Leadership today isn’t just about having a vision—it’s about navigating complexity, managing burnout, and making smart decisions when the answers aren’t obvious. Many leaders admit they avoid tricky issues or rush into solutions without fully understanding the problem. That’s where Katie Best’s SOLVE framework stands out. In her book The Ten Toughest Leadership Problems and How to Solve Them, Best shares a structured process that helps leaders slow down, analyze challenges, and move forward with clarity.
Introducing the SOLVE Leadership Framework
The SOLVE framework gives leaders a roadmap for addressing problems that can derail even the smartest executives:
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S – State the problem: Define the issue clearly in 1–2 sentences.
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O – Open the box: Investigate what’s fueling the problem and uncover unseen factors.
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L – Lay out your solution: Build a plan grounded in research and context.
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V – Venture forth: Implement your solution while staying flexible to adjust.
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E – Elevate your learning: Reflect, share insights, and apply lessons to future challenges.
Best notes that this structured space for reflection and action helps leaders avoid blind spots like “I’m not biased” bias—the illusion of objectivity that often leads to poor decisions.
Applying SOLVE to Real Leadership Challenges
One of the most common issues leaders face is burnout. Best explains that the real challenge isn’t just feeling exhausted, but identifying what causes the exhaustion in the first place. At the Open the Box stage, leaders must ask: Are expectations too high? Is the workload unrealistic? Or is the culture glorifying busyness?
By digging deeper, leaders can find practical solutions such as protecting focus time, adjusting communication norms, or learning to say, “I’ve done enough.” At the Venture Forth stage, Best recommends starting small—implementing one action at a time to avoid overwhelm.
The Takeaway: Solve Problems Before They Derail You
Katie Best’s advice is simple but powerful: pick one leadership problem you’ve been tolerating and write it down. Naming the issue is already the first step of the SOLVE framework. From there, leaders can work through each stage to uncover blind spots, develop better solutions, and create lasting impact.
In an era where leaders are expected to juggle constant change, the ability to solve tough leadership problems with clarity and creativity is more than a skill—it’s a survival strategy.
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