In today’s world, solving problems has become easier than ever before. We have access to vast amounts of information, expertise, and resources—often just a few clicks away. Whether it’s a business challenge, a technical issue, or a personal dilemma, there’s a wealth of knowledge to draw from. The tools, strategies, and methods available to us make solving problems more accessible and quicker than at any other time in human history. It often seems we don’t need to be experts ourselves; we can lean on the collective expertise of the world around us.

But here’s the rub: knowing what the problem is—that’s often the real challenge. In many cases, it’s not the lack of solutions but the lack of clarity about the true nature of the issue. When we’re unclear about what’s wrong, the best tools in the world can’t help us. As the old saying goes, “A problem well stated is a problem half solved.” The trouble is, finding that well-stated problem can feel like grasping at shadows.

The Problem Before the Problem

In coaching, a large part of the work is helping individuals and teams get crystal clear on what the real problem is. That clarity is rarely immediate. In fact, it can take time and a surprising amount of creative thinking, experimentation, and exploration. But without this step, we often feel stuck—burning ourselves out trying to solve what seems like the problem, only to realize we were focusing on the wrong thing.

Consider this metaphor: Imagine you’re driving a car that keeps pulling to the left. You might think it’s an issue with the tires, so you keep checking them. You inflate them, balance them, maybe even replace them. But no matter what you do, the car keeps pulling. It’s only when a mechanic investigates further that they discover the problem is with the alignment—not the tires at all. You were fixing symptoms, not the root issue.

Similarly, in life and business, we’re often tempted to fix the most visible symptoms of our challenges. Productivity slipping? We add more systems. Revenue down? We push harder on sales. Struggling with communication? We schedule more meetings. But sometimes, these efforts don’t yield the desired outcome because the root issue is misidentified. The real problem might be cultural, structural, or even personal. And that’s why it feels like no amount of fixing helps.

Uncovering the Real Problem

So how do we get to the real problem? There are several ways of thinking and exploring that can help us dig beneath the surface:

1. Curiosity and Open Inquiry: Before jumping into solutions, it’s important to slow down and ask deeper questions. What’s really happening here? Why does this keep coming up? What assumptions am I making? Sometimes, simply questioning our automatic responses opens new pathways for discovery.

2. Divergent Thinking: Often, our brains naturally jump to solutions or ideas that are familiar. But to uncover the true nature of a problem, we need to think divergently—exploring ideas and perspectives that don’t seem related at first. Creative exercises, mind-mapping, and “what if” scenarios can help generate insights that might otherwise remain hidden.

3. Experimentation: Not every problem will reveal itself with thinking alone. Sometimes, it requires action, testing, and iteration. In business and life, small experiments—changing one variable at a time—can help us see patterns we weren’t aware of before.

4. Reflective Practice: Taking time to reflect on our own biases, habits, and beliefs can provide clues as to why we might be stuck. For instance, what internal narratives might be shaping the way we see this problem? Where are our blind spots?

5. Outside Perspectives: Often, when we’re deeply entrenched in our own problems, it becomes hard to see them clearly. This is where a coach or outside perspective can be invaluable. A fresh set of eyes can notice things that those within the system might overlook.

The Trap of Solving the Wrong Problem

When we’re solving the wrong problem, we not only waste energy but also risk feeling frustrated and demoralized. In some cases, we might get partial results—after all, even a misaligned solution can create a temporary improvement. But if the root issue isn’t addressed, we find ourselves back at square one before long.

Take, for example, a business leader struggling with team morale. They might assume the problem is with their rewards program or office environment, so they make changes there. But after a few months, nothing has really improved. The real issue? It might be a lack of meaningful work, unclear goals, or even trust issues within the team. Until the core problem is uncovered, all other fixes will be short-lived.

This is why problem definition is so important. If we focus on the right problem, solutions become much clearer. And often, solving the right problem feels like a release, where the effort needed suddenly seems lighter because we’re aligned with what truly matters.

Outcomes Over Problems

Ultimately, what we seek are outcomes. Problems are simply the obstacles between where we are and where we want to be. Yet, without a clear understanding of the true nature of the obstacles, the outcomes remain elusive. It’s like navigating a maze without understanding its layout—any step might feel like progress, but until we see the whole picture, we won’t find the exit.

In both personal and professional life, getting clear on the problem requires a mindset shift. It’s less about rushing to fix things and more about embracing curiosity and exploration. The better we get at defining what’s truly standing in our way, the more empowered we are to find effective, lasting solutions.

So, the next time you find yourself spinning your wheels, remember: it’s not always about needing a new solution—it’s about uncovering the real problem. Once you do that, the path forward becomes much more straightforward.