Wednesday ยท Continuous Improvement
Define the Problem Before the Fix
Name what is failing. Then choose a small, visible improvement that addresses the cause.
Added to the Library September 30, 2026
Before you solve problems, name them.
Hi everyone,
This week's Continuous Improvement Brief is about slowing down long enough to name the problem.
Fixes feel productive. Change the schedule. Add a checklist. Coach the person. Hold another meeting. Activity starts quickly, but the result stays the same because nobody stopped to define what was actually failing.
Before you solve problems, name them.
Start with the current state. What is the actual problem here? What are people frustrated with? What is being avoided or overlooked? What patterns keep repeating?
This is not about blaming individuals. It is about spotting the roots.
Write the problem down in one sentence. Do not include the solution yet. Do not include the person you are frustrated with. If the sentence cannot stand without a name or a proposed fix, you probably have not defined the problem.
Once the problem is clear, choose one or two places where a small, visible step can create traction. Your goal here is not perfection. It is traction. A small, visible step builds credibility and signals that change is not just talk.
Fixing a team starts with fixing your focus.
This week, take one issue your team has discussed more than once. Write one sentence that names the problem without naming a person, assigning blame, or prescribing the solution. Then decide whether the fix you were planning still fits.
Do not solve the loudest thing in the room. Solve the thing that keeps bringing it back.
Lead well,
Marc Bradburry II
Big Bearded Ginger