Move Fast & Fix Things: A Week of Problem Solving

Reframe initial statements like 'My Gen Z employees are entitled' into questions like 'What's going on with my Gen Z employees?'

“As human beings, we tend to be overconfident in the quality of our thoughts. Particularly when it comes to diagnosing our own problems.”

Talk directly to the other people who have a stake in your problem. Ask things you might not normally ask in polite company. Consider setting up a 1:1 meeting.

“Sometimes just a single brave conversation can reveal an entirely new structure to your problem.”

Develop a plan to build more trust than you did today. Write down 3 actionable steps.

“A good-enough plan is distinct from a perfect plan, which is an elusive, fantastical creature that has never actually been spotted in the wild.”

Implement your plan and analyze the results, focusing on what you learned. Keep a journal to track progress.

“The purpose of Tuesday is not to get it right. The purpose of Tuesday is to learn.”

Seek out individuals with different backgrounds and experiences. Use social media or internal networks to identify potential connections.

“That whatever problem you're trying to solve this week, you're going to be better at solving it with people who don't already think like you do.”

Present your 'good-enough plan' to those individuals and revise it based on their feedback. Document the key takeaways from each conversation.

“At the end of the day, you’re going to be smiling, and your good-enough plan is going to be an even-better plan.”

Acknowledge and respect the history and contributions of those involved. Research the history of the problem you're addressing.

“Honor the complicated truth of the people around you, the ones who aren't so sure about all your big plans.”

Describe the desired future state in vivid and specific language. Create a vision board or write a descriptive paragraph.

“Tell us what it's going to feel like when your story becomes our reality.”

Identify and remove administrative or procedural obstacles. Contact relevant departments or individuals to streamline processes.

“So whatever administrative hurdles, whatever unproductive process is in the way of taking action today, just strip it out, just refuse to tolerate it.”

Execute your plan with a sense of urgency and learn from the outcomes. Dedicate a specific time block for implementation.

“Take action now, and then learn from whatever happens next.”