Most Problems Fall Into 1 of 3 Layers — Here's How to Effectively Approach Each One

As business owners and leaders, we often brushwood a assortment of problems successful our organizations, but not all problems are created equal.

I've recovered that astir issues autumn into 1 of 3 layers, each requiring a different attack to solve. Below, I'll break down nan 3 layers truthful you tin tailor your business's solutions to nan correct problem type.

Related: 2 Steps to Determine nan Best Possible Solution to Any Problem

Layer 1: Simple mistakes

For Layer 1 problems, a process is successful place, and nan personification progressive knows precisely what they should beryllium doing. The rumor present is that they simply made a mistake. It happens to nan champion of america — sometimes, we conscionable gaffe up.

When a Layer 1 problem pops up, your first move should beryllium to punctual nan personification of nan correct process. A quick, gentle nudge is often each that's needed to get things backmost connected track. These are nan kinds of problems that tin beryllium fixed pinch a little speech aliases a elemental reminder.

If this benignant of correction starts happening regularly, it's clip to excavation a small deeper. There whitethorn beryllium thing other going connected — stress, disengagement aliases moreover burnout. In these cases, it's important to reside nan guidelines origin alternatively than conscionable nan symptom. Consistent Layer 1 problems could awesome that nan worker needs support, whether that's done amended clip management, much predominant breaks aliases addressing immoderate individual issues that mightiness beryllium affecting their work.

No matter what nan specifics entail, it's champion to reside a Layer 1 problem quickly, ideally providing feedback wrong 24 hours. The sooner you reside it, nan easier it is to course-correct and forestall nan correction from becoming a recurring issue.

Layer 2: Lack of understanding

The 2nd furniture of problems is simply a spot much complex. For Layer 2 problems, a process is successful place, but nan personification doesn't afloat understand it. This could hap for respective reasons — possibly they're caller and still learning, aliases possibly their training wasn't arsenic thorough arsenic it should person been. Either way, nan guidelines of nan problem is simply a deficiency of understanding, not conscionable a elemental mistake.

The solution for a Layer 2 problem is straightforward: training. Whether that involves a refresher people aliases sitting down one-on-one to spell complete nan process again, nan extremity is to guarantee nan personification afloat understands what's expected of them. Training helps adjacent nan knowledge spread and equips nan worker pinch nan devices they request to succeed.

If a Layer 2 problem keeps happening, it's a motion that your training materials — aliases your training methods — mightiness request an update. Take a look astatine what you're school compared to nan outcomes you're seeing. Are location gaps successful nan training? Are location definite parts of nan process that labor consistently struggle with? If so, it mightiness beryllium clip to update your training to amended meet nan needs of your team.

When you're addressing a Level 2 problem, purpose to stock feedback wrong a week. This gives you capable clip to reassess and retrain while keeping nan rumor caller successful nan employee's mind. Also, see including others who mightiness besides use from nan refresher. This proactive attack tin thief forestall akin problems from arising pinch different squad members.

Related: 5 Steps to Creatively Solving Business Problems

Layer 3: Lack of process

Finally, we person nan 3rd furniture of problems, which occurs erstwhile there's nary process successful spot astatine all. If there's nary process, you can't expect your squad to cognize what to do. Layer 3 problems often hap erstwhile your business has grown aliases changed, and you're facing caller challenges that existing processes conscionable don't cover. They're a awesome motion that it's clip to create aliases overhaul immoderate caller processes.

Layer 3 problems are nan astir analyzable because they require you to build thing from scratch. The first measurement is to measure nan business and specify what needs to beryllium done. Once you person a clear knowing of nan problem, you tin statesman creating a process that addresses nan issue. This mightiness impact mapping retired nan steps, assigning responsibilities and ensuring that nan process aligns pinch nan wide goals of nan organization.

Once nan process is successful place, it's besides basal to train your squad truthful they cognize really to execute it. You whitethorn request to clasp workshops, supply ongoing support and beryllium disposable to reply immoderate questions arsenic they arise.

If a Layer 3 problem keeps happening, it could mean that nan process you created isn't rather correct for nan team's needs. In this case, you whitethorn request to tweak aliases update nan process aliases create supplemental processes to screen different parts of nan business.

Typically, it takes 2-4 weeks to decently measure a Layer 3 problem, specify and archive nan solution and past train (and retrain) nan applicable teams. This mightiness look for illustration a agelong time, but it's worthy it to guarantee that nan process is coagulated and that your squad is prepared to travel it long-term.

Why it matters

Understanding nan 3 layers of problems is important for effective problem-solving successful immoderate organization. You don't want your managers to overthink aliases discarded excessively overmuch clip solving Layer 1 problems — these should beryllium speedy fixes. On nan different hand, you don't want them to unreserved done solving Layer 3 problems, arsenic these require much observant readying and execution.

It's besides important to look for trends. For example, if you person a batch of Layer 2 problems, it mightiness beryllium a motion that your training methods request improvement. If you're seeing a batch of Layer 1 problems, it could beryllium clip to reappraisal your hiring practices aliases supply much support to your team.

Related: Facing a Tough Problem? Try These Hacks to Find nan Solution You Need

By identifying nan furniture of nan problem, you tin group nan correct expectations astir nan magnitude of clip and effort needed to find a solution. Next clip you look a challenge, inquire yourself: Which furniture does this problem beryllium to? Approaching it pinch this model will prevention you time, effort and possibly moreover a fewer headaches on nan way.