Let People Solve Their Problems

“Organizations have to get to the point where everybody in the organization feels comfortable speaking up. Those people know things you don’t know as the leader and as the manager.”

As nice as it would be, you can’t solve big problems in 15 minutes. When I was leading operations at Disney, I learned the value of giving problems the time they deserve. When I read Peter Drucker’s “The Effective Executive,” it struck me how often we try to patch things up with quick meetings and band-aid solutions. Whenever we would do that we’d get the same result. Guess what it was? A year later, the same issues still linger.

So, we changed the game. Instead of 15-minute huddles, we’d gather teams for 4-hour deep dives to discuss, dissect, and solve the core issues. Basically, we let people solve their problems. I once had all the chefs from various Disney properties come together to streamline our operations. Instead of me dictating orders, I empowered them to make the decisions. The outcome? Not only did we find practical solutions, but the chefs felt more committed and involved.

Was it easy? No. Change never is. But it was worth it. When you trust your team and give them the space to truly engage, the results can be magical.

If you’re facing recurring problems or struggling to find breakthrough ideas, remember: sometimes, the best way forward is to take the time to engage deeply, listen, and let your people lead the solutions. Trust me, it’s worth every minute. Keep putting in the work and creating magic in your corner of the world