How to Work Around Office Problems

Whenever you find yourself blocked by overwhelming workloads, broken processes, misaligned groups or just plain negativity and resistance, there’s always something you can do to get moving again.  Here are some powerful but simple tips from Russell Bishop’s new book Workarounds That Work that can help you find your way forward and get back on the road to producing the results you need.

Avoid the perfectionist trap:  If you happen to be out sailing and the mast breaks, you will quickly see the need for a “workaround,” something sailors might call a “jury-rig.”  In order to get going again, you would have to come up with a temporary mast, something that can get you moving again even if it’s not as good as the original.

Own the outcome: Most people think of accountability as a form of blame or fault:  “who’s accountable for this mess?”  Instead, think of accountability as your willingness to “own the outcome.”  You may not find perfect answers, but you will be directionally correct. If you allow yourself to revert to complaining or blaming, you will drain off a considerable amount of your power to make choices and to influence others.

Control what you can: Overcoming your own mindset of being stuck may be the most important workaround of all.  Whenever you encounter a roadblock of any kind, remember to always look to yourself first for assistance. Ask what is within your own power to control:  what can you do that will make a difference requiring no one’s permission other than your own?

Frame the problem: If all you can see are the roadblocks, you might as well leave the car in the garage!  If you frame the problem as some big, hairy, impossible thing, you aren’t going to be very likely to jump on it, or even if you do, you probably won’t come up with many solutions.   Instead, turn the problem into a jigsaw puzzle – get the picture in your mind, own the outcome, and start fitting the pieces together.

Comments

[Redge]

These techniques are very effective. Great summary.

[Paige]

It was a great article. I always find it difficult to move on with my work sometimes,there's a lot of stress going on and I really don't know what should go first. Thanks for sharing this one.

[Bhay]

really nice i must say,It was a great article. I always find it difficult to move on with my work sometimes

[Moe]

Thanks for the excellent tips. U especially like the framing the problem suggestion. Sometimes I get the problem too focused in my mind and I make it so big so that I drown out everything else. Sometimes I just have to think of a Greys Anatomy situation where he throws something heavy off and focuses on the immediate job at hand.