Making Informed Choices: How 5 Whys Helps You See Beyond the Surface
Moving past symptoms to address the real issues in decision making
Have you ever found yourself attempting to make a decision and the whole process becomes overwhelming? According to Psychology Today, the average human makes 35,000 choices (or decisions) per day. Per day. That boils down to about 2000 decisions per hour or 1 decision per every 2 seconds. I don’t know about you, but that seems like A LOT of decisions that you and I make every day.
The ’5 whys’ is best used for situations where you know there is a deeper reason and you want some assistance to help you figure out the root cause. Big decisions like where to live, what direction to go in life, or even what major to declare in college would be great for the ‘5 whys.’ It might also be great for someone who is on the fence in a relationship. Using the ‘5 whys’ can help that person figure out why they’re on the fence.
Developed by Sakichi Toyoda, founder of Toyota Industries, the ‘5 whys’ is a problem-solving method that encourages you to dig deeper into the root cause of an issue by repeatedly asking the question, “Why?”
Just today, my husband was needing to talk through a work issue. I realized that the ‘5 whys’ were perfect for helping him figure out the root cause of his problem and might help guide him in his next steps. He was frustrated so I started by asking the first why. With each response, I kept asking why. Eventually, he was able to uncover a deep insight, not just about the situation, but about himself.
Recently, I had the privilege and honor to sit with a group of people who agreed to become stakeholders for my doctoral research at Portland Seminary. One of the exercises we used was the ‘5 whys,’ which helped iron out and drill down to a new, refined statement. This new statement will guide my research.
The ‘5 whys’ technique offers a unique approach that can help navigate decision making without letting yourself become overwhelmed because it’s so intuitive and straightforward.
For instance, if you are hesitant about starting a business, you can keep asking yourself “why” until you discover the root cause of your hesitancy. Once you identify the real problem, you can come up with practical solutions as appropriate.
The other brilliant aspect of the ‘5 why’ technique is that you can get other people involved in the decision making process. I imagine it would be a great tool for managing conflicts and troubleshooting problems. Suppose you’re experiencing tension with a colleague at work. Instead of retorting with unproductive statements, you can use the ‘5 whys’ technique to get to the root cause of the issue. By doing this, you stand a better chance of finding a solution that satisfies both of you.
What if you’re trying to break a bad habit or negative patterns? Maybe you’re trying to establish a healthier routine in your life. You can use the ‘5 whys’ to get to the root cause of your reluctance. Imagine getting to the root of the problem, such as “I don’t enjoy going to the gym.” Wouldn’t that help you come up with an alternative solution? It can help you figure out a different type of physical activity that you would enjoy.
What freedom!
I realized that this technique could easily be used in so many ways. For instance, if you find yourself getting angry at a situation or a person, step back and ask yourself why. The first answer that pops into your head, ask yourself why again. You do this 5 times to drill down to the “real” reason, or perhaps giving you deeper insight into why you’re getting angry or frustrated.
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Define the Problem or Decision: Begin by clearly defining the problem or decision that you want to address. Remember that this is to be used for specific issues. This isn’t like you’re rolling a magic ball in your hand waiting for an answer to appear. You’re hoping to learn something more about “why” you’re either trying to define the problem or decision or because you want to understand a deeper “why.”
Step 2: Ask the First “Why”: This is your starting point, which leads you to the next “why.”
Step 3: Ask “Why” Four More Times: For each answer you receive in Step 2, continue to ask “Why” four more times. Each “why” should dig deeper into the root causes and underlying factors that contribute to the problem or decision. The goal is to uncover the cause-and-effect relationships that led to the current situation.
Step 4: Analyze the Information: After asking “why” five times and gathering answers, review the information you’ve collected. Look for patterns, connections, and underlying issues that have emerged. This is where the real truth will emerge, showing you the root cause of the problem or key factors influencing your initial decision.
Step 5: Address the Root Cause: Now you know how to take action! Cool, huh? This could involve making changes in your decision making process, using new solutions to resolve a problem, or both. The goal is to prevent the issue from recurring and help you make more informed decisions in the future. In the case of an anger or frustration issue, this process could help you uncover reasons why you get angry or frustrated at all. Maybe it will help you see that it is more of a consistent issue on your part and something you might want to address.
Step 6: Monitor and Adjust: After implementing changes based on your analysis, continue to monitor the situation. Assess the impact of your actions and adjust as needed. The ‘5 whys’ process can be iterative, so don’t hesitate to revisit the analysis if the problem persists or new decisions are required.
Step 7: Document Your Analysis: It’s important to document your ‘5 whys’ analysis for future reference. Keep a record of the problem, the “why” questions, and the answers obtained. This documentation can help you track progress and provide insights to others who may need to understand the decision-making process, especially if it’s work related.
Step 8: Practice and Refine: The more you use the ‘5 whys’ process, the better you’ll become at identifying root causes and making more informed decisions. Practice and refine your skills.
Step 9: Share Your Knowledge: If you find success with the ‘5 whys’ process, consider sharing your knowledge with colleagues, friends, or team members. Helping others understand and apply this technique can lead to more effective problem-solving and decision-making across various contexts. It becomes a way to extend the ripple effect and pay it forward, so to speak.
Remember that the ‘5 whys’ is a flexible tool that can be adapted to different situations, and the number of “whys” may vary depending on the complexity of the issue. The key is to keep probing deeper until you reach the root cause or uncover the critical factors influencing your decision.
Clearly, with having to make upward of 30,000 decisions per day, this method can help with the bigger decisions. With each “why,” you peel back another layer. With each “why,” you dig a little deeper.
Can you imagine what would happen if you used this at a business meeting? Or what if you utilized this for your own emotional health? By incorporating the ‘5 whys’ into your daily routine, you can become a more informed and confident decision-maker, enabling you to thrive.
What if you used the ‘5 whys’
to help with your spiritual practice?
It would help foster self-reflection, compassion, and mindfulness (for yourself and others). Why? Because each time you answer the “why,” you engage in a form of contemplation that reveals deeper layers of your psyche. In fact, you may discover patterns of behavior, fears, and desires that influence your thoughts and actions. It can also help you see the interconnectedness of all things. Peeling each layer back can help you realize that every problem has a root cause that is related to other factors.
You do need to trust the process to continue to keep peeling the layers back with each why. In essence, this technique incorporates a spiritual dimension by encouraging you to tap into your Inner Wisdom and align your decisions with your values, each time seeking guidance from your spiritual beliefs.
May your heart be open to the truth that lies within, and may your steps be guided by the grace of spiritual wisdom. With each “why,” may you draw closer to the root cause and the path of enlightenment. May each “why” be rooted in love and compassion for yourself and others.
May the choices you make align with your deepest values and the spiritual path that resonates within your soul.
And with each time you use the ‘5 whys’, may you find encouragement and strength to face challenges and patience as you uncover hidden truths.
May your heart be filled with gratitude.
May your journey grow with each awakening and aha moment.
May your decisions be a reflection of the Divine that resides within you.
May you know that you are loved because you matter.
May your soul be refreshed.
sdg © Nancy Blackman