Many people think identifying a problem shows leadership. Senior leaders tend to look for something else entirely.

Entrepreneurs who build successful businesses often possess a unique ability to see what others don't—the critical bottlenecks hiding in plain sight that create frustration, inefficiency, and lost ...

Workplaces need people who are willing to speak up. The key is to do it in a way that positions you as a problem-solver, not just a critic. A senior analyst at a financial firm once shared that she ...

Some people are just the go-tos when anyone in their circle has a problem. They give great advice, are always understanding, and have an energy that makes people want to approach them for help. The ...

I spoke to the employees at a company that has a glowing reputation. As I explained how problem-solving is the quickest way to earn influence in an organization, it sparked a heated conversation that ...

Guru Madhavan is the Norman R. Augustine Senior Scholar and senior director of programs at the National Academy of Engineering. His new book is Wicked Problems: How to Engineer a Better World (W.W.