COLIN POWELL: SOLVING PROBLEMS IS WHAT LEADERS DO

I've lived by the proposition that solving problems is what leaders do.  The day you are not solving problems you are no longer leading. If your desk is clean and no one is bringing you a problem, you should be very worried.  It means that people don't think you can solve them or don't want to hear about them.  Or, far worse, it means they don't think you care.

So go walk around and look for a problem' you will find some.  Don't stop there.  Try to instill a problem-solving attitude in your subordinates and staff.

Problems have to be solved, not managed.  You can't get away with burying them, minimizing them, reorganizing around them, softening them, or assigning blame somewhere outside your responsibility.  You have to make real and effective change.

From "It Worked For Me" by Colin Powell