Scott Post on Effective Problem Solving Through Listening and Curiosity

Scott Post, Operational Excellence and Lean Leadership Coach with S Post Consulting, joined Jamie Flinchbaugh on the People Solve Problems podcast to share his insights on effective problem-solving and leadership. With over two decades of experience in leadership, lean methodology, and process improvement, Scott brings valuable perspectives from both his corporate roles and consulting work.

Drawing from his extensive experience, Scott highlighted a common pitfall in problem-solving: poorly defined or misunderstood problems. He shared an example from a company where emotional attachment to a product design issue led to years of ineffective problem-solving attempts. The team kept jumping to solutions without truly understanding the core problem, resulting in wasted time and resources.

When discussing product design challenges, Scott emphasized the importance of customer focus. He suggested spending 80% of time understanding customer requirements and fundamental needs before moving forward with solutions. This thorough understanding makes the actual product creation process more straightforward and effective.

Scott shared valuable insights about handling emotions in problem-solving situations. Drawing from his experience at Pella Windows, he emphasized the importance of leaving position and rank at the door. While acknowledging that human beings are brilliant and creative, he noted that ego and inappropriate use of authority can negatively impact problem-solving efforts. However, when egos are in check and there's good teamwork, emotions can contribute positively to the process.

As a consultant, Scott's approach centers on listening. He believes that solutions often already exist within organizations but may be buried under day-to-day operations and reactionary firefighting. His role involves helping to quiet the noise and bring different voices together, using tools like Kaizen events to facilitate positive outcomes.

He highlighted the importance of curiosity in effective listening. He suggested that the moment we stop being curious and believe we have all the answers is when problem-solving becomes less effective. He advocates for maintaining a childlike curiosity, continuously asking questions and staying open to learning.

In discussing his transition to consulting, he shared that while entrepreneurship presented expected challenges, he was surprised by the different nature of community in his new role. He finds joy in experiencing the unique communities within each client organization, appreciating the diversity of businesses and people he encounters.

For those interested in connecting with Scott Post or learning more about his work in operational excellence and lean leadership coaching, visit www.spostconsulting.com or connect with him on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/scott-post.