Instead of dealing with problems, it’s more useful to direct attention towards finding solutions.
Mistakes can quickly occur in the workplace, caused either by us or by someone else.
But what benefit does blaming bring? 😓
Usually none. We only waste time and energy, while the problem remains unsolved.
To illustrate, let me mention an example from the autobiography of Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar, perhaps best known for animated films like “Toy Story,” “Finding Nemo,” and “Up.”
Catmull describes how during the production of “Toy Story,” all the film’s data was accidentally deleted due to a mistake. They also didn’t have working backups. 😳
Despite the panic, Catmull decided not to seek blame. 😡
Instead, he gathered the team and encouraged them to find a solution.
A colleague found a solution, having copies of the data stored on her home computer due to working remotely after having a baby.
She rushed home, carefully wrapped the computer in a blanket, and, treating it like an extremely precious package, transported it back to Pixar, where they were able to recover all the deleted data.
They didn’t have the latest version, and some work had to be redone, but the entire project was not lost.
Catmull highlights this event as a crucial lesson about the importance of calmness and focusing on solutions rather than problems.