Stop Fixing Symptoms: The Power of Finding the Real Problem

Why the best leaders don’t rush to solutions.

“We’re having communication problems.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard those words over the years. Not long ago, I was facilitating an Organizational Effectiveness session with a leadership team that had been wrestling with the same issue for nearly three years. They had rewritten procedures, held more meetings, provided additional training, and sent countless emails. Yet the frustration remained. About thirty minutes into our conversation, I asked, “If communication isn’t the problem…what else might be true?” The room became quiet. Someone finally said, “Maybe communication isn’t the issue. Maybe no one actually knows who owns the decision.” Everything changed. The organization didn’t have a communication problem. They had a decision clarity problem. Organizations rarely struggle because people don’t work hard enough. They struggle because they’re solving the wrong problem.

Slow Down To Move Forward

At Talking Results, we often say: “Slow down to move forward.” When problems feel urgent, leaders naturally want to act quickly. But treating symptoms is not the same as solving problems.

The RESULTS Compass™: Direction Before Speed

The RESULTS Compass™ reminds us that before choosing a direction, we need to understand where we actually are.

The RESULTS™ Framework in Action

Reveal Reality – Understand what’s really happening. Evaluate – Ask, “What conditions allowed this to happen?” Strategize – Identify solutions that address the root cause. Unite – Bring the right people together. Lead Action – Create clear commitments. Track Progress – Measure and adjust. Sustain Success – Build systems that last.

The RESULTS™ Framework in Action

When someone says, “The problem is…”, write it down and ask, “If that’s the symptom…what might be creating it?” Keep asking until the conversation moves beyond blame and into understanding. The first answer is rarely the real answer.

The RESULTS™ Framework in Action

1. What keeps happening over and over? 

2. What changed? 

3. Who experiences this differently?

4. What process allows this problem to continue? 

5. What assumptions are we making? 

6. If this problem disappeared tomorrow, what would be different?

The RESULTS™ Framework in Action

• Before We Solve It… Ask This Question
• Reveal Reality What do we actually know?
• Evaluate Why might this be happening?
• Strategize Which root cause will create the greatest impact if addressed?
• Unite Who else needs to be part of this conversation?
• Lead Action What commitment are we making today?
• Track Progress How will we know we’re improving?
• Sustain Success How do we make this our new way of working?

Root Cause Reflection Card

• What evidence supports our conclusion?
• What assumptions are we making?
• What pattern keeps repeating?
• What changed?
• What system may be contributing?
• What process allows this to continue?
• If we solved this permanently, what else would improve?

If your team can’t confidently answer those questions, you’re probably looking at a symptom—not the root cause.

The Difference Great Leaders Make

Organizations that create lasting improvement aren’t the ones that move the fastest. They’re the ones that pause long enough to understand, replace assumptions with curiosity, replace blame with learning, and replace quick fixes with meaningful conversations.

Final Thoughts

Better conversations create better decisions, and better decisions create better results. Pause. Be curious. Ask a better question. The organizations that achieve lasting success are the ones that learn to solve the right problem.

Talking Results, LLC partners with leaders and organizations to align people, processes, and purpose through facilitated conversations that drive meaningful, lasting change. Using the RESULTS™ Framework and the RESULTS Compass™, we help teams move beyond surface-level challenges, identify root causes, and develop practical solutions that improve communication, strengthen culture, and enhance organizational performance. Our approach equips organizations with the tools and strategies they need to create measurable, sustainable results long after the facilitation ends.

Visit our website to learn more about our services, or schedule a complimentary discovery call to explore how Talking Results can support your organization in achieving lasting success.