Mini-masterclass with Powrsuit co-founders Nat and Kristen.
We know how good it feels to take action when we spot a problem – but it puts us on a hamster wheel of fighting fires. Just because we’ve spotted a problem, it doesn’t mean it’s worth solving – and it doesn’t mean we know enough yet to solve it well.
This is part two of our three-part series on problem solving. Part one helped us identify the real problem, now it’s time to analyse it so we don’t waste time on the wrong solutions. There are four steps:
1. Size the impact: Use t-shirt sizing (XS, S, M, L, XL) and ask: Who feels this most? How often does it occur? What are the risks if we do nothing? Get different perspectives – everyone sizes differently.
2. Define what success looks like: Get specific. If we achieve X, we’ll know it’s solved. It could be a number that goes down (complaints per month), goes up (satisfaction score), or time saved (delivery time from 2 days to 4 hours).
3. Watch for side effects: Sometimes we’re so fixated on solving one problem to create a bunch more! Think about who might be impacted, what might be impacted, ongoing commitments, and reputational risks.
4. Fill the knowledge gaps: If you’re in a battle of gut-feel opinions, you probably don’t know enough yet. What assumptions are we making? What information do we still need? Who do we need to talk to? This is your sanity test before moving to solutions.
Part one: Problem discovery – using the five whys to find the real problem
Part three: Problem-solving – finding the best solution
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