Leading through Problems: How Great Leaders Create Long-Term Solutions
- Kristine Goebel
- Jul 31
- 2 min read
One of the most valuable leadership skills is the ability to solve problems in a way that lasts.
As part of our Leadership and Professional Development Series, we help teams build a mindset that doesn’t just fix issues in the moment but creates a process that’s repeatable, collaborative, and future-proof.
Here’s the reality: Problems will always show up. The goal is to solve them better each time.
Rethinking Problem-Solving
Sustainable problem-solving is a reflection of the leader. A leader’s approach to challenges says everything about their mindset, desired team culture, and leadership strengths.
Here’s how great leaders create long-term solutions:
Clarity: First seek understanding.
Great leaders resist the urge to jump into action before fully naming the problem. They ask questions that dig deeper: What’s really at stake here? What are we trying to accomplish that feels out of reach? Clarity creates alignment, and without it, even the smartest solution will miss the mark.
Creativity: Before you think about limitations, think big.
We encourage leaders to explore how they’d solve the problem if time, money, or roadblocks weren’t in the way. This “abundance mindset” unlocks ideas that are often more doable than they first appear. Creative thinking is a leadership asset for innovation and reimagining what’s possible.
Focus: Get clear about the path forward.
Leaders with a sustainable mindset know how to channel energy and creativity into a clear, actionable path. They help their teams zoom in on what can be done right now while still attaching the work to a bigger goal.
Accountability: Every solution needs an owner.
Generating ideas is important, and driving them forward is something entirely different. Clarity around ownership is essential. Who will ensure the solution sticks? Who will notice if it doesn’t? Make sure only one person is responsible for seeing it through, while the team is sharing the commitment to provide support along the way.
Adaptability: Real problem-solving doesn’t end with a solution.
Leaders committed to sustainability build in time to revisit, refine, and adjust. They ask their teams, Is this still working? What needs to shift? With a mindset of continuous improvement, they treat every solution as a step forward and always growing in flexibility, not rigidity.
When these traits come together—clarity, creativity, focus, accountability, and adaptability—problems are solved and systems are created that grow stronger every time you use them.
Try It With Us: Whiteboard Wednesday: The Solutions Lab
Want to see this in action with your workplace problem?
Whiteboard Wednesday is our hands-on solution lab:
1-hour session with one of our coaches
We guide your team through a problem-solving methodology
You leave with a solution and the model to use again
Need more help next time? You can always bring us back in to facilitate.
Great leaders don’t just solve problems.
They teach their teams how to solve them well, again and again.
Let’s build that rhythm, together.
To schedule your Whiteboard Wednesday, email us at hello@accompanysuite.com or click the button below. We’ll help you turn your challenge into a system that actually works and it’s one your team can own.
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