Start with the Right Question
W hen I’m brought into an organization for strategic planning and implementation, it’s usually because something needs to change. Sometimes it’s a process that’s broken. Other times, it’s simply that the organization has outgrown an old way of operating and needs help defining what’s next. In these moments of transition, there’s often a mix of energy and urgency. And without fail, in my very first meeting, at least one person confidently tells me, “We already know how to fix this.” That’s human nature—leaders want to act quickly and move forward. But if an executive has gone to the effort of bringing in an outside perspective, there’s usually more to uncover.
That’s why one of the first questions I always ask is…
“What is the problem we’re trying to solve?”
It sounds deceptively simple, but it’s one of the most powerful tools in strategy work. By asking this question, we uncover whether everyone on the team defines the problem the same way- and, more often than not, they don’t. Taking the time to align on the problem before jumping to solutions helps ensure that everyone is rowing in the same direction from day one.
This practice is especially important in organizational change management and leadership alignment. When teams start from a shared understanding of what truly needs attention, they can create strategies that are both effective and sustainable. It shifts the conversation from symptoms to root causes, from quick fixes to lasting results.
So before diving into solutions, pause and ask the question that can change everything: What problem are we really trying to solve?
I’d love to know – what’s your go-to starter question when you begin a new project or step into a new team dynamic?
