You've Got a Problem You Have to Deal With
Something’s gone bad on your team. A missed deadline, a process isn’t working, or two people just can’t seem to get along. You know your boss needs to hear about it.
So what do you tell your boss?
Most new leaders walk in with the problem. That makes sense. You’re being honest and keeping your boss in the loop. But here’s what I tell every new leader I work with: when you bring a problem to your boss, bring a solution with it.
Your boss has a lot on their plate. When you show up with only a problem, you’ve handed them one more thing to carry. When you show up with a possible solution, you’ve shown them you’re a true leader.
Your solution doesn’t have to be perfect.
This is the part people miss. You don’t need the right answer. You don’t even need the answer your boss thinks is the way to go. Bring a couple options and say which one you’d lean toward and why. That’s enough. Just have an opinion.
Don’t wait until you’ve figured it out.
One more thing. Please don’t sit on a problem because you haven’t solved it yet. If it’s urgent, raise it early and bring your best thinking so far. This is what you can say:
“Here’s what’s happening, here’s what I’ve tried, and here’s what I’m considering.”
That “considering” part is what builds trust. Over time, your boss starts to see you as someone who handles things, not someone who just hands things off.
I walk through all of this in a short video here. It’s about a minute long and worth a watch before your next one-on-one.
Try it this week: Before you raise the next issue with your boss, ask yourself, “What would I do if this were solely my call?” Then bring that answer with you.