Do You Want to Argue, or Do You Want to Solve Problems?

Too often, discussions meant to solve problems turn into endless debates. The culprit? A fixation on the word "prevent." The word prevent sounds responsible and proactive, but it often leads to an all-or-nothing mindset. If a solution can’t guarantee total prevention, people dismiss it outright—stalling progress instead of making meaningful improvements.

The Trap of “Prevent”

Consider the following scenario. At a city council meeting, local officials and citizens are debating how to address homelessness. A citizen suggests expanding access to mental health services. Before the idea can even be explored, a council member interjects, “That won’t prevent homelessness!”

Technically, they are right in saying that this solution won’t eliminate the problem. Even the best mental health program can’t guarantee that no one will ever become homeless. Like many complex issues, homelessness has multiple causes: mental health, lack of affordable housing, economic hardship, and more. No single solution will ‘solve’ the problem. But does that mean efforts to reduce the risk of homelessness are pointless?

This is where conversations about solutions and what will or will not prevent or solve the problem often fall apart. People assume the goal is to make a problem disappear completely, and when a solution falls short of that impossible standard, they dismiss it. But problem-solving isn’t about absolutes. It’s about managing risk and continuous improvement.

A More Productive Way to Think About Problem Solving

The only way to eliminate risk is to eliminate the system that contains the risk. Sometimes, that’s possible—but it’s rarely practical, and it often creates new problems. For example, imagine a company that wants to prevent falls and subsequent injuries from ladders, so they eliminate ladders altogether. Problem solved, right? No ladders, no ladder-related falls.

But the work still needs to get done. Without ladders, employees start climbing on chairs, shelves, and anything else they can find to access high places. These workarounds increase both the probability of a fall and the severity of injuries when a fall occurs. The company hasn’t eliminated the risk, they’ve just shifted it elsewhere (and likely made it worse).

A smarter approach focuses on reducing the risk within the system. Risk has two key components:

1. Likelihood (how often something happens)
2. Consequence (how severe the impact is when it does)

Effective problem-solving manages both components of risk, often through multiple layers of protection.

A smarter approach to addressing the risk of ladder falls and related injuries would be to reduce both the likelihood of falls and the severity of injuries if they do happen. For example, requiring proper training helps workers understand how to position and stabilize a ladder correctly, making falls less likely in the first place. Meanwhile, using fall protection gear—like harnesses or safety nets—won’t stop a fall from happening, but it will significantly reduce the severity of injuries when it does. Replacing ladders with safer alternatives, like mobile scaffolding, can address both sides of the risk equation. None of these solutions guarantee there will be no more ladder falls or related injuries, but they work towards reducing the risk. Isn’t that what we really want?

Try These Tactical Language Shifts for Better Problem-Solving Discussions

To keep problem-solving discussions focused and productive, try these simple shifts in language:

• Instead of "How do we prevent this?" ask, "How do we reduce the likelihood of this happening?"
• Instead of "We need to ensure this never happens." say, "We need to significantly reduce the risk.”
• Instead of "Eliminate this problem." say, "Reduce the risk.”
• When someone states “That won’t prevent this problem.” ask “Is it an option for reducing the risk?”

By shifting how we talk about problems, we can approach them with a risk-based mindset—one that leads to practical, achievable solutions. In one of my workshops, a participant told me, “This is going to make it so much easier for us to have conversations at my church.” That’s the power of focusing on improvement rather than arguing about absolutes.

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in a debate over the "perfect" solution, shifting to a risk-based approach can make all the difference. Instead of focusing on absolutes, you can drive real progress by identifying practical ways to reduce risk and improve outcomes. Want to learn how to apply this mindset in your own problem-solving discussions?