For much of my life and career, I tried to avoid problems. Most of the time, this behavior was unconscious. As a CEO, for example, I felt like I was doing a great job when everything was running smoothly, with few visible issues to tackle. “Ahhh, smooth sailing. Let’s keep that going,” I’d think.

I also had an unconscious negative bias toward employees who brought up problems. Internally, I’d question their focus:

“Really? This doesn’t seem like a big deal. Why are you even bringing this up? Shouldn’t you be focused on bigger opportunities? Why am I paying you so much?” Outwardly, I’d respond with, “OK, what’s your solution?”—but with impatience. I rarely took the time to truly engage with their thinking.

But here’s the thing: problems don’t fix themselves. They compound and eventually turn into a crisis. It’s like a forest prone to wildfires—if you let the undergrowth build up, a single spark can create an inferno.

Problems Are the Path to Progress

I’ve come to realize that every problem, when recognized and organized properly, is actually a stepping stone to progress. If you build a culture where your team learns to identify, organize, and tackle problems systematically, your company becomes a progress machine. Instead of ignoring issues or reacting too late, your organization proactively eliminates friction and accelerates forward momentum.

One of the biggest mindset shifts a leader can make is to amplify what isn’t working well. Take what’s hidden under the surface and bring it into the open. Don’t tolerate small inefficiencies chipping away at operational excellence. If someone sees an issue, make it a priority and empower them to solve it.

“But Won’t This Create a Culture of Complaining?”

I get it—this idea can feel terrifying to a CEO. You might worry:

  • Won’t this encourage people to focus on small issues instead of the big picture?
  • Won’t this create finger-pointing instead of solutions?
  • Won’t we end up problem-solving ourselves out of jobs?

The answer is yes—if you do it wrong. But if you do it right, systematic problem-solving becomes a superpower. It’s at the heart of Organizational Physics, touching strategy, culture, structure, processes, and people.

If you’re like me and your instinct is to keep problems at bay—stop. Lean in. Start identifying problems early—big and small—and celebrate them. They reveal the path to progress.

Every Solution Creates New Problems

Remind your team that solving one problem always creates the next. It’s never a one-and-done fix—it’s a continuous cycle of progress and adaptation. The key is to embrace problems, not avoid them, and take a systematic approach to solving them—so each solution leads to new and better challenges that drive growth.

PS. A Powerful Tool to Help You Systematically Solve Problems

I have a proven tool that can help you identify and amplify problems in a smart, systematic way: the Entropy Survey.

Run this survey with a cross-functional team, and it will help you pinpoint both existing and emerging problems, organize them, and identify their root causes—so you can tackle them more effectively.

🚀 New customers can register for a free 30-day trial here: https://organizationalphysics.com/entropy-survey/