If you find a problem...

Recently, I had the pleasure of listening to a lecture given by the Danish management consultant Christian Ørsted about what he calls "Lethal leadership" - a great pleasure, because there were many interesting takeaways.
It was not necessarily things that was unaware of - but there were points that are not necessarily consistent with how people usually act, and hence, it can be really good to put words on them.
One of the most outstanding examples was how to handle people, when they report problems.
Often (if the old-fashioned method of "killing the messenger" isn't applied), it is implicitly expected that if someone reports a problem, the same someone should also be able to come up with a solution.
An expectation which often has as its only outcome that if someone sees a problem, she keeps her mouth shut unless she is so lucky as to know how to solve it. Something which far from always happens to be the case.
Therefore, it is important to say that if someone finds a problem, then you expect that person to tell about it. Then, together, you can assess the problem and put an effort into solving the problem using the best best means available - rather than frightening people into silence by setting up unrealistic expectations.
(Translated from Hvis du finder et problem..., originally published October 13th, 2017)

On the topic of avoiding unfortunate projections

Most of us know well enough the experience of struggling with personal problems from time to time. In many cases, nothing is easier than to blame other people or other things for the obstacles in one's way. But if a solution to the problems is needed, a little rule may be advantageous to keep in mind. I do not know whether there is a canonical form of it; the version I like to follow is this:

Do not project internal problems onto external circumstances.

It is so easy to give difficult times and other people's absurdities the blame for one's own demons, but it only rarely leads to anything constructive; times are no more favorable, and people no more reasonable, when they are blamed for something you go around struggling with yourself.
This does not mean that you should mess with your problems on your own. Much good can be achieved through the help of good friends in confidence - or, in severe cases, through professional help - but basically one has to resolve one's internal problems oneself, with or without help.
(Translated from Noget om at undgå uheldige projektioner, originally published January 29th, 2013)