23/01/2024
“Ask WHY five times.” ❓❓❓❓❓
I recently came across the "Ask WHY" concept and it's an AMAZING tool for solving problems.
Asking “why” when you encounter an issue or problem allows you to dig deep and find the “root cause”, instead of just focusing on outward symptoms.
I see this technique discussed mostly in the business sector, but it can also be used for nearly every problem, big or small.
It’s working the problem backward, peeling back the onion layers 🧅 to discover the REAL issue, not the symptom of the issue
For example....
😣Problem: I didn’t finish the work I’d scheduled for the week.
❓WHY?
I’m not following my schedule.
❓WHY am I not following my schedule?
I’m cranky about my schedule because I tried to mash too much into too little time.
❓WHY did I try to mash too much into my schedule?
Because I threw my schedule together haphazardly on Sunday.
❓WHY was the schedule haphazard?
Because I was frustrated and angry with myself for working on Sunday when I told myself I wasn’t going to work on Sundays anymore.
❓WHY did I try to do my scheduling on a Sunday when I’d already decided I didn’t want to do that?
Because I didn’t schedule time on Friday the PREVIOUS week to create my schedule on Friday afternoon.
💡Solution: Schedule time on Friday afternoons to create my schedule for the next week.
When I’m in a relaxed and focused space, I will be able to make informed, realistic decisions and not overschedule myself. 🙌
💥💥💥
You could use this process in nearly ANY area of your life to discover the “root cause”.
❓Why did I react/respond that way?
❓Why am I not doing what I said I would?
❓Why am I avoiding this?
❓Why did I make that decision?
Give it a try!
When you get to the root cause, you can finally start making decisions that will help you solve the issue. 👊
The path forward becomes clear and you feel invigorated!