize the chaos. Connect the dots. Your brain on paper, minus the mess. 𝟰. 𝗦𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 Prepare for multiple futures. Be the chess player who sees ten moves ahead. 𝟱. 𝗦𝗶𝘅 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗮𝘁𝘀 Wear different perspectives. Be the critic, the optimist, the data analyst, the artist, the operator. Your mind is pliable; use it. 𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨: - 76% of IT leaders rank problem-solving as the top soft skill (Global Knowledge) - Strong problem-solvers are 3.5x more likely to hit strategic goals (Harvard Business Review) - 70% of problem-solving pros drive more innovation (PwC) These aren't just methods. They're mindsets. Tools to reshape your thinking. I've used these to navigate multi-million-dollar projects and multinational teams. They work. Period. But the real differentiator: consistency. Use these daily. Make them habits. Your problem-solving muscle grows with every rep. Start now. Pick one method. Apply it to a current challenge. Share your results. The best tech leaders aren't born. They're forged in the fires of solving complex problems. What will you solve today?

Overcoming obstacles doesn’t actually have to be hard 👀 Here are the 7 simple shifts that changed everything for me. I’m always honest with y’all, so trust me when I say that in my 20+ years in the “working world” I’ve had more failures than I can count… 😅 Through it all I’ve learned one thing: Success is just failure with better strategy. So next time you run into what appears to be a roadblock, implement these shifts: 1. Reframe the Challenge • A “problem” is just an unsolved puzzle. Instead of fixating on the end goal, focus on the next step and own it. 2. Break It Down • Overwhelmed? Zoom in. Big tasks get easier when you tackle them in small, manageable steps. 3. Leverage Past Wins • Think of a time you nailed something challenging. That’s proof you can overcome and ace this too. 4. Replace Frustration with Curiosity • Feeling stuck? Ask better questions instead of shutting down. Curiosity fuels problem-solving. 5. Change Your Inner Dialogue • Saying “this is too hard” tells your brain to give up. Saying “this is something new” sparks learning and action. 6. Celebrate Every Step • Even small progress deserves recognition. 👏🏾 Momentum builds when you acknowledge the wins. 7. Train for Quick Problem-Solving • Set a 10-minute timer. Pick a small challenge. Brainstorm solutions fast. (Speed breeds confidence) Fear shrinks when you take action. So today— No overthinking. No waiting. Just begin. Have you tried any of these? Or maybe something else has worked for you? Let me know in the comments so we can share with others!

Running from problems is running from leadership. Your ability to have mental agility and capacity for solving problems will determine how high you rise in your career. The higher you go, the more problems you’ll face especially around people, process, and resources. The issue is a lot of people wanting to move up but often complain about the problems they have to deal with. I want to help you shift your mindset and start framing the problems you face differently. Start seeing your problems as opportunities with each one building your capacity to handle more, to lead better, and to achieve more success in your career. As a leader solving problems comes down to doing the following: ✅ Get clear and frame the problem the right way. ✅ Ask who before how. Problems are solved better together than in isolation. ✅ Build solutions, create a simple framework to test them, and adjust until it’s solved. Lastly create an environment where it’s safe to fail, learn, and solve problems together. One of the most important things you can do as a leader? Equip others to solve their own problems and empower them to help others do the same. If you want to rise in leadership, raise your hand for the next problem. That’s how you build trust, influence, and results. #Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #Leader #Culture