Why not ask the cleaner?

Regardless of the industry or size of business you're in, on a daily basis we're all in the business of solving problems. Too often, it's easy to get caught up in ourselves going around and around in our heads conjuring up a myriad of reasons why we can't move forward on a problem. Our minds are built to protect us from the unknown — it's a perceived danger.

Instead, perhaps we could remind ourselves: "battles are won by taking ground each day" — Sally-Ann Williams.

What problems could you be solving in your business right now? Remember, you don't need to have all the answers yourself — that's where a team comes into play. Look outside the directors and executive team. Why not ask your cleaner, your receptionist, or your assistant what they think? How THEY would solve the problem. After all, they're on the ground and in the field each and every day. The greatest solutions come from setting aside ego and stepping into co-creation.

This notion of thinking was inspired by a talk I heard from a very clever woman recently — Sally-Ann Williams. A former Google Australia employee responsible for leading efforts in supporting entrepreneurship within the tech industry, Sally-Ann delivered an engaging keynote on generating ideas and starting before you're "ready", at the 'Women making a difference' forum run by WCEI and TIAW. Now CEO of Cicada Innovation, she's literally at the forefront of solving problems.

Not got any problems you could be solving? Why not check out the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as set by the United Nations General Assembly?

On her recent visit back to Australia, I had the privilege of being invited to meet and contribute to a round table discussion with Ms Gillian Bird, Australian Ambassador to the United Nations. Ms Bird spoke of the SDGs and Australia's commitment to being a team player on the world stage.

While we as individuals might not be able to single-handedly solve one of the world's sustainability goals, what we can do is 'clean up our own side of the street.' Let's start in-house — clean up our mindset firstly, then look to our home life and workplaces. What problems can we be cleaning up there? Finding solutions is about taking one step forward each day.

So why not take a step back, look around, ask around your team what they think? You might actually find an innovative solution that was never conceived inside the boardroom.