In this episode of Root Issue Radio, Jill Young and Sue Hawkes explore what happens when leaders stop focusing only on problems and start paying attention to hunches, glimmers, and possibilities. They talk about the “issue under the issue,” the difference between a trigger and a glimmer, and why good leaders need to create space for ideas before rushing to solutions.

Jill and Sue discuss how teams can open up the discussion phase of IDS by asking better questions like “What else?” “What if?” and “What would great look like?” They explain why the first answer is not always the best answer, and how slowing down can help teams see more options, more creativity, and better long-term outcomes.

Jill also introduces the idea of calibrating intuition, describing intuition as pattern recognition outside conscious awareness. Together, they encourage leaders to trust their hunches, ask the harder questions, and give voice to ideas that might otherwise get dismissed too early

Listener takeaway:

When a team feels stuck, it may be time to PAUSE — Perhaps Another Unseen Solution Exists. Slowing down long enough to create space can open up better ideas, deeper thinking, and the kind of team conversation that leads to real breakthroughs.

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