“Problems are like mushrooms…”

“… When it’s dark and rainy, they multiply. Under bright light, they diminish.”

Clarity, through disciplined systems, becomes operating advantage in any working organization. To shine light on problems,

1. Devise a System to Uncover Issues, systematically

That means:

• The 4 Fs: Frame the question, Fact Finding, Final decision, Follow-up

• Holding weekly Level 10 meetings where problems are surfaced intentionally

• Keeping a clear Issues List where no concern is buried

Because if you build problem-finding into the rhythm of the business, clarity becomes embedded.

2. Ensure the System Consistently Works

A system is only as good as its execution. This means:

• Leadership must model radical honesty - bringing light to issues without blame

• Accountability must be embedded - not just identifying problems, but solving them quickly

• People must be trained to recognize patterns of dysfunction and speak up with data

When this system runs well, problems don’t fester in silence - they rise, get discussed, and get resolved.

Inspirations

“The Family Firm”

“Traction”