Finding Solutions to the hardest Problems

As a leader, what skills do you draw on to solve problems?

Your problem-solving process is principled.

• The participants are the problem-solvers.
• The goal is a wise outcome reached efficiently and amicably.

You separate the people from the problem.

• Be soft on the people, hard on the problem.

Focus on interests, not positions.

• Explore interests.
• Avoid having a bottom line.

Invent options for mutual gain.

• Develop multiple options to choose from; decide later.

Insist on using objective criteria.

• Try to reach a result based on standards independent of will.
• Reason and be open to reason; yield to principle; not pressure.

From:  Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher, William Ury, & Bruce Patton
Published by: Penguin Books