Problems are universal. Everyone has them, but not everyone deals with them the same way. In business, problems will happen, but it's how you handle them that makes the difference between your company being a success and a failure. It's not in the usual job description, but overcoming obstacles and handling incidents are a daily part of work. Employees are expected – and rewarded - by taking care of problems themselves, but what happens when they are ill equipped to deal with the situation?

For Employees: Sometimes, there just isn't anything you can do to fix a problem. When this happens, almost all of the time you will need to bring it to the attention of your supervisor or boss to get a solution. This can be a difficult task, especially if you have a difficult boss. So what should you do?

First, identify the specific problem and its root cause. Next, figure out what caused the root cause. Finally, come up with as good a solution as you can as well as a secondary solution. Put this all together in a memo stipulating what happened, why it happened, your two solutions, and how you think it can be prevented in the future. Then, notify your boss that you would like to have a quick meeting. Even if it is scheduled for five minutes away, email your memo to the boss. This will let him know what is going on so as not to surprise him. As an additional bonus, it will also start his gears turning on what to do.

For Employers: Mistakes and problems can kill a company, but you must keep your emotions in check. Assuming your employee did not maliciously cause the problem, it is never good to lose your temper or throw blame when the employee comes to you for help. Listen to what they have to say, acknowledge their assessment and proposed solutions, and fix the problem. Your business will be that much better for it.