“Look at all the great ideas,” Marcy announced. Indeed, the list was impressive. Three flipchart pages worth. “We used the problem solving model.”

• What is the problem?
• What is the cause of the problem?
• What are all the alternative solutions to the problem?

“It was really tough to suspend judgment during the meeting, but the ideas just flowed. Admittedly, some of the brainstorming came up with some really stupid solutions, but the team took parts of the stupid ideas and came up with several workable solutions. You should have seen the energy in the room.”

“So, tell me about the last step in the problem solving model?” I asked.

Marcy stopped. “The last step?”

“Yes, I see everyone high five-ing after the meeting, quite an upbeat mood, but if you don’t take the last step, nothing will happen and your meeting will have been wasted. I know you suspended judgment to come up with the ideas, but what are you going to do with that list?”

Marcy stared at the three pages. “Somewhere, in the pages of answers is the best solution, I know it.”

“What are you going to do?”

“The last step in the problem solving model is to pick the best solution. I guess I need to schedule another meeting.”