The Culture of Problem Solving: How Leaders Shape Success

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 10-30-25

Section 5 from the People Solve Problems Book
The Culture of Problem Solving: How Leaders Shape Success

A strong culture doesn’t just solve problems—it prevents them.

A problem-solving culture isn’t built on processes alone—it’s built on behaviors. Key Behaviors of a Problem-Solving Culture explores the role leaders play in shaping environments where critical thinking thrives. From leading by example to architecting systems that support continuous learning, this series uncovers the essentials of building a culture where solving problems is second nature.

Watch the YouTube series here

The Leader as a System Architect

Learn why leaders must design local problem-solving systems that work for their context. Discover four key elements: managing the problem landscape, creating effective help chains, prioritizing problems, and building capacity and capability for solutions.

Build the Culture for Problem Solving

Discover why leaders must shape behaviors to create an effective problem-solving culture. Learn to create experiences that reinforce learning, role-model desired behaviors, and remove friction that prevents good problem-solving practices.

Shaping Problem Solving

Good leaders don’t just assign tasks—they teach their teams how to think through problems. Find out how to set clear boundaries, connect the right people, and decide whether you’re treating symptoms or fixing the real issue.

The Leader Solves Their Own Problems

Most leaders try to solve all 25 problems their team faces. But those 25 problems usually come from just 5 root causes. Learn how to spot those patterns—and when jumping in to help actually makes things worse.

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