Burns Leadership Consulting

From Problem to Resolution: A Guided Walk-Through

Pick a real problem on your desk right now and work it down the five stages. Answer what fits, skip what does not. Each stage explains what it means and gives you a question or two to think through. When you are done, generate a PDF to keep or to share with your manager or coach.

How to use it. This is a private thinking tool. Nothing is saved or sent from this page. It stays on your screen while you work, and the only output is the PDF you choose to create. Whether you came to it on your own or someone shared it with you, use it the same way: keep it in front of you and move a real problem forward.

How the stages line up with a clean write-up. Work the five stages and you end up with the four things any problem write-up needs: the Situation (Stage 1), the Root Cause and your Recommendation (Stage 2), that recommendation in action (Stage 3), and the Resolution (Stages 4 and 5). Fill it out and the PDF reads in that language on its own.

Name the problem in one line.

Your name (optional)

Date

Private to you. This page does not store or transmit anything, and the PDF is generated on your device. If a manager or coach shared this with you, download the PDF and send it their way when you are ready. It is a strong starting point for a conversation.