The Best Career Advice I Ever Got: Come with Solutions, Not Problems
Take the time to think through the problem before asking for help.
solutions provide a better foundation for conversation
Early in my career, I was moving from a communications role into events management. It was exciting but intimidating. I was stepping into a space where I didn’t yet have all the answers. Before diving in, I asked my manager at the time if she had any advice for me.
She gave me a simple piece of guidance that I’ve carried with me ever since:
“Always come to your leader with solutions, not problems.”
At first, it sounded straightforward, maybe even obvious. But the more I thought about it (and the more I practiced it), the more I realized how powerful it really is.
How to make more impact with every leadership interaction
When we’re stuck, it’s natural to want to turn to a manager, mentor, or director and ask, “How should we move forward?” or “How do you want this handled?” But here’s the thing: if you’re always asking for direction without bringing any ideas to the table, you’re putting all the weight of problem-solving on the other person.
Coming in with possible solutions, no matter how rough your ideas are, does three things:
Shows respect for their time. You’re not just dropping a problem in their lap; you’ve taken the time to think it through first.
Builds your own problem-solving muscles. Even if your proposed solution gets tweaked or tossed out, you’ve practiced the process.
Strengthens your working relationship. Leaders notice when someone consistently brings thoughtful options instead of open-ended problems.
In short: it makes you someone people want to work with.
How to apply this in your career
Instead of saying:
“how would you handle this client request?”
Try:
“The client is asking for X. I see a couple of options: we can [Option A] which would save time, or [Option B] which would cost more but give them more flexibility. I’d recommend Option A, but I’d love your perspective.”
See the difference? You’ve already done some of the work, which makes the conversation more collaborative and productive.
fast track your career growth
Here’s the best part: when you start showing up with solutions, your growth accelerates. Leaders see you as proactive and you build confidence. And just like any muscle, when you exercise it, you’ll learn even faster because you’re testing your own ideas, not just following instructions.
And remember, even if your idea gets shot down, it’s not a failure, it’s feedback. Every round of feedback makes you sharper when you take that feedback and learn from it, use it as a tool to propel your growth.
Your Turn: What’s the Best Career Advice You’ve Ever Received?
This advice stuck with me because it changed how I showed up with my leaders and how quickly I grew. But everyone has that one piece of wisdom that reshaped their career.
So I’ll leave you with a question: what’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?
Send it our way at support@gritfueled.com or share it with someone who needs to hear it today because you never know whose career you might change.
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