First, tick the items which best describe your needs, concerns, goals or challenges:
We seem to manage in favour of crises, rather than strategy which avoids or minimises them
I have difficulty defining what is the problem
I have difficulty getting others to agree that there is a problem
It's often difficult to establish when problems are worth solving and when they should be left alone
I get frustrated when staff bring me problems they haven't thought through, expecting me to take up their problem-solving responsibilities
My manager tells me, "Don't bring me problems: bring me solutions!" What am I supposed to do with this?
In our organisation there is a tendency to avoid problems if at all possible
We deal with problems improvisationally, inventing the process as we go
There are too many differing and incompatible approaches to solving problems, here
Our problems keep recycling themselves: we keep 'fixing' what seem to be different aspects of the same problem
I have some success with relying on my intuition to arrive at solutions, an approach that is at odds with others' processes
I am often confused about whose problem it is - mine or theirs
I become overwhelmed by some problems
I feel angry, anxious or isolated when problems arise
Too often I find myself trying to deal with problems on my own
We never seem to be able to 'get to the nitty gritty' of our difficulties
Our discussions of problems turn into arguments and conflict
We 'solve' problems but don't get commitments to implementing the solutions
The solutions we implement, tend to come unstuck
Sometimes, when I get involved in discussing difficult issues, I can't see the wood for the trees
The way we deal with problems causes more difficulties than it solves
One or more of us gets frustrated with our attempts at problem resolution
I want to improve the problem-solving skills of my staff or team members
Other needs, concerns, goals, challenges or interests:
Next, complete these statements, where possible, to record some of your strengths:
I tend to do best with problem-solving under these circumstances:
Things I am confident about in this area, include:
Despite unclarity about some things to do with problem-solving, I am clear about:
Any further comments you would like to make: