While we are checking off plenty of issues during our weekly IDS® sessions, our business still feels chaotic, and we are not sure if our weekly problem-solving is actually moving us forward. How do we audit the quality of our solved issues to make sure we are not just solving low-value operational noise?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

If you are checking off dozens of issues every week but the business still feels chaotic, you are likely solving symptoms rather than root causes. You are treating the headache instead of curing the illness. This is a common pitfall where the team mistakes activity for progress.

To audit the quality of your problem-solving, look at your weekly To-Do list. When you solve an issue, does the resulting To-Do usually involve creating a new process, clarifying roles on the Accountability Chart, or updating your V/TO®? Or are your To-Dos merely tactical firefighting, like sending an email, fixing a single customer account, or scheduling another meeting?

A high-quality solution in IDS® should result in a systemic fix that prevents the issue from ever returning. If your To-Dos are mostly tactical, you are not actually solving issues, you are just doing daily work inside the meeting.

Have your Integrator review the last four weeks of solved issues. If you see the same themes repeating or if the solutions are all minor tasks, challenge the team during your next IDS® session. Before marking any issue solved, ask the team: Will this solution prevent this issue from coming back in ninety days? If the answer is no, keep discussing.