The Power of "Why?" A Simple Question with Profound Impact
"Why?" is one of the most impactful questions you can ever ask. It's a skill we often abandon after discovering its power as toddlers. Most children move past the question by age 5 or 6, yet I argue it is a question we all need to reintroduce into our lives with a new appreciation for its power and direction. In today's fast-paced workforce and the lives we live, we often forget to question what we are doing, how it helps us achieve our goals, and how it aligns with our "why." Let's explore each of these in detail.
Rediscovering "Why" in Childhood
When children trip over the power of this simple word, they instinctively use it to develop an understanding of the world around them. The answers they receive create a foundation for further questions, leading to greater knowledge. Parents often find themselves challenged when they can't answer their child's questions. Perhaps this is a key opportunity to start exploring the power of "why" once again.
Business Context
In business, understanding your "why" is critical for developing a strategic direction that the entire company can align with and rally behind. Like the inquisitive child, each answer leads to more questions, building towards your company's "why." Within an organisation, you identify key values, the purpose of the business, and the organisational goals. Understanding these fundamental elements helps create competitive differentiators and build a workplace culture that drives growth and productivity.
Values: These are the principles that guide your business decisions and behaviours. For instance, Patagonia's commitment to environmental sustainability shapes its operations and brand image.
Goals: Clear objectives that the business aims to achieve. SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals can provide direction and a framework for success.
Mission/Purpose: The reason your business exists and what it strives to accomplish. Google's mission to "organise the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful" drives its innovation and growth.
Personal Context
A friend recently asked if I had developed a clear purpose for myself and understood my goals and what is important to me. I hadn't always had a clearly defined personal "why," which led to feeling adrift in the corporate world, unsure of when to say no or yes to requests.
My personal clarity has been driven by a set of values, but only recently did I develop a personal vision. Understanding my "why" has helped me respond appropriately to requests. Traditionally, there are two schools of thought: saying yes to all challenges and requests can open new opportunities, while the power of saying no can help focus on what is important and achieve your goals. Ultimately, it is about balancing when to say yes or no, ensuring alignment with your goals and values—your "why."
Navigating the yes’s and no’s and determining their alignment with your goals and values can only be achieved by asking questions to gain more knowledge:
Tell me more about...
How would that fit...
What else can you tell me...
Where can I find more information...
What is the impact...
Can you explain...
Most importantly, "Why?"
Critical Thinking Context
One of the simplest yet most effective ways to unearth the root cause of an issue is the 5 Whys technique. Originally developed by Sakichi Toyoda, founder of Toyota Industries, this technique can be applied to any problem. In the Six Sigma DMAIC methodology (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control), the 5 Whys are often used during the analysis phase to understand the cause of process breakdowns.
Example of the 5 Whys Technique in Action:
Problem: The customer is unhappy because they received the wrong order.
Why? The order was incorrect.
Why? The shipping department sent the wrong package.
Why? The shipping label was incorrect.
Why? The order entry system recorded the wrong information.
Why? There was a bug in the order entry software.
By continually asking "why," we can identify the root cause and implement effective solutions.
Conclusion
Asking "why" is a powerful tool that can drive personal growth, business success, and effective problem-solving. By rediscovering and embracing this simple question, we can gain deeper insights, make more informed decisions, and achieve our goals more effectively. So, take a moment to ask yourself: Why?
Get in touch to explore your why and how to supercharge your personal and professional success.
