The Mistake Leaders Make When Solving Problems
Tue Jan 27 2026
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler breaks down a root issue that quietly derails improvement efforts across organizations, weak problem statements. Drawing from decades of root cause analysis work in manufacturing and service businesses, Dave explains why vague declarations like "we want to implement AI" or "we have a quality issue" lead teams to chase symptoms instead of solving real problems.
Using clear, real-world examples, this episode shows how stronger problem statements create clarity, alignment, and better decisions, before tools, solutions, or fixes ever enter the conversation.
What You'll Discover:
Why most teams confuse problem statements with goals or solutions.
How vague problems lead to wasted time, money, and energy.
The difference between symptoms and true root causes.
Real examples of weak vs. strong problem statements from operations and services.
Common traps like mixing in solutions, outcomes, or assumptions too early.
How overly detailed problem statements can be just as harmful as vague ones.
Simple tests to know whether your problem statement is clear enough to act on.
Why strong problem definition is the foundation of clarity, consistency, and accountability.
If your team keeps fixing the same issues over and over, or if new tools and initiatives never seem to deliver the impact you expect, this episode will help you slow down, sharpen your thinking, and start solving the right problems first.
More
In this solo episode of the Everyday Business Problems podcast, Dave Crysler breaks down a root issue that quietly derails improvement efforts across organizations, weak problem statements. Drawing from decades of root cause analysis work in manufacturing and service businesses, Dave explains why vague declarations like "we want to implement AI" or "we have a quality issue" lead teams to chase symptoms instead of solving real problems. Using clear, real-world examples, this episode shows how stronger problem statements create clarity, alignment, and better decisions, before tools, solutions, or fixes ever enter the conversation. What You'll Discover: Why most teams confuse problem statements with goals or solutions. How vague problems lead to wasted time, money, and energy. The difference between symptoms and true root causes. Real examples of weak vs. strong problem statements from operations and services. Common traps like mixing in solutions, outcomes, or assumptions too early. How overly detailed problem statements can be just as harmful as vague ones. Simple tests to know whether your problem statement is clear enough to act on. Why strong problem definition is the foundation of clarity, consistency, and accountability. If your team keeps fixing the same issues over and over, or if new tools and initiatives never seem to deliver the impact you expect, this episode will help you slow down, sharpen your thinking, and start solving the right problems first.