Today, leaders are increasingly emerging as problem-solvers. This is crucial in industries where innovation drives competitive advantage. This new leadership style challenges the assumption that you need to become more generalized as you climb the corporate ladder. Instead, remaining laser-focused on solving problems provides a path to becoming a more effective leader.
The online Master of Science (M.S.) – Organizational Leadership program from Eastern Washington University (EWU) equips you with the problem-solving skills to improve organizations, develop leadership abilities and grow in your career. EWU’s 44-credit-hour curriculum covers the social and emotional dimensions of leadership, organizational communication, conflict resolution and leadership for social justice. Exploring these subjects in depth sharpens your capacity to solve problems and lead through complexity.
What is Problem-solving Leadership? A New Model for Innovation Leadership
Problem-solving leadership occurs when people with a passion for seeking and solving complex issues develop into leaders. This approach is distinct from traditional career progression, where leadership roles come from a title granted by management. Problem-solving leaders take the initiative to solve the organization’s most pressing challenges, and others naturally rally around them.
For example, consider a person passionate about eliminating bots from social media. This person dives headfirst into solving this issue and recruits a few fellow coders to help them. They make a website describing their mission and inadvertently hear from investors interested in solving this same problem. Now, this person becomes the de facto leader, not because of a title or formal authority, but simply because they identified a problem and took action.
As opposed to being granted a leadership role, problem-solving leaders take the initiative to address challenging issues. As they work to solve the problem, they encourage others to do the same, creating an adaptable, innovative and collaborative culture.
McKinsey research on thriving organizations describes this new model as one where individuals step up as needed and step aside when another team member’s expertise better fits the challenge. Rather than being tied to a title, leadership becomes a shared activity, driven by expertise and focused on the problem at hand.
This form of leadership is most common in industries where disruption is rewarded, the tech world being a prime example. Let’s compare this to traditional leadership methods using organizations known for rigid structures.
Top-down Management: How Traditional Leadership Structures Work
Military and police organizations are the most common examples of traditional top-down management structures. In these organizations, people can collaborate in small groups. However, they may also have to work in groups that number in the hundreds. For this reason, organizations establish comprehensive ranking and leadership models. Everybody has a strict role, and there is a very long chain of hierarchical command.
While these structures may work for organizations like the military, they tend to make the process of decision-making and problem-solving very difficult. Part of the reason is that so many people need to weigh in on an issue. According to Asana’s guide on management approaches, top-down decision-making excels at speed and clarity of direction, but limits flexibility when conditions change quickly.
In particular, the military uses a system known as the military decision-making process (MDMP). To make decisions, they tend to leverage multi-step models with varying degrees of sub-steps. In some cases, these models can end up being over 50 steps long. While these models might be good for structural organizations, they do not encourage out-of-the-box thinking.
It is unlikely for a problem-solving leader to flourish in this environment. For example, let’s say that you are a military bomb diffuser that excels in high-pressure scenarios. The more you succeed, the more the organization will direct you into a leadership role that encourages you to share your knowledge with others. In this scenario, you get pulled from your position as a problem-solver and placed into a traditional leadership role instead.
Another key distinction between traditional top-down decision-making and evolving top-down problem-solving models is that leaders rarely get their hands dirty in traditional leadership roles. For example, the military lieutenant would never strap on boots and join a mission themselves. Rather, their position is back at home base directing their forces. Compare this to a problem-solving leader of a tech startup. The problem-solving leader likely not only joins the employees doing the manual coding but also prefers it.
Looking Forward: Disruptive Leadership and the Future of Problem-Solving
The definition of “leadership” will always be in a state of flux. However, problem-solving leadership and disruptive leadership are emerging as valid approaches for professionals who want to continue to chase their passions and solve problems without the fear that this may prohibit their career goals.
In fact, going out of your way to solve problems within your organization may be an out-of-the-box way to become a leader. In other words, instead of waiting for a promotion, start working to improve your organization and encourage others to do the same. McKinsey research reinforces this point: As routine tasks become increasingly automated, the remaining work demands higher levels of innovation and collaboration, precisely the capabilities that problem-solving leaders bring.
Developing the skills to lead through complexity requires dedicated study in organizational theory, communication and change management. EWU’s online Master of Science – Organizational Leadership program prepares you with the leadership philosophy, conflict resolution strategies and team development skills needed to lead effectively — whether you work within a traditional hierarchy or an organizational structure driven by problem-solving and a growth mindset.
Learn more about Eastern Washington University’s online M.S. in Organizational Leadership program.
