DON'T JUST GAB, DO SOMETHING (HINT: TAKE ACTION!)

Why don’t people address topics of importance before a crisis hits? We’ve all heard the excuses: I didn't have time, I'm just so busy, I didn't know, no one was interested, I had other priorities … blah, blah, blah.

When you hold these excuses up to the light, you see right through them. Many people simply don’t want to take responsibility for raising the issues — much less dealing with them once raised — even though everyone wants the perks that come with that responsibility, such as information, power, compensation, choice projects, recognition, the confidence one gets from success, and other potential positives.

The reality, though, is that most problem-solvers and proven strategic thinkers — the ones that raise the tough issues and skillfully wrangle them through to the finish line — end up getting the perks, while someone else might just hide away in his cubicle, complaining that he never gets the perks.

Whether an issue for individuals or companies, the ability and willingness to address sticky issues head-on instead of sweeping them under the rug can help save time, money, opportunities and sanity in the long-run.

Tips to stop calcifying between the ‘mental’ rock and a hard place

• Assess: Take a good, hard look at the damage done when you don’t take responsibility for addressing tough issues. This might include poor relationships with employees or clients, endless meetings required to resolve an issue, under-producing, and reduced productivity or bottom line.

• Seed: Think of (and act on) two ways you can begin including positive, productive working sessions around a topic important to your company/department into your work-week. (As opposed to waiting for a crisis to hit and then running helter-skelter to assign or avoid blame.) Suggestions include having lunch with colleagues, conducting an e-mail brainstorming session, running a ‘learnings workshop’ at a staff meeting, or giving a compliment to a deserving employee.

• Let go of it: If you’re in a power struggle — whether imagined or real — release your side of the tug-of-war so that you can free up that mental space for more productive and meaningful interactions. This exercise alone might be the ticket to the chunk of time you were looking for to address issues in the first place! Also, true leaders don’t spend their energy squabbling. They are centered on building healthy relationships and helping others succeed. As the Al Pacino character in the movie Devil's Advocate says, "...it's like a bag of bricks; all you gotta do is set is down."

• Stop complaining: If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. The next time you feel compelled to complain about something, stop yourself. Reframe the comment so that you offer an insight with a suggestion. This more positive approach will help others see how a constructive question or comment can solve a problem and serve as a learning tool. Additionally, you won’t be stressed out from the discussion because it will most likely be a productive, satisfying conversation rather than a whining session or a bout of wills.

• Get to the root of your intentions: What’s holding you back from taking responsibility? How does this coincide with your personality type? What changes in the situation or yourself would make you take responsibility? How can you make those changes happen?

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