It sounds like the start of a bad joke, but what do Toyota, a 5 year old, and your coach all have in common?
The love of WHY.
Apparently, Sakichi Toyoda developed what has become known as the FIVE WHY’s, a tool Toyota has used as a Root Cause Analysis, which ultimately has been credited for making the car company effective, efficient, and profitable.
By asking 5 Why’s, you too can get to the root of most problems.
It helps uncover deeper layers of causation and avoid superficial or immediate solutions. The exercise encourages critical thinking and analysis, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of most problems and potential solutions.
With coaching, ‘WHY’ can dig deeper into your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs– giving clarity and insight into your current and desired results.
So, keep asking WHY, just like everyone’s favorite 5-year-old;)
Have a problem you are struggling with?
Ask WHY at least five times.
Why are holidays so stressful?
Take it a step further. Why? Then again… Why?
Why does Uncle Bob make me so angry?
Why do I overeat/ overdrink when I’m anxious, stressed, or tired?
Why do I want to lose weight?
Why do I hate my job?
Just like the ONE THING question, this tool can apply to many aspects of life: professional, personal, parenting, and purpose. Dr Holmes from Happier Hour has a Five Why’s exercise for finding your ultimate drive:
Why do I do the work I do? Take it a step further.
Why is that important?
Why do I care about that?
And why that?
Ultimately, what is my why?
After several Why’s, you’ll likely get to the heart of your real why.
So when your 5-year-old keeps asking: WHY????
Don’t pull out your hair. Keep going, one at a time.
Dig in a little deeper until there’s no more why, it just IS.
P.S. Want a coach to help with some of your Why’s? It’s incredibly helpful to have someone else probe and not let you off the hook when it gets tough. I’m here to help compassionately question and figure out what’s holding you back.
P.P.S. When “I don’t know” pops up, the true answer is usually a few why’s away.
