Picture this:

Your CEO, brimming with enthusiasm, approaches you with a tricky problem and a well-researched plan to fix it.

As the plan unfolds before you, a sense of familiarity washes over you.

You realize you have another tool up your sleeve that can tackle this exact problem.

Even though the tool only achieves 80% of the desired outcome, bridging the remaining 20% seems entirely feasible and practical.

Now, let me share a story about how listening and working together helped us discover an even better solution.

Our CEO presented me with a problem and his plan to resolve it.

Although his intentions were good, his plan was going to introduce new complexities.

Another subscription to keep tabs on.

Another system to integrate, monitor, and manage.

My mind buzzed, contemplating how to suggest that there might be a better way.

That's when it clicked: we already had a tool that accomplished most of what he wanted.

It just needed a slight enhancement to meet the rest of the requirements.

My heart raced as I pondered how to share this without diminishing his efforts.

Taking a deep breath, I said:

"Your idea is really smart, but did you know we have something that can almost do this already?"

His eyes sparkled with surprise and perhaps a dash of relief.

We engaged in a dialogue, exchanged ideas, and found a way to enhance the tool to meet his vision.

It wasn’t merely about solving a problem.

It was about respecting each other and collaboratively finding a solution.

This wasn’t just a victory for the project.

It was a triumph for our team.

We solved a problem and ensured everyone felt heard and valued in the process.

Reflecting on this: it’s evident that genuinely listening and collaboratively working together is the secret sauce for solving problems.

This is how to ensure projects shine.