Root Cause Analysis

Never underestimate the importance of a well timed pause.

For example, if you’re on a losing streak in a tennis match, an intentional pause can interrupt your opponent’s momentum and give you a chance to “reset” physically, emotionally, and mentally.

A break in play is also an opportunity to get strategic. If you’re playing doubles, this is your chance to huddle up and problem solve as a team.?

You typically only get a few minutes between sets, so you have to work quickly and have an open mind. There’s no time to blame each other or get defensive. You need to identify the problem, determine the root cause, and decide on an action that is most likely to change your outcome.

That’s a lot to accomplish in a few short minutes, which is why you also need to use your downtime on the court to constantly analyze and improve your game play.?

Don’t get me wrong; I’m not advocating for “paralysis by analysis.” I’ve written about the dangers of perfectionism and why we should aim for progress over perfection. However, progress needs to be measured.?

Of course, this applies in business as well as tennis. In fact, I learned how effective root cause analysis can be while working for 30 years in corporations.?

Challenge the Status Quo

Great entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs relentlessly question the status quo. Here are three steps you can follow to get to the root of any problems and improve your outcomes.?

1. Pause often to examine & analyze your progress

Scheduling strategic pauses in your workflow is a power move. Regardless of which methodology, framework, or principle you prefer (Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, etc.), you should perform root cause analysis at regularly scheduled intervals. The way I learned to do root cause analysis is by prioritizing the biggest problem and then asking “why?” five times.?

Pausing for analysis on a quarterly basis is ok, but in my opinion, it isn’t often enough. Take 2022, for example. It’s been a volatile year, with wild stock market fluctuations and rising inflation rates. You need to continually analyze your business so you don’t fall behind. The longer you wait to assess and address a problem, the more difficult it is to turn losses into gains.?

2. Create a culture of curiosity, not blame?

Root cause analysis involves a close examination of your company’s data and processes. This requires an objective approach to problem solving. However, people can get emotionally attached to data points and root causes if they see them as a reflection of their performance or effort.?

That’s why it’s critical to nurture an organizational culture that’s built on curiosity and compassion. We need leaders with high EQ to model vulnerability and emphasize growth, not guilt.?

For example, when someone on your team makes a mistake, consider how you might have contributed to the problem instead of assigning blame. As leadership expert Michael Timms wrote in HBR, “learning and problem solving go out the window in workplaces that tolerate blame.”?

When your team feels safe and respected, you’ll have more honest discussions, more effective conflict resolution, and less finger pointing.?

Learn, adapt, and execute

Once you’ve examined the data and narrowed down a root cause, the next step is to fix, adjust, or learn from any underlying issue. In other words, it’s time to take action.

I like how consultant, author, and speaker ????Val Wright Wright put it in her blog, “The speed in which you can adapt and recover when the unexpected or unwelcome happens—your resilience—that is the new factor that sets apart the remarkable from the successful.”?

The faster you put what you’ve learned into practice, the faster you can change your outcomes and prevent future issues.

I’m curious—how do you incorporate root cause analysis in your own organization? And what have you done to create an “always be analyzing” attitude within your team and in your life?

Share your best practices and stories in the comments!

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