As entrepreneurs and small business owners, we pride ourselves on being scrappy. We figure things out. We move fast. Then, we “make it work.” But here’s the uncomfortable truth: Not everything that works is actually working. There’s a big difference between creating a workaround and implementing a real solution, and the long-term health of your business depends on knowing which one you’re choosing.
Workarounds Treat Symptoms. Solutions Heal the System.
A workaround addresses the symptom of a problem. It helps you get through the day, the week, or the crisis at hand. It might look like:
Manually fixing the same error every week
Having one “go-to” employee clean up systemic issues
Rewriting processes instead of fixing broken ones
A solution, on the other hand, goes after the root cause. It asks:
- Why is this happening in the first place?
- What needs to change so this doesn’t keep repeating?
One keeps you busy, and the other moves your business forward.
Real Solutions Require Strategic Thinking (and Sometimes Wise Counsel)
Solutions take thought. They require you to slow down long enough to think strategically, even when things feel urgent.
They also require humility.
Strong leaders aren’t afraid to ask for help. Whether it’s a coach, consultant, mentor, or trusted peer, requesting wise counsel isn’t a weakness; it’s a leadership skill. When you invite outside perspective, you often see blind spots that are invisible when you’re in the trenches.
Workarounds Drain Time, Energy, and Resources
Workarounds are tactical. They’re the business version of duct tape. They might save you today, but they cost you tomorrow. Because they’re not permanent, you end up:
Revisiting the same issues repeatedly
Burning valuable time you could spend on growth
Exhausting yourself and your team
Over time, these “temporary fixes” become expensive habits.
The Hidden Cost: Team Morale and Trust
Here’s what most leaders don’t realize: When your team sees the same problems pop up over and over again, it affects their confidence in leadership.
Workarounds can quietly communicate:
“We don’t take this seriously enough to fix it.”
“This chaos is normal here.”
“You’ll have to live with this.”
That erodes morale. It chips away at trust. And it can create a culture where people stop bringing problems to you because they don’t believe anything will actually change.
Solutions Signal Care for People and for the Business
When you commit to real solutions, you’re sending a powerful message:
I care about the people doing the work.
I care about how this business operates.
I care enough to fix what’s broken instead of ignoring it.
Solutions create stability. They build confidence. They show your team that you are not just reacting. You’re leading.
The CEO Question You Should Ask Yourself
The next time an issue pops up in your business, pause and ask: “What is the actual problem here and how can I address it head-on in the most professional and efficient way?”
That single question can shift you from reactive management to proactive leadership. Because when you choose solutions over workarounds:
Your team wins
Your clients feel the difference
And your sanity gets to breathe again
That’s not just good leadership. That’s sustainable entrepreneurship.
Love and Soul Always, Kawania
Photo: Shutterstock
