Do you know the difference between a problem and a dilemma?
Recently I welcomed Dan Cockerell to the show. Once upon a time, Dan was the VP of Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom. He is now an Executive Coach, Keynote Speaker, and Leadership Mentor. We talked about problems versus dilemmas at length. He summed up the difference very simply:
“A problem has a solution and a dilemma isn’t easily solved.”
Bingo! I couldn’t have said it better myself.
An example of a problem with a solution is 1+1=2. A dilemma can only be managed and you’re never finished with a dilemma. Ever. It’s always in flux.
The day you let go of some things you have been treating as problems and realize they were dilemmas, you will take a lot of pressure off yourself.
When you are faced with a dilemma, there’s never going to be a day where it will be solved. Instead, you’ve got to keep managing it and just understand the ambiguity that it’s always going to be in flux.
The problem-dilemma scenario is interesting because I think people can shine in tackling those dilemmas and show true character.
So I challenge you today to look at your problems and truly decide – are they problems or are they dilemmas? Because there is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to look at dilemmas in a new way.
If you want to hear my full conversation with Dan about dilemmas and the steps he is taking to fix work, hop on over to this episode’s show notes to listen to this episode of Let’s Fix Work.