SOlution Giving

PROBLEM INQUIRY

Let us examine the solution giving end first. Here we give or receive solutions without any exploration or inquiry about what the problem might be$.$ When you give someone a problem or ask for advice, you receive a solution. It is as simple as that. At this extreme end, the person responding does not ask any questions, he only gives solutions. We have all heard "pet solutions." These can be offered regardless of what the problem might be$.$ Here are a few pet solutions:

"Don't worry about it$."$

"Sleep on it$."$

"Time heals all wounds."

"You made your bed, now lie in it$."$

"You'll get over it$."$

"Ignore it and it'll go away."

These are typically given as universal solutions.

In industry, female employees comment that their male coworkers are typically solution givers. Their male bosses and colleagues, they claim, do not listen to their problem before offering their own solution or volunteering to fix the problem for the female coworker. They find this annoying and wish men would stop doing it and try to listen to their problem without giving a solution. Their solution giving does not help, they say, and often comes across as a superior message from the male. Let us read an example of a supervisor giving a solution to one of his employees.

Darla goes to her supervisor with a problem:

"Say, Henry, have you got a moment?" Darla asks as she meets Henry in the hallway. "I have a problem I want to ask you about."

"Sure, Darla," replies Henry. "What's up$?"$