# Focusing on Preventing Problems That Don’t Exist While Ignoring Ones That Do By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2023-03-22 Organizations and political parties share a tactic of ignoring problems that exist by focusing attention on preventing problems that don’t. Two examples illustrate the point. The United States has an issue with income distribution and the working poor. When attempts are made to address these concerns, one party often responds with a list of disincentive effects such a solution might engender. More specifically, the party claims that making income distribution less unequal will cause “job creators” to simply stop what they are doing. Our society has no shortage of people who want to “win” for the simple joy that comes from a sense of fulfillment and achievement. Athletes will spend their lives pursuing a ribbon and a piece of metal. Academics will invest themselves in the study of any number and type of obscurity. There is no limit to the ability of driven people to invest themselves in accomplishment. The argument about the disincentive effect is simply untrue or greatly exaggerated. It is a failure to address a known, real problem by focusing on a hypothetical problem that is unlikely to ever exist. And on the off chance that it does, let’s fix the real problem first, and then address that problem if it emerges. However, this tactic is effective in generating fear of something even worse than the status quo. A similar situation occurs in organizations when the focus is given to employees rather than management. If management is responsible for the execution of work within an organization, isn’t it interesting that the inability to do so effectively is framed as a problem of employee motivation or engagement? The focus shouldn’t be on the employees, that isn’t where the problem is; management is responsible for organizational performance. It is a problem of management, not employees. Yet, the framing so frequently selected suggests otherwise. It is relatively easy to frame issues in such a way that either distracts or creates fear. It is a shame that so many with the ability to influence the quality of life of others don’t seem to care about anything other than getting even more by focusing on preventing problems that don’t exist while ignoring ones that do. #### Related Items [[Problem Solving]] [[Joy]] [[Management]] [[Work]] [[Focus]] [[Solidarity]]