During my coaching sessions, clients often describe their current situation as the problem. But in reality, that situation is rarely the actual issue.
The problem you think you have might not be the actual issue.
Most likely, it’s just your current situation.
Let me give you a few examples:
1/ “it is raining” → is not the problem
“I am getting wet” → is the problem
2/ "The market is highly competitive" → is not the problem
"Our sales are declining" → is the problem
3/ "LinkedIn changed their algorithm" → is not the problem
"Our posts reach is down" → is the problem
4/ "There is a lot of traffic" → is not the problem
"I might be late for my appointment " → is the problem
5/ "My phone is switched off" → is not the problem
"I can't call anyone" → is the problem
If you focus on the situation, you’ll feel stuck because situations are often beyond your control.
But here’s the good news: once you clearly define the real problem, you can take charge and start finding solutions.
How to Define Your Problem
Here’s a simple process to help you clearly define one problem:
Describe your current situation.
Write down exactly what’s happening. For example: “The market is highly competitive.”
Ask yourself: What’s the impact of this situation on me or my business?
Dig deeper to identify what’s really being affected. For instance: “Our sales are declining because customers are choosing competitors.”
Turn the impact into a problem statement.
Phrase it as a specific, actionable problem you can solve. For example: “We need a strategy to stand out and regain sales.”
Why This Works
When you shift your focus from the situation to the actual problem, you move from feeling stuck to feeling empowered. You can’t control the rain, traffic, or algorithms—but you can control how you respond to the real problem they create.
Once you’ve clearly defined the problem, here’s the next step:
Brainstorm possible solutions.
Choose the best action plan.
Take the first step today.
Action step for today
Take 5 minutes right now to define one problem. Use the three steps above to go beyond your situation and uncover the real issue.
Here’s a template to get started:
• Current situation: ___________________________
• The impact: _______________________________
• Problem statement: _________________________
Define the actual problem → Brainstorm the solutions → Make an action plan
Thank You
Srinivas “Solutions guy” Vakati