Thanks to LQW subscriber, Beth Ann Taylor from SH Basnight & Sons in North Carolina for this week’s quote. It’s an excellent segue from last week’s quote on looking for good. And though short and simple, it provides a strong game plan for handling tough, complex problems.
“Find a bright spot and clone it” comes from a book excerpt that Beth Ann sent me. It’s entitled “Switch: Don’t Solve Problems–Copy Success” and was written by Fast Company columnists Chip Heath and Dan Heath. Here are a few excerpts from the excerpt.
- “A problem may look hopelessly complex. But there’s a game plan that can yield movement on even the toughest issues. And it starts with locating a bright spot — a ray of hope.”
- “Our focus, in times of change, goes instinctively to the problems at hand. What’s broken and how do we fix it? This troubleshooting mind-set serves us well — most of the time. In times of change, this mind-set will backfire.”
- “If we need to make major changes…. A lot of things are probably wrong….The “report card” for our diet, or our marriage, or our business, is full of Cs and Ds and Fs. So if you ask yourself, What’s broken and how do I fix it?, you’ll simply spin your wheels.””
- “We need to ask ourselves a question that sounds simple but is, in fact, deeply unnatural: What’s working and how can we do more of it?”
- “…to make progress on a change, we need to provide crystal-clear direction — show people where to go, how to act, what destination to pursue. And that’s why bright spots are so essential: They provide the road map.”
- In times of change…”Our rational brain has a problem focus when it needs a solution focus. If you are a manager, ask yourself, What is the ratio of the time you spend solving problems versus scaling successes?”
- “These flashes of success, these bright spots, can provide our road map for action — and the hope that change is possible.”
The excerpt is full of excellent examples. Here’s a link to it. Or use this URL: http://www.fastcompany.com/1514493/switch-dont-solve-problems-copy-success
Meanwhile, get directions and links below for printing and posting this week’s quote as a reminder to find a bright spot and clone it.
And if you haven’t already done so, sign up here for a Monday morning BOOST for you and your team – the Leadership Quote of the Week delivered to your email box each Monday morning.
Use the above quote as background or wallpaper for your computer with just three clicks.
1. Click on the image above or use this link.
2. Right click on the image that appears.
3. On the pull down menu that appears, click on “set as background”. Voila!
There’s still plenty of room on the left side of the screen for all your shortcut icons.
Note: If you don’t like your new wallpaper, go to your control panel. Select “Display”. Select “Desktop”. And then choose from the designs offered.”
Or print the PDF versions below. Just click on the printer icon in lower right corner of the image.
Problems with link? Try this.
One last note: In addition to bite-size bits for daily learning and reinforcement, we also offer on-site workshops and individual coaching, all tailored to the needs of the individual or organization. Contact Jan to discuss your needs: Jan@BusinessClassInc.com
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2013 
