Yesterday hit hard.
During the last couple of weeks, between Christmas and New Years, things slowed down. I answered some emails and had a few calls, but a lot of work was put on pause.
Then Monday rolled around and everything started spinning back up. The early December emailers circled back, and everything collided… at the same time.
The worst part? The problems started piling up.
“We are having some trouble with the system and need some help.”
“Our CEO has an issue with that date, can we find another time?”
“The program we’ve been working on needs to be ready two weeks earlier.”
And this is just at work.
Wouldn’t life be easier if we had less problems?
Here’s a newsflash:
Less problems might make your life easier, but it would mean your role is less necessary.
The role of the leader is to solve problems. So, if you’re dealing with challenges, you’re in good company. That means the world needs you.
I’ve always loved this reminder from Colin Powell, “The day the soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help them or concluded that you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.”
When people are bringing you problems, it means 3 things:
- They trust you: When someone shares a challenge, it shows they believe in your ability to solve it. Solving doesn’t always mean fixing, but they trust you to guide them through difficult situations. They’ve seen your track record of turning obstacles into opportunities.
- They respect you: People don’t share problems with those they don’t hold in high regard. When someone knows a leader has wisdom, they seek out your insights and judgment to offer sound advice.
- They believe you care: Sharing problems requires emotional risk – someone knows you’ll listen with empathy and work alongside them to find solutions. Past experience has helped someone see and experience your genuine concern for their success.
I hope your new year is off to a great start. In 2025, I’m not actually praying for you to have less problems; I’m praying you’ll put those problems into perspective and use your God-given abilities to make this world a better place.
