Here are 3 types of problems your business may encounter.
1.Normal Problems. These problems are somewhat unavoidable. They come with healthy growth. The good news is that they are transitional in nature – you encounter them, you solve them, you learn from them, and then you move on. That’s what leaders do!
2.Abnormal Problems. I call these “roundabout” problems. An increasingly popular technique being utilized today by city planners is to create “roundabouts” at intersections. The problem with roundabouts is that if you don’t know what you’re doing you may find yourself simply driving around in circles. Roundabout problems are those problems where you “drive around in circles,” watching your problems repeat themselves over and over again. You keep encountering problems that you thought you had solved, but in reality they never get solved. Abnormal problems cause unnecessary pain and slow organizational progress. Normal problems are solved by good leaders. Abnormal problems typically require an outside intervention (i.e. a coach, an objective peer, etc.)
3.Pathological Problems. These are distinguishable from abnormal problems by their gravity and chronic nature. If not treated in time they threaten the organization’s ability to survive. Examples of pathological problems include: 1.Continuous negative cash flow,
2.Continual loss of key human resources,
3.Unresolved quality problems,
4.Rapidly declining market share,
5.Loss of confidence by investors