During the last months, I’ve regularly heard leaders share situations they experienced and found themselves unable to comprehend.

This isn’t a new phenomenon.

It’s simply a reaction to a situation the person sees no solution for, but one they desire a solution for. They are situations with enough emotional impact that the person wants it to be dealt with but can’t process emotionally. Consequently, they perceive a need to think themselves to a solution and believe that it is how they will solve it.

It’s a universal belief. One that adults even share with toddlers. Most of the time, it’s because they cannot recognize what type of problem they are dealing with and give themselves the responsibility to deal with.

They notice the problem and assume that it should be possible to solve it. They forget to ask themselves if the problem can be solved. And they don’t try to categorize it as a simple, complicated, complex, or wicked problem. They just experience the discomfort and want to get rid of it.

While such a phenomenon isn’t new, it has gained traction over the years.

The global and interconnected world transformed our ability to see that problems might not be solvable. Those who want to see it can perceive that there are no perfect solutions.

However, emotionally, it’s an idea that is still difficult to accept. Especially when the concept of leadership implies the need to quickly provide a solution.