Solving problems in good humour

One day someone asked me a question that kept me awake for days: “How do you stay sane in your role as a problem funnel?”

Whoever runs projects, teams or companies spends a good part of their time receiving problems: other people’s, the ones nobody saw coming, the ones that all arrive together at six on a Friday. Turning them into opportunities: some say it is an art, others an attitude. I believe it can be learned.

I tried to line up the ten things that help me most. They are not only for people who do my job: they work for anyone with a bad day, an uphill project or a family to keep on track.

1. Accept who you are and embrace what you do best. Even if it wasn’t your childhood dream: there is always room for that in your “plan B” life. Problems are solved better with the talents you have than with the ones you wish you had.
2. Down with the “TripAdvisor effect”. If something isn’t right: say so. You know the guest who leaves a bad review without ever mentioning the problem during their stay? They take away any chance to put it right. If you don’t say it, it is 100% certain that nothing will change. At work, at home, in your block of flats.
3. Make a point of finding one joy a day. Even on bad days. Especially on bad days: that’s when you need it most.
4. If you really couldn’t find one: invent it. All it takes is a little creativity and, above all, being kind to yourself.
5. Sometimes things just go wrong. Today it feels like a drama; tonight a solution will come to you. A spritz helps (overdoing the alcohol doesn’t).
6. Mistakes are part of the journey. What matters is how we react. No panic. Say sorry. Find a solution. In that order.
7. Not problems, but opportunities. Change the name and you will find the way out sooner. Don’t ask why: that’s just how the brain works. A “problem” asks for someone to blame; an “opportunity” asks for an idea.
8. Every problem we solve is a step towards knowing we can handle anything. And it is a journey that teaches us, first of all, to handle ourselves: our reactions, our emotions.
9. Be strong, but don’t be afraid of feeling fragile. Be authoritative, but don’t worry if you don’t have all the answers. Honesty and transparency always pay off. “I don’t know, but I’ll find out” is worth more than a made-up answer.
10. Last, and most important: there are no ten commandments. There are no manuals. There are no truths. Everyone makes their own journey, but sharing experiences always helps.

When it’s too much

Good humour is not an obligation, and none of these ten things replaces rest, an honest conversation with someone you trust or, when needed, the help of a professional. Breathing, walking, switching off for an evening are not luxuries: they are part of the job. Asking for help is not a defeat: it is one way of solving the problem.