Business is being conducted at “Warp Speed.” There are literally thousands of decisions and actions that each person must take each day. Competition demands quick actions to preserve and expand business opportunities. Even personal lives seem so busy that it is all consuming (no time for quality of life activities). When we meet problems or challenges in work or life, do we apply a Band-Aid or do we look for and apply a Cure?

The problems or challenges we encounter occur and extend from many sources. Sources like customers, peers, colleagues, superiors, products, services, and especially family members. If you react to all these problems with Band-Aids – quick fixes to placate the effect - then the problems and challenges will re-occur. It’s psychologically fun fighting fires and putting them out. There is actually a temporary feeling of energizing engagement, fleeting challenge, satisfaction, and accomplishment. But tomorrow, the problem or challenge will re-appear. Not a fun or productive use of resources or time if repeated often.

What we want to do is take the problems and challenges and Cure them. Cure them so they don’t happen again. In that way we get greater control over our work and lives and can focus on the really important activities that bring happiness and joy to life. How do we cure problems and challenges?

Here are the steps to the cure:

1. Identify the problem or challenge clearly.
2. Search and identify the “Root Cause” of the situation.
3. Identify all the possible solutions or Cures (brainstorm more than ten).
4. Analyze all solutions or Cures and pick the best one.
5. Plan the implementation of the best solution.
6. Apply and measure the results of solution.
7. If it works, institutionalize the solution (include in work instructions, procedures, employee handbooks, etc., you get the idea).
8. Begin the process over again at step 1.

The cure process should be accomplished fairly quickly. At the end of the day, take ten to fifteen minutes, ask yourself what the biggest most impactful problem or challenge was, and follow the process of “Curing” the problem or challenge. Say your Cure rate is 50%. That means that you will solve and prevent 120 problems a year. If you add that up you will find a huge leap in your effectiveness, productivity, and a much improved work environment.

Spending just ten to fifteen minutes a day to “Cure” problems at the root cause level can yield huge positive results for yourself and your company in the next and subsequent years. This change is really worth your time, effort, and attention. Start today!