Do you find yourself spending hours and hours working or studying but somehow not getting anything done?
Perhaps you’re getting pulled into meetings, or your time is taken up putting out fires at work and you’re not really sure why.
It could be time to ask the the Five Whys.
Perhaps you’re getting pulled into meetings, or your time is taken up putting out fires at work and you’re not really sure why.
It could be time to ask the the Five Whys.
The Five Whys is a system established by Japanese innovator Sakichi Toyoda, who’s best known for his car company, Toyota.
He developed a method for maximum efficiency and problem solving. Basically, every time something goes wrong, you have to ask yourself ‘why’, five times.
He developed a method for maximum efficiency and problem solving. Basically, every time something goes wrong, you have to ask yourself ‘why’, five times.
Let’s say you missed a deadline.
Why? Because there was lots left to do.
Why? Because we ran out of time to do it all.
Why? Because all of my meetings this week ran over.
Why? Because our manager never organises them properly in advance.
Why? Because we’re understaffed.
Why? Because there was lots left to do.
Why? Because we ran out of time to do it all.
Why? Because all of my meetings this week ran over.
Why? Because our manager never organises them properly in advance.
Why? Because we’re understaffed.
As it turns out, the missed deadline was caused by wider problems, which can then be addressed. Maybe you can’t force your company to hire a new member of staff, but you can raise your concerns, and insist that meetings end on time.
This way, more of your time and energy can be put in to things that are genuinely going to help you, rather than things which seem important but tend to just get in the way.
Another way you can look at this is to think of the big purpose behind everything you do.
Another way you can look at this is to think of the big purpose behind everything you do.
If you’re trying to start your own business, then every item on your to-do list needs to help you get there. Each meeting, each email, each hour of your time has to push you forward.
Is a meeting on the new font for the website going to help you achieve that dream?
Is a meeting on the new font for the website going to help you achieve that dream?
Is spending hours emailing back and forth about the filter to use on Instagram post really going to grow your influence?
Or is it better to just get on with the tasks that are really going to help you reach your goals?
Or is it better to just get on with the tasks that are really going to help you reach your goals?
So, next time you find yourself facing a setback, or caught in the weeds of a big project, remember the Five Whys - and the one big why keeping you moving forward.
For more insights which can help keep you on track, check out my new book Feel-Good Productivity 👉 bit.ly
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