160: The 5-Step Strategy For Solving Problems, with Michael “Coop” Cooper

Michael “Coop” Cooper: Innovators + Influencers

Do you feel like you are playing whack-a-mole, constantly putting out fires in your organization? Are others and you clear on the real reason for most problems? In this conversation, I welcome Michael “Coop” Cooper from Innovators + Influencers to share a 5-step strategy that will help you define problems so it’s clear what to do next.

1. Describe the situation

• There’s a lot of information in the situation that people don’t talk about.
• This does not have to take as long as most people think it does.

2. Draft a problem statement

• The problem we’re trying to solve is…
• Find the simplest statement possible.

3. Ask “Why is that a problem?” (REPEAT)

• Be aware of the thud factor and the pause.

4. Is this the real problem?

• Involve someone else

5. Is this problem worth solving?

• Will it save you time or money?
• Will it make your company/department more competitive/productive?
• Will this solution make your work or life easier in the long-run?
• Does this solution or solving this problem actually align with your company goals?

“If I were given an hour to save the world, I’d spend 59 minutes defining the problem and one minute solving it.” -Albert Einstein

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