Problem solving is such an important skill, that if you aren’t good at resolving problems, you probably shouldn’t even pursue a career as a landman at all. Unexpected things pop up all the time when negotiating with landowners, negotiating with other landmen, and when searching for documents at the courthouse. How you deal with resolving those issues will play a big part in determining your career success.
A friend of mine once shared with me something that her father had told her: “It is never too cold; you just aren’t dressed properly”. That phrase always stuck with me and I take it to mean that what you perceive to be a problem is generally not the issue; rather, taking substandard efforts to adequately address an issue often creates the real problem. Improving your problem solving skills requires you to adjust your mindset. Instead of getting frustrated by the inconvenience of dealing with a problem, pause a moment to take a deep breath and analyze exactly what the issue is. Once you identify it, brainstorm some possible solutions, while keeping your end goal in mind. Choose the idea(s) that make the most sense and test them out, to see if they work. Throughout this process, make sure to keep your team members in the loop and communicate the issues you are facing and the steps you are taking to resolve them. A mentor that has dealt with a similar situation in the past will often be able to offer helpful advice. I also recommend regularly engaging in some sort of creative or athletic outlet outside of work. Usually the best ideas come to you when you are doing and thinking about something else. These activities also help strengthen your brain and expand your thinking, so you can be open to more great ideas in the future. Comments are closed.
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