04+Problem-Solving

= Problem-Solving =

**Text Support & Personal Experience:**
 * As a group we differed most on this point. I struggled with a few of the rankings as so many of the skills overlap. Here I felt if a leader was a good listener who could confidently make a decision and work with others, problem-solving would not seem an advanced skill. Lambert also warns against principals solving too many problems individually: "When a principal-rather than the school community members- consistently solves problems, makes decisions, and gives answer, dependency behaviors on the part of the staff actually increase" (2003, p. 48). I suppose, however, that this means that a leader needs to employ skills that not only solve the problem, but do it in a way that maintains leadership capacity. With that in mind, I am able to believe that rating problem-solving in the top half has merit. ~Kate


 * To go along with problem solving, Lambert also states, "Asking permission from principals is a red flag, indicating that dependency relationships are getting in the way of building leadership capacity" (2003, p.48). "Being listened to carefully and listening carefully to others has an almost magical effect on what we say: issues and problems are held at arm's length and examined from all sides, instead of being subjected to quick opinions and ready solutions" (2003, p.34). These text citations really reinforced to me the need for leaders to be problem solvers. Though I understand and agree that problem solving stems from listening, I do not think that all great listeners are problem solvers and that we can take that quality for granted because not all individuals are comfortable taking a stand and establishing a new rule. Several great listeners may not know what to do or may not want to do it for fear of not being able to please everyone. I think the trait of solving problems is something that takes practice and is not automatic. - Monica


 * I think it is important for leaders to have problem-solving skills, just like being able to manage conflict. One thing I hadn't thought of, but read in Lambert's text really stood out to me...."The more adept I became at solving problems, the weaker the school became. We were constantly reacting to difficult situations rather than planning to prevent them, and our solutions were limited by my understanding and experience. Every problem I solved created three or four new ones. We needed a planning process that prevented problems from occurring and engaged the thinking and experience of every faculty member. By pooling over our experiences we made better decisions and learned from one another." (2003, pg 48) How true is this statement! It is good to have a problem solving skill, but if you can set up a process to prevent the problem from starting in the first place, I think the success of the school would be higher. Now thinking maybe this skill is a little high on this list, compared to where it should be... -Kelly


 * I will add though that setting up a process to prevent problems is what problem solving is and a good leaders know how to do that. As Bolman and Deal write "Most people problems stem from structural flaws, not personal limitation or liability. The structural leader is not rigidly authoritarian and does not attempt to solve every problem by issuing orders (though that is sometimes appropriate). Instead, the leader tries to design and implement a process or structure appropriate to the circumstances." (2003, p. 322) This is precisely why I still firmly believe that problem solving remain high on the leadership list. ~Laura