Get It Out of the Chat — Part Two: Where Problems Go to Become Solutions

Part One was about naming the problem.

Recognizing how much energy gets burned in group chats, meetings, side conversations, and “we should really fix this” moments that never actually turn into change.

This is the part where we do something about it.

Because awareness without execution is just a nicer version of the same mess.

One Inbox. One Place. No Hiding.

Here’s what we’re doing on my team.

We created one single email address:

solutions@spiremortgage.ca

Not Slack.
Not text.
Not “I’ll mention it in the meeting.”
Not a hallway comment or a DM that dies quietly.

If you notice:

• A template with a spelling error
• A team photo on the website that’s outdated
• A client process that feels clunky
• An automation that isn’t doing what it should
• Something that’s slowing us down or creating friction

It goes to that inbox.

And here’s the key part: You don’t just send the problem. You send the solution you think makes sense.

The Upgrade I Didn’t See Coming (And Immediately Loved)

When I first suggested this, I called it problems@spiremortgage.ca.

One of my team members—who’s likely going to help manage this inbox—stopped me immediately.

She said:

“I’m going to create solutions@spiremortgage.ca instead.
If someone’s identifying a problem, they should already be thinking through a solution.
And I want that expectation set from the very first email.”

I loved that so much I didn’t even argue.

That’s ownership.
That’s leadership.
That’s a team that doesn’t wait to be told how to raise the bar.

What Happens Next (This Is Where It Usually Falls Apart)

Here’s the part most teams never commit to.

At the end of each month, I’m blocking a full day for solution-focused work.

That inbox goes to zero by doing one of three things:

• Do it – I fix it myself
• Delegate it – It goes to the right person with clarity and a deadline
• Delete it – If I genuinely disagree with the change and can’t justify getting on board

No parking lot.
No “we’ll circle back.”
No polite nodding followed by nothing.

Inbox zero means decisions were made.

This isn’t about being harsh. It’s about being honest.

Not every idea will get implemented.
Not every suggestion will be right.

But every suggestion will be respected enough to be decided on.

That alone changes everything.

It tells your team:

• Your observations matter
• Your thinking matters
• Your time isn’t being wasted

And it tells leadership:

• Stop pretending you want feedback if you’re not willing to act on it
• Accountability goes both ways

The Standard Works Both Ways

What I love most about this isn’t the system.

It’s that my team holds me accountable to the same standard.

They don’t just expect better from the business.
They expect follow-through from leadership.

And honestly? They should.

So—ask me on January 31st how many solutions we implemented in month one.

Because if we’re serious about getting things out of the chat…

They have to land somewhere real.