What to do when you’re part of the problem

No one wants to be part of the problem.

Everyone wants to be part of the solution.

Regardless of where you lie, we are all in it together.

In the moment of whatever disaster is facing you, it can be extremely difficult to ascertain where you stand.

It’s generally not until the dust has settled that we see where we really were when it all happened.

But to know where you are, it’s important to understand what each one means.

Part of the Problem

When we say we are part of the problem, our minds immediately go to “something is wrong with me, I’m making this happen”.

But that is not the case.

The problem can be huge and all-encompassing, while our involvement can be minimal. In the case of a forest fire for instance, we can be part of the problem – “the fire is heading for my house” – but NOT a contributor to the problem. 

This is an important distinction.

Contributing to the problem and being a part of it are entirely separate paths to working through issues.

Even if you are a contributor, this doesn’t mean you are the sole source of what is going wrong.

It simply means you are a part of it – and now you need to find a way out of it.

At that moment, when you realize this, you have the best view in the house of what is wrong and what needs to be fixed.

You are in the best position to take that leap and turn it around.

Part of the Solution

Everyone wants to be part of the solution.

Everyone wants to jump in and help.

Everyone wants to be part of the team that makes something happen.

Everyone wants to be the hero.

But not everyone can.

When working on a problem within a large team, there are many roles to play.

Soon, it becomes easy to see that not everyone can be part of the solution.

If there are too many people involved, too many opinions being offered, more meetings than action, then no one is part of the solution.

They simply become another symptom of the problem. 

Sports teams have a limit on how many people can be on the field or court at a time while the rest wait to “sub in”.

Better players might be on the sidelines.

But they can’t all be on the field trying to get a goal at the same time.

It would cause chaos, pandemonium, and insanity with a complete lack of strategy.

How do you plan for having more than two players on the field?

If you are part of the solution, make sure you are indeed, a part of it – and not contributing to the problem.

Part of the Landscape

Of all three of these, I find the option to being part of the landscape to be the scariest when applied to a situation.

When you are part of the problem, you know where you stand.

When you are part of the solution, you have an idea of where you need to go.

But when you are part of the landscape, you know neither.

You are simply…there.

Waiting for something.

People who are there, waiting for someone else to react, to tell them what to do, where to go – they aren’t part of the team, they aren’t engaged, they aren’t looking to jump in.

They are there waiting, holding back and not ready to take a leap or to contribute.

Perhaps they’re worried what others will think if they try something.

Or maybe they aren’t sure.

Whatever it is, they have melted into the landscape and can’t make a decision.

In a situation like this, the responsibility shifts to the people who are part of the problem and solution to bring them to the forefront, to encourage them to talk.

If no one is able to do that for you, start by raising your hand.

Start by asking a question.

When people see you this way, they’ll know that you can bring value to solving a problem.

Good examples of people who are part of the landscape are stakeholders or end users of a product.

They might not know all the problems and solutions around them, but they know the impact they can have.

Their viewpoints can immensely help during improvements.

Final Thoughts

At the end of any situation, it’s easy to say which side you stood on.

Hindsight gives that to you.

But looking back after every event is not going to help you.

We won’t grow from it.

We won’t get better.

Stop measuring your contributions against the success of the situation.

Instead, take a step back when the situation is unfolding.

Look at where you are, who you are, and what you are contributing.

That’s when we start to see whether we are part of the problem, part of the solution, or simply part of the landscape.