If you are trying to make progress on a tough issue, understanding what you are getting into is critical. The biggest leadership mistake people make is misdiagnosing the situation. In the field of medicine, a huge amount of professional skill, talent, and energy are given to identifying the problem before treating it. But when it comes to organizational and political life, people often jump to action without taking the time to step back to clarify the nature of the problem from many different angles. Resist jumping into action by becoming a diagnostician. The following six dimensions of diagnostic skills will help you do just that.