Prolution
Have you ever had someone, with all the best intentions, share with you what they had decided was the perfect solution to the problem you were facing? “What you need to do is just get this degree,” “You’d solve the issue if you just got this job,” or “You two would be so perfect together!” Why is it that these proposed solutions so often fail to address the root of the problem? After all, the solution makes so much sense to the one offering it; how could it not work? To answer this question, we have to first understand what the words “problem” and “solution” actually mean.
A problem is defined as “a source of perplexity, distress, or vexation.” On the flipside, a solution is defined as “an action or process of solving a problem.” At first glance this seems like a cut and dry issue: a problem exists and a solution is simply the clear choice to fix the problem. However, if we only observe the “denotation” (the literal or primary meaning of a word) devoid of its “connotation” (an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning), we miss an intrinsic understanding of why the solutions we are often offered fall short of actually solving the problem. If we look closer at the connotation of the word “problem”, we find that it communicates something different than just an objective source of perplexity, distress, or vexation. Attached to the word “problem” is the reality that we can’t help but view them through the lens of our own limited perception. We describe how a certain part of government is failing and then describe the solution to the problem. The “problem” is (pun intended) that oftentimes the solution we propose is inherently flawed due to our limited understanding of the matter (more on this soon). In fact what we perceive to be the problem might not be the actual problem, so when we go to propose a solution, it crumbles from the start because its foundation was built upon the sands of an incorrect perception of the problem. I like to call this a “prolution”. A prolution is a tainted solution derived from an inaccurate perception of the problem. In other words, it’s an attempt at a solution that ends up polluting the environment of its application because it was created with an inaccurate perception of the situation. While prolutions may be helpful in the short term, they are inherently flawed due to their unstable foundation, which means eventually the cracks will show in their effectiveness at solving the problem. And while the line between “solutions” and “prolutions” is blurry due to their distinction being subjective and sometimes contentious, there are still definitive ways we as leaders can advance in our sojourn from prolutions toward solutions.
“A prolution is a tainted solution derived from an inaccurate perception of the problem. In other words, it’s an attempt at a solution that ends up polluting the environment of its application because it was created with an inaccurate perception of the situation.”
I Have a Problem
To begin with, we must have a sit-down with our self and discuss some things. You see, we have a problem, and the problem is we often don’t know what the problem is. I know, it’s a problem. But why is this when we often feel so convinced about how correct we are in the moment? Call it our gut, our reason, or our feelings, but whatever the source is, we just KNOW that we have the right perspective of the issue. As an architect, I’ve learned a thing or two about perspective. Perspective is defined as “the state of existing in space before the eye.” It is a strange phenomenon in which our minds literally create a representation of reality as our best attempt to perceive and interact with the world around us. The only problem is that it is only that, a representation of reality and not reality itself. Perhaps if I put it into perspective for you (pun still intended), to think that our brains could flawlessly perceive the reality of all three dimensions of our physical world, the likes of which expands infinitely in every direction, through two little balls each equipped with a lens smaller than a penny is at a minimum humorous if not outright preposterous. Yet despite the absurd odds of our grossly underequipped eyeballs understanding the intricacies of the problem and, hence, its appropriate solution, we continue proposing solutions to our and others’ perceived problems and wonder why their application fails to end in success, which leads us to our next point.
“To think that our brains could flawlessly perceive the reality of all three dimensions of our physical world, the likes of which expands infinitely in every direction, through two little balls each equipped with a lens smaller than a penny is at a minimum humorous if not outright preposterous.”
It’s Complicated
Prolutions are easy, solutions are not. Prolutions happen quickly and don’t require us to admit that there might be more to the picture than we realize, whereas solutions are birthed from a place of humility and respect for the vastness of reality which our two eyeballs fervently strive to accurately report on (it’s okay, eyeballs, you’re trying). Chances are that, as a leader, you’ve made decisions which have been questioned by others who claim their solution would have been much better. At times they may be right, but many times it is simply an example of how, without the context that only the leader is privy to, their prolutions would not solve the actual problem.
The first thing we can learn from understanding that solutions are complicated is to not jump to conclusions. Whether you are the leader or the led, take a moment next time you think you know the solution and pay context some due respect. While it is true that good leaders must be careful not to fall prey to “analysis paralysis”, too often I have seen the harm that results in leaders mistakenly jumping into a solution because they didn’t do the leg work to develop an effective solution. Try taking just a little bit more time to learn more, maybe get other peoples’ perspective on the matter. I like to think of this way: if I know that someone is perceptive and intelligent and they have a different point of view than me, it’s probably wise for me to try and understand how they came to have that point of view.
“Prolutions are easy, solutions are not.”
Second, have grace for people who disagree with you. After all, it’s complicated. If we keep in mind the inherent limitations in our ability to perceive reality, we can begin to arrive at a place of understanding for those who don’t see the world the same way we do.
“If I know that someone is perceptive and intelligent and they have a different point of view than me, it’s probably wise for me to try and understand how they came to have that point of view.”
Finally, be wary of easy solutions. I’ve found that leaders often try and paint our nuanced world in black and white, as if every vote, every bill, every plan were a cut and dry matter, but that’s rarely the case. Solutions can be simple but only prolutions are easy.
Creative Work
Once we understand that our ability to perceive reality is limited and that problems are often complicated, we can get to work at creating solutions, and believe me, it’s a lot of work. It used to be so easy for me to prove someone wrong who disagreed with me (in my head, that is). I was perfectly content describing what a forest looked like with my nose buried in the bark of a single tree. Only once I began to step back did I begin to understand how much work it would take to describe the forest as my retreat began to reveal to me things I had not seen with my nose buried in the bark. But how do we do this practically?
The best solution I’ve found to improving our solutions is to learn from the scientific method: Observe, Research, Hypothesize, Experiment, and Conclude. First, “Observation”. This is our initial perception of a problem (we’ll find out later whether it is perceived or actual). After observing the problem, you then “Research” the issue. This could be asking for others’ opinions, reading books or articles on the matter, whatever helps you better understand the complexities at hand. Just be sure not to leave out the opinions that you might not agree with. You then “Hypothesize” a possible solution. It might be that your solution is actually a prolution, which you will find out once you “Experiment” and test whether or not your solution works. Very rarely do we get things right the first time, so you might discover you unintentionally gave a prolution and you need to go back and do some more research. One tip on how to increase your chances of discovering the solution sooner is by asking lots of “What if?” questions. “What if I had been born into her circumstances?”, “What if I he knows something I don’t?”, or “What if there’s a hole somewhere in my train of logic?”. Only once we’ve done the hard work of overcoming the flaws in our ability to perceive reality by accepting the complexity of the situation can we “Conclude” that our solution really is an effective one.
Takeaways
We might never have the ability to perceive reality from all points of view, but there are ways we can begin to move away from creating prolutions to creating solutions. Here are three C’s for you to remember:
Accept COMPLEXITY
Solutions can be simple but only prolutions are easy. Accepting the fact that there are a lot of facts is a great place to start.
Delay CONCLUSION.
Developing a good solution requires doing more work. Utilizing the scientific method will guide and challenge you in creating effective solutions.
Embrace CREATIVITY
Creative people are able to perceive patterns and then act on them. Asking “What If” questions is one way to help you perceive something you might not have otherwise.
Our world seems to be so full of leaders enacting prolutions that leave us continually facing the problem we thought we had addressed. Accepting complexity, delaying conclusion, and embracing creativity are three powerful ways to expand your capacity as a leader so that you can create solutions that actually address objective needs. It’s time to stop settling for mediocre results when we have the ability to create a better world through our leadership.