If you run a business, you already know this feeling.
Something breaks. A client is unhappy. A system hiccups. A team member is stuck. Your instinct is to jump in immediately and start fixing things. That instinct is not wrong. But it is often misapplied.
One of the biggest problem-solving mistakes I see with entrepreneurs and business owners in Kelowna and across the Okanagan is:
- Rushing into solving big problems
- Delaying solving small problems
A Problem Solving Lesson From Aircraft Maintenance (and a Client)
We have a client who is an aircraft maintenance engineer who specializing on high value private aircraft. His job is to keep planes safe and ready to fly – while keeping his clients happy with their multi-milion dollar investments. The stakes are high and aircraft maintenance costs are well beyond what BCAA charges for a tune up. When things go wrong, clients generally don’t want details, they want their plane in the sky.
I asked him how he approaches problem solving when something doesn’t go to plan or breaks. His answer was simple and surprisingly applicable to business.
“The bigger the problem is, the slower I approach it. For example, if the problem is multi-day, I want to be even more methodical, because mistakes here will cost more time and definitely more money.”
Then he gave me an example that stuck.
“If there’s a problem with a gauge on the plane, it’s important to get it working so my client can fly. If the wing has fallen off, the plane isn’t moving, so it’s best I take my time and make sure I handle it comprehensively”
That is the pace of problem solving in a nutshell.
Small Problems: Fast, Decisive, OHIO
Small problems are often block progress. They frustrate customers or team members. And they are perfect candidates for OHIO problem solving: Only Handle It Once.
A lot of our Executive Coaching Clients in Kelowna are entrepreneurs and business owners. Often these small problems are cause big frustration. Greatest hits include:
- A staff member who doesn’t live the values of the organization
- Poorly written policies or product manuals that keeps triggering customer questions
- Clients who are assholes (a more frequent problem than I ever expected, but still small)
- A scheduling issue that causes minor delays, again and again
- A missing approval or delivery that keeps work stuck in limbo
More than not, these are simply friction points, not significant problems. When small problems linger, they quietly drain productivity, morale, and trust. Even worse, they often grow into larger problems because no one wanted to deal with them “right now.”
Think of vehicle maintenance. Ignoring a small oil leak does not make it go away. It just turns into a much more expensive conversation later.
Solving Small Problems Creates Wins
In my experience as an entrepreneur, these smaller issues can make or break you reputation. When you solve them quickly and explain why you moved fast, customers experience less downtime, fewer delays, and more confidence in your business. A short explanation like: “We fixed this immediately because we know even small delays impact your productivity.” builds trust. It signals competence. And it reassures customers that you are paying attention to their needs.
Big Problems: Slow Down or Pay Later
Now let’s talk about the problems that make entrepreneurs like you nervous. The big ones can include things like:
- A major operational breakdown
- Loss of a key employee who was the skillset unicorn
- Pricing or profitability problem
- A broken client relationship
- A system that no longer scales (this is a big one!)
These are not “jump in and wing it” situations. And yet, many business owners do exactly that.
Why?
Because big problems feel threatening. They feel urgent even when they are not. And adrenaline convinces smart people to move fast when they should be moving carefully.
Here is the uncomfortable truth:
Big problems rarely get solved in a day.
Trying to force them into quick fixes usually creates rework, confusion, and expensive mistakes. This is where my brother’s aircraft analogy matters. If the wing has fallen off, no one is going anywhere. Rushing does not help. Precision does.
In business, slowing down does not mean stalling. It means:
- Defining the real problem before solving the visible symptom
- Mapping second- and third-order consequences
- Involving the right people at the right time
- Testing assumptions instead of reacting to pressure
- Ironically, this slower approach almost always saves time overall.
Customer-Facing Big Problems: Communicate the Pace
When a large problem affects your clients, silence is deadly. Customers do not expect miracles. What they do want is clarity. One of the most effective moves a business owner can make is to communicate:
- The scope of the issue
- Why it requires a more methodical approach
- What will happen next
- When updates will occur
This does two things: First, it sets realistic expectations. Second, it re-frames the delay as a sign of professionalism, not incompetence. “We are taking extra time to get this right because a rushed fix would create more disruption for you.” That message builds credibility. Especially in smaller businesses, where trust is everything.
The Cost of Getting the Pace Wrong
Here in the Okanagan, many entrepreneurs run lean operations. There is less margin for error. Fewer buffers. Fewer layers of protection. That makes the pace of problem solving even more important.
When small problems are ignored, they accumulate.
When big problems are rushed, they explode.
The result is burnout, firefighting, and a constant sense that you are behind even when you are working nonstop.
This is not a capacity issue.
It is a process issue.
How Executive Coaching Improves Problem Solving
This is where working with an executive coach can be transformative. Not because you do not know how to solve problems. You do. But because most business owners have never been taught how to pace them.
Executive coaching helps you:
- Build clear criteria for what gets handled immediately vs. methodically
- Create decision-making frameworks you can reuse under pressure
- Improve how you communicate problems to customers and teams
- Reduce reactive behaviour and increase deliberate action
- Stop small issues from becoming big ones
For entrepreneurs in Kelowna and across the Okanagan, this skill alone can dramatically improve profitability, client retention, and personal sanity.
Slow Down to Move Faster
Good problem solving is not about speed. It is about matching the pace to the problem. Handle small issues quickly and cleanly. Slow down when the stakes are high. Communicate clearly when others are affected.
Just like aircraft maintenance, the goal is not busy work. The goal is to make sure everything works when it matters.
And ideally, that the wings stay on.
Reach Out Today
We’re here for you to help pace your problem solving, reduce your stress and improve your profitability. Reach out today to see if we’re a fit to work together.
