Solving Problems Faster with the 1:3:1 Framework

As a refractive or cataract surgery entrepreneur, you’re no stranger to your staff bringing challenges for you to solve, like cats dropping dead birds on your doorstep.

Whether it’s operational hiccups, marketing dilemmas, or staff conflicts, problems are bound to arise. But what if there was a simple framework to empower your team to tackle these issues head-on, with less dependency on you?

Enter the 1:3:1 Framework—a simple yet powerful tool designed to help your team solve problems efficiently and with greater autonomy. This method streamlines the problem-solving process, boosting confidence and fostering a sense of ownership.

Here’s how it works:

Identify ONE specific problem

Whether optimising patient flow, improving lead conversion, or enhancing the patient experience, clearly define the issue. This ensures the team addresses the right problem, avoiding wasted time or energy.

Generate THREE possible solutions

Encourage your team to think creatively. Explore multiple solutions. It could be adjusting the patient scheduling system, enhancing training, or refining your marketing strategy. Too often, we jump to the first solution that comes to mind, but by considering various options, the team can evaluate different approaches. The key is to foster innovative thinking and open the floor to ideas that may not have been immediately obvious.

Propose ONE recommendation

After evaluating the three options, your team should select the best course of action and present a clear plan to execute it. By proposing a specific recommendation, your team isn’t just bringing problems to your desk—they’re bringing solutions.

Why 1:3:1 Works

Using 1:3:1, your staff gains confidence in problem-solving, freeing you to focus on higher-level strategy. This approach also fosters ownership and speeds up decision-making

Empower your team to solve problems faster and more effectively with 1:3:1. Try it out and watch your team become more independent!

Want to ensure your staff is just as effective in problem-solving as in generating leads? We invite you to take our Practice Marketing Assessment. This comprehensive quiz provides personalised advice to refine your marketing and your team’s approach to patient engagement and operational efficiency. Or, if you’d like a quick chat about improving your team’s problem-solving skills, book a free 15-minute compatibility call with Laura today!

NOTE: The best way to answer that nagging question about practice growth or marketing or patient volume in the back of your mind is to book a free 15-minute compatibility call. Get some options and go away with a clear idea of what’s possible.

About the author

Rod Solar
Founder & Scalable Business Advisor / fCMO

Rod Solar is a co-founder of LiveseySolar and a Scalable Business Advisor for its customers. Rod mentors and coaches eye surgery business CEOs/Founders and their leadership teams to triple their sales, double their profit, and achieve their “ideal exit”.

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What our clients say…

“In a matter of weeks, we already saw results with LiveseySolar. Far before we were even finished with our project.”

Erik Chotiner, MD, FACS, Ophthalmologist

“The whole group has been very, very professional. We’re quite early in the stages, but we can see the benefits.”

Dr Nick Mantell , MBChB FRANZCO

“They’re very professional. They know what they’re doing, but they also put us at ease. This helped us to cut through what’s needed to get what we want.”

Mr Praveen Patel, MA (Cantab), MB BChir (Cantab), FRCOphth, MD (Res)

“It’s wonderful to work with an agency that engages on our level and understands our market.”

Dr Anton Van Heerden, MBChB; FRANZCO, Ophthalmologist

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Meet our Co-Founders

We’re passionate about helping leaders of high-quality, growth-minded practice owners double their practice revenue

Rod Solar

Founder & Scalable Business Advisor

For over 20 years, I’ve helped ophthalmology entrepreneurs scale their private practices. I specialise in doubling revenue within three years by offering a proven framework, hands-on experience, and a team of experts who implement what works. We take the guesswork out of growth and scale, so you can focus on delivering exceptional patient care while maximising the value of your business.

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LiveseySolar completely transformed the way we were approaching this… We’ve gone from having just the dream of having a practice to having a practice up and running with people making inquiries and booking for procedures… It’s extremely pleasing. We feel lucky we connected with LiveseySolar.

— Dr Matthew Russell, MBChB, FRANZCO, specialist ophthalmic surgeon and founder of VSON and OKKO

Laura Livesey

Founder & CEO

I’m the co-founder & CEO of LiveseySolar. I’ve developed powerful eye surgery marketing systems that increase patient volumes and profits for doctors, clinics, and hospitals, since 1997.

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Rod and Laura know as much about marketing surgery to patients as I know about performing it. They are an expert in the field of laser eye surgery marketing. They know this industry inside out. I believe that they could help many companies in a variety of areas including marketing materials, sales training and marketing support for doctors.

— Prof. Dan Reinstein, MD MA FRSC DABO, founder of the London Vision Clinic, UK