Problems don't go away...work on them anyway!

Leaders often think that if “things get better,” problems will, if not disappear, at least become few in number. Certainly people will not focus on problems so much. People will become more satisfied and feel better about things. Leaders are surprised to learn it does not work that way. When things improve, discontent often follows.

But there is a difference. The problems now are of a higher order, if that is any comfort. Lovett H. Weems, Jr.http://www.churchleadership.com/leadingideas/updates/130501.html

What - Problems - If I go back to pastoring, I will keep a running list of every problem/ concern/ issue. I will keep a running list of who, what, when, where, why and how and I will post this on my office door. I will update it as problems move to a higher order. I will also track and report my emotional process.

So What - I totally missed this one. I thought problems went away. Wrong. Problems remain and require emotional processing. By this I mean the difference a problem makes is where it takes me emotionally as I seek to lead forward into the vision. If I run from the problem, the clue that I'm running from it is I have yet to clearly define it and clearly describe how this problem is impacting me emotionally and why. The clue is the problem is not on my radar. I need to track my emotional processing as carefully as I track any other dynamic unfolding as leadership addresses the problem. Emotional process means how well leadership is defining itself in the face of the problem. "Some will run, but that ain't like me." (Sonny Throckmorton, The way I am) How leadership defines itself is up to the leader of the leaders. If the leader of the leader stays well defined, all is well. I failed to stay well-defined in one or more key areas. I know now what these key areas were and will be, because problems don't go away; and I'll be able to address these "problems" in the future. I've learned something!

Now What - Make the list. Do the due diligence on the list and keep working on it. No secrets. Keep the problems in front of the leadership. Keep the vision and the problems clearly before the leadership and keep my own emotional processes clearly in focus as I work on the problems. Problems don't go away.