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# 8 ways to push a problem around (without fixing it)
- URL: https://improvesomething.today/how-to-push-problems-around-without-ever-solving-them/
- Published: 2024-02-08T16:30:34.000Z
- Updated: 2025-10-07T15:41:28.000Z
- Description: A “to not do” list.
- Author: Brian Kerr
- Tags: Continuous improvement

1. Do the very first thing someone suggests. Commit as many resources to it as possible: we’re *all in* on the new approach, no matter what.
2. Do the very first thing someone suggests. Do not commit anything at all to the solution: we’re [doing more with less](https://improvesomething.today/on-doing-more-with-less/).
3. Don’t waste valuable time identifying or understanding the problem. As people wheel and mill around and solve for slightly different things, it’ll boost creativity or some damned thing.
4. Fix something upstream without looking downstream.
5. Fix something downstream without looking upstream.
6. Have you considered a reorg?
7. Don’t talk to customers. Of course you know who they are and what they want. This goes without saying.
8. Whatever else you do, put a thing on the timeline called “evaluate & adjust” or similar. Schedule it to be held in 6 months’ time. By then, everyone will have forgotten.