How to Write a Strong Problem Statement

Let’s be honest: most of us love solutions. We love brainstorming fixes, rolling up our sleeves, and diving in. But here’s the problem: if we don’t take the time to define the actual problem, we end up throwing energy (and sometimes money) at the wrong thing.

It’s like treating a headache with new shoes. Sure, they look good, but you still have a headache.

That’s why writing a strong problem statement is one of the most important skills you can learn in business and in life.

Why Bother With a Problem Statement?

Think of a problem statement as your GPS. Without it, you might still get somewhere, but probably not where you intended. With it, you save time, avoid frustration, and keep everyone on the same road.

A clear problem statement:

• Gets everyone on the same page (no more arguing about what we’re really solving).

• Prevents “solution-hopping” (jumping to shiny fixes that don’t stick).

• Makes your case stronger when you need buy-in.

The Secret Recipe: 5 Ingredients

Writing one isn’t rocket science, it’s more like following a simple recipe. 

Here are the five ingredients you need:

1. Background/Context – Why does this matter right now?

2. The Problem – What’s the real gap or challenge?

3. Impact – Who’s affected, and how?

4. Evidence/Data – Prove it. Don’t just “feel” it.

5. Desired State – Paint a picture of success (without sneaking in the solution).

Here’s the difference it makes:

Weak version: “Our onboarding process stinks.”
Strong version: “In the last year, new hire retention dropped from 90% to 70%. Exit interviews show that unclear role expectations during onboarding are leaving people disengaged. This costs us time, money, and morale. The goal is an onboarding experience where new employees feel confident and retention returns to 90% or higher.”

The second one? That’s the kind of clarity that makes people lean forward and say, “Okay, now we can fix this.”

Don’t Fall Into These Traps

Some common traps (that I’ve seen more times than I can count):

• Too fuzzy, too tiny. Don’t be vague, but don’t zoom in so much you miss the bigger picture.

• Jumping to solutions. We all love playing fixer, but remember—this step is about defining the “what,” not the “how.”

• No receipts. Back it up with data. Without evidence, your problem statement is just a complaint.

Putting It Into Practice

In my workshops, I have people rewrite weak statements, practice with real scenarios, and critique each other’s drafts. At first, it feels awkward (like learning to dance), but then it clicks. Before long, you’ll catch yourself saying, “Wait, what’s the actual problem here?” and everyone will thank you for it.

The Bottom Line

A strong problem statement sets the stage for everything else. It saves time, builds alignment, and leads to stronger solutions.

Happy Thursday lovelies,

-srt

P.S. And here’s the good news: you don’t have to figure this out alone. At Rea Coaching and Consulting, I’ll show you how to write problem statements that actually move the needle. So ... are you ready to stop solving the wrong problems? Reach out today. Let’s get it right the first time.

Thank You MLK Jr

Thank you.

Thank you for your courage when silence was safer, for your faith in love when hatred was loud, and for your unwavering commitment to justice when justice was costly. Your life reminds us that moral courage is not found in comfort, but in conviction.

You taught us that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” a truth that still echoes in a world wrestling with inequality, division, and indifference. You warned us that “our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.” Those words continue to challenge each generation to speak, act, and stand.

You showed us that leadership rooted in love is not weakness, but strength. When you said, “darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that,” you offered humanity a higher path that remains urgently needed today.

Your dream was not naive. It was visionary. A dream where people are judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. A dream that still calls us to do the hard work of building equity, dignity, and belonging through systems, policies, and everyday choices.

You reminded us that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice,” while also reminding us that it does not bend on its own. It bends because people like you, and those you inspired, were willing to push, sacrifice, and persist.

Thank you for showing us that faith and action belong together, that love is a discipline, and that hope is a responsibility. Your legacy lives on every time someone chooses courage over comfort, truth over convenience, and love over fear.

With gratitude and resolve,

Me - A girl you taught how to dream BIG

Your Success Doesn’t Have to Look Like Everyone Else’s

Somewhere along the way, many of us quietly absorbed the idea that success follows a single, well defined path.

Graduate by a certain age.
Climb the ladder at the right pace.
Hit the milestones everyone applauds.
Keep moving, even when it doesn’t feel aligned.

And when our journey doesn’t match that picture, doubt creeps in.

But here is the reminder we all need to hear again and again.

Your success doesn’t need to look like everyone else’s.

The Pressure to Conform

Social media, professional circles, and even well meaning advice can make it seem like there is a universal timeline or formula. When your path looks different, slower, faster, more winding, or more creative, it is easy to wonder if you are doing something wrong.

You are not.

Different does not mean delayed.
Different does not mean behind.
Different does not mean unsuccessful.

It simply means intentional.

Stay the Course

Staying the course does not always feel glamorous. Sometimes it looks like choosing sustainability over burnout, saying no to opportunities that do not align, taking a pause when everyone else seems to be rushing, or building something meaningful behind the scenes.

Progress is not always loud or visible. Some of the most powerful growth happens when no one is watching.

Trust the work you are doing. Trust the clarity you are building. Trust the version of success you are creating.

Define Your Own Path

When you define success for yourself, everything shifts.

Success might look like freedom instead of titles, alignment instead of approval, impact instead of income alone, or peace instead of constant pressure.

Your values, seasons, and priorities matter. What fulfills someone else may not fulfill you, and that is not only okay, it is necessary.

A Gentle Reminder

If you have been questioning your pace, your direction, or your decisions, let this be your permission slip.

You do not have to chase someone else’s version of enough.
You do not have to rush your becoming.
You do not have to explain a path that feels right to you.

I believe success is personal, evolving, and deeply human. And you are allowed to build it in a way that truly reflects you.

Stay the course. Define your own path. Your success is valid exactly as it is.

Happy Thursday,

-srt