Problem Solving For Leaders

Problems, difficulties, and unexpected challenges are often hard lessons for young leaders. Problems are not our enemy but a leader’s best friend. Problems generate opportunity for leaders to lead, because leaders love finding solutions to all types of problems. Problems should never frustrate us, but should be seen as moments for redemption, healing, restitution, reconciliation, hope and a variety of other things.

The greatest problem faced by humanity is the issue of human sin. It was a perplexing problem for humanity which God deals with swiftly in the incarnation, sacrificial death, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. To humanity restitution of a broken relationship with God seemed impossible reconcile, however to God this was an opportunity to bring about meaning to both justice and mercy as well as punishment and forgiveness simultaneously. Problem solved in one word, “Sacrifice.”

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

PARADE is a classic acronym that guides you through a short strategic process for dealing with problems of all kinds, including day-to-day issues. It is especially helpful when you feel perplexed about the process on dealing with a problem. Here is the PARADE process:

• Problem
• Anticipated Consequence
• Role
• Action
• Decision-Making Rationale
• End-Result

Here are how these 6 factors lay out in question format:

• Problem:
  • “What is the problem you or your organization faced?”
• Anticipated Consequence:
  • “What consequence did (or will) you or your organization face if this problem continued without resolution?”
• Role:
  • “What was your role in the problem?”
• Action:
  • “What action did you take?”
  • “What did you do?”
  • “What did you not do?”
• Decision-Making Rationale:
  • “What other options did you consider?”
  • “Why didn’t you choose the other options?”
  • “Why this specific decision?”
  • “What quantitative did you consider?”
  • “What qualitative data did you consider?”
• End-Result:
  • “What was the outcome of bullets 1-5 above?”