Understanding Relentless Solution Focus

I first read about this concept from this article titled, Develop a Relentless Solution from the Leadership Now Blog. I felt that it hit right at home with some of the issues I face in the workplace concerning how much time is invested in the problem and not with the solution. The Relentless Solution Focus , described by Jason Selk: I find myself spending most of my time with my colleagues focusing on the problem at hand, working in a cyclical manner to understand the problem, but really in the end drained and disappointed.  By focusing on the problems we produce more problems, and find ourselves farther away from the subject at hand and the solution we need. If we focused our minds on each task and its solution we would find more progress and happiness with our positive movement.  The article’s writer suggests, “Anytime you catch yourself focusing on a problem, negativity, or self doubt, ask yourself this question: What is the one thing I can do differently that could make this situation better?”  Well by putting this concept into effect I can already come to the mental conclusion that by putting a positive twist to our thoughts we already start looking for a positive outcome. By allowing the negativity to hinder us further by focusing on it, we will never be able to fulfill the end goals. If we identify that every problem has a solution and even if we don’t have the full solution, we can at least take one positive step toward a full solution. Taking those baby steps toward the finish line will make the journey that much easier.  To put this into practice we must proactively work at being solution focused, it doesn’t come naturally especially to us “Realists” out there. My difficulty has always been that I recognize the problem, but I have always felt you must completely understand that problem to find the solution. But as mentioned before all that it accomplishes is more negativity to set in. Instead we must resolve to constantly work at “switching” our outlook to the Solution Focused instead of the Problem Focused.  We are naturally predisposed to reacting to problems and negative feelings. Why do you think the negative things in our lives stick with us longer than the positive experiences? Often you hear that when a person is asked about another person or experience, they usually have pretty generic responses (“it was ok, they were nice, food was good”), but when it is something negative, they will remember every detail and the way they felt. It is why 10 positive feedbacks on your site can be sabotaged by 1 negative (ugly) one. Are you practicing this now in your life?