“Leaders Resolve Problems” is the second core principle of leadership.

Every team and organization has problems. The measure of a successful organization is not an absence of problems, but rather how well team members rally to resolve them.

“Leaders Resolve Problems” doesn’t mean fixing everything that comes your way as a leader, but rather ensuring your team is in an environment that can effectively deal with the unexpected and/or undesired.

Key to creating this environment is the ability to face reality, no matter how unpleasant it might be. There are many reasons that individuals and teams may not be willing to face, or at least give voice to, reality: blame throwing culture, fear of punishment, fear of seeming inept, fear of appearing too negative, and more.

Leaders need to create the space for people to feel comfortable raising issues. Fostering a spirit of problem resolution throughout your team is essential for creating a healthy environment where the people you lead can collectively handle adversity and remain effectively focused on getting to the right results

What do you think is preventing your team from raising a hand and pointing out problems? 

What is preventing you from addressing problems when the team does raise a hand?

What can you do to help change that culture and build trust?