What Happens When We Fix Problems Quickly?

Let’s talk about quick fixes.

As you have heard me say before, quick fixes certainly have their place, and most of us are adept at quick fixes, whether at work, at home, or at school. We know how to find a quick solution to keep a project on schedule, get dinner on the table even if we are home late, or catch up on a class we may have missed.

But short-term fixes have long-term consequences.

I met with a Fortune-100 executive who proudly detailed to me how a problem he had solved saved his company millions of dollars. So I told him that was great news, and that he should be proud – that’s pretty amazing! His bonus was directly affected by how much money he saved his organization. Makes sense, right?

Not so fast.

This guy benefited handsomely and personally. His quick fix was not a long-term solution and in the long run it may end up costing the organization revenue when his quick fix needs to be fixed again.