Every day brings new challenges. Some are opportunities; others are problems. Hopefully your business will take advantage of the opportunities and easily rectify or overcome the problems and learn from them so they are not repeated. In many cases, when a problem surfaces, a meeting is held.

Meetings held to solve problems can be constructive gatherings of people who should be able to solve the problem, discover the root causes and develop methods of insuring that the problem doesn't reoccur.

But meetings can often (way too often) degenerate into finger-pointing, he said/she said arguments where people become accusatory, defensive and angry.

This type of meeting, which happens all too often, can destroy teamwork, reduce focus and work in opposition to a "we'll work this out together" attitude.

I suggest that you turn the tables on your next problem-solving meeting. Call it an idea-generator meeting, or a problem-solving meeting.

Consider the problem to be an opportunity for the business to become better, instead of making the meeting a blamefest. Come to the next problem-solving meeting with a mind set that is thankful that the problem has surfaced. Set the meeting agenda in a new framework that, now that the problem is identified, you have an opportunity to change and improve this facet of the business.

Use the meeting as the catalyst to discover the causes, develop methods, tactics and communications to generate ideas that will overcome this problem once and for all time.

Arguments and blame cause fear, anger and separateness. They are not constructive methods for improvement. They are destructive.

Getting a meeting into a constructive framework requires leadership that looks beyond the current issue into the systematic causes of the problem and, once discovered, creates an environment designed to change the dynamics that caused the problem in the first place.

An idea-generator meeting is an opportunity to improve the company and to improve the people within the company. It is an opportunity for constructive creativity and innovation. Open the creative, innovative energy in your company. Generate ideas and solutions instead of blame.

Opinions expressed solely are those of the writer. Larry Galler, of Larry Galler & Associates, is a marketing and management consultant for small and mid-size companies. For more information or to get his free report, "Tolerations driving you nuts? Eliminate them now!" contact larry@larrygaller.com or call (219) 464-9463.