The Power of Why

One of my strongest memories of the quizzical?Why?harkens back to one of my early childhood memories. It was a foggy day at the cottage as I sat reading Archie comics and feasting on some watermelon with my cousin. My attention was caught by the angry buzzing of a puffy bumble bee trying to burst its way through the glass of the window. My inquisitive nature led me to ask two questions “Why do bees sting? And why do they die when they sting?”

There was a pause and my cousin said “I don’t know. Just don’t get close enough to let it sting you and it doesn’t matter why. Go back to your comics.”

Then the universe acted in the quirky way it sometimes does and that buzzing bee pulled away from the window, landed on my arm, and stung me! So much for keeping my distance and being safe.

The answer to the question?“Why”?is important in both our personal and professional lives.

As senior leaders, a key value we add to those around us is to answer?“Why”.? Unfortunately, I see too often that the focus is just on the?“What”?and we do a disservice to those we lead by not addressing the “Why.”

I get it. We are all so busy. Do more with less! Get the release out 2 weeks earlier! It takes time to properly define the “Why” and then communicate it to those we lead. We know communication isn’t a one-and-done endeavor. It is like muscle memory. Repetition of the?“Why”?ensures it becomes second nature.

In business, there are layers of?Why.

When genuinely and thoughtfully used, a company’s Mission Statement is an incredible example of “The Power of Why.” I give that qualifier as I often see organizations treat a Mission Statement as a marketing exercise and not something that serves as a compass or north star.

A Mission Statement has the same power as a compass in that it is crucial when you are in rough or uncertain teams.? When you are panicked at sea in a storm, knowing the right direction to go is even more critical than on a calm sunny day. The same is true when a company is in tough times, that Mission Statement will help guide you out of the rough patch.

Tough times show the true character of people and organizations.

Improve Community and Safety Through the Power of Data.?ESO’s Mission Statement permeates through the DNA of the company.

Our responsibility as leaders in ESO was to start each meeting or conversation by explaining how the topic at hand advanced that Mission. It is amazing how quickly this becomes second nature. And if we couldn’t connect the dots to the Mission then it triggered a pause to reflect to ensure we should proceed.

Consider a scenario where you are tasked with enhancing the loading time of a particular webpage by 20%. The?“What.”

When provided with the “Why”, outcomes improve. The webpage in question is heavily used by dedicated nurses in busy emergency departments to access important health information on their patients. In this critical setting, every minute of inefficiency could potentially be a matter of life or death.

Going beyond the initial speed enhancement, you take the extra step of reorganizing the data to streamline the nurses’ workflow and minimize the number of clicks required to access the page. This holistic improvement not only speeds up data access but also contributes to the nurses’ overall efficiency, allowing them to dedicate more time to saving lives in the challenging environment of the emergency department.

Effectively communicating the "Why" fosters a sense of personal value and trust among individuals, empowering them to thrive in shared objectives. Increased engagement and trust contribute to our collective success, making the world a better place.

So, my ask to everyone is to take time for a deep breath, pause, and turn your?“What”?into a?“Why”. Unleash the “Power of Why” my friends. Your teams and your customers will thank you.