Take a panoramic view of problems

Have you ever attempted to fix a problem and before you’re finished, the situation is actually worse than when you began?

If we’re honest, avoiding denial and minimization, we can have a meaningful conversation surrounding the fact we’ve almost all been there and done that before.

Let’s face it, the path to hell is paved with good intentions. It happens. We mean well, but our good intentions actually hurt more than help.

What if we think differently about approaching problem solving adapting a panoramic paradigm visualizing the whole picture before acting?

I used to have this camera with a panoramic feature. It was amazing to see the difference when the lens switched to panoramic view. What if our view of others changed to a panoramic perspective, allowing problem solving from an entirely different paradigm? What if we switched the button on our lens to become big picture problem solvers?

Talk about damage control on steroids. A lot more people might sustain less hurt at our hands.

This concept is like the delicate process butterflies undergo to become beautiful creatures. Metamorphosis is necessary for the caterpillar’s transformational journey.

How much do I understand about the morphing of butterflies? Not a lot, but I do know at the critical point the butterfly is emerging from its lengthy cocoon stay, caught between life and death, it must be allowed to struggle for its life; without external interventions. It’s stuck, vigorously flapping its wings. But if anything disturbs this process, any chance for realizing life apart from its cocoon dies. Without struggling, the blood flow caused by the furious wing flapping isn’t possible.

Understanding the big picture changes our problem-solving approach.

My oldest son, 2 at the time, severely burned his hand. And because of the lack of big picture problem solving endured unnecessary pain. I begged emergency room staff not to pop the huge blister on his hand, but the attending doctor and staff forced me into one room and my wife into another. While we were being interrogated, the blister was popped.

Days later, in the same hospital, a specialist explained what an atrocious mistake was made demanding to know who did it. When I explained it was an emergency room doctor in her hospital, she looked mortified.

She excused herself, leaving the room headed for the E.R. I would love to have been a fly on the wall for that conversation.

Because of someone’s good intentions, my son faced multiple skin grafts and treatments in attempt to undo the damage by someone thinking they were fixing his problem.

As I write, I’m sitting having my special coffee tea latte. Thinking about this reminds me of meeting someone at Starbucks near my office. This person, under duress, refused office visits, so we met for coffee.

I listened intently, postponing judgments for understanding and attempting to objectively gain a big-picture view. Inferring their desperation, describing what they thought was depression, all the medicines they were on and off and unusual irritability, tiredness and ongoing headaches.

The thought occurred to me, “What if they need glasses?” I noticed they constantly squinted throughout our coffee conversation.

So I asked, “Would you agree to an exam allowing an optometrist to dilate your eyes?”

With some hesitation, they agreed as I explained it’s possible to have astigmatism and it could be causing the problems.

That was the only meeting we had. Weeks later, a call excitedly explained an optometrist diagnosed severe astigmatism and prescribed glasses. All the headaches were gone and everything else was measurably better.

Perhaps big picture problem solving isn’t about fixing others as much as it’s about helping them grasp their problem.

I’ve parted with my panoramic camera, but it’s helped me think differently about fixing others’ problems.

The panoramic lens empowers me to talk with people instead of at people. Being present panoramically engages everyone involved in seeing the whole picture before taking actions causing irrevocable damage.

It’s critical to place others’ pain into proper perspective. Big picture problem solvers don’t fix others, they provide new vantage points invigorating their escaping trauma inducing environments; ensuring they morph and discover all the potential power of their personhood.

What if we stopped trying to fix others? It’s so arrogant. Instead, accept their struggles as part of the transformation process, renewing their thinking and life. That would make us participants in the solution instead of perpetuators of the problem.

Now that’s panoramic problem solving at its best.