Get to the bottom of your problem fast using this insanely simple technique

Why don’t the tiles fit the board?

In what seems like a lifetime ago, I was working with a large multinational and was asked to take part in some Lean training. For those of you that don’t know, Lean is a management philosophy focused on maximizing value in your processes and minimizing waste. It comes originally from the Toyota production system—yes, the car people—and it’s now widely applied across many industries, from manufacturing to tech to solopreneur startups.

While much of the training has long since departed my aging, freelance, caffeine-addled brain, one piece of the training stuck with me: a technique to help you get to the root of a recurring problem and it’s something you can apply to any issue you face. It’s the 5 Whys technique. And yes, even freelancers can benefit from knowing about it. It’s useful for every situation where you see a recurring issue.