“failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”

– henry ford

Introduction: Understanding 5 whys Approach

Failure is one of the most feared words in the world.

We all love success but hate failure.

But you can utilize your failure for your advantage if you know how?

I know it can be hard to swallow, but it is 100 % true.

There are ample of real-life examples of famous celebrities and renowned people,

who turned their failure into a massive success.

The best way to deal with your failures is to analyze them.

It just takes a couple of minutes to complete.

But it can significantly reduce the chances of repeating the same mistakes over and over again.

Why is the root cause analysis of failure important for success?

• Learning and Growth

Analyzing the root cause of failures in life helps you learn from your mistakes and grow as an individual.

It allows you to understand the factors that led to the failure , identify areas for improvement and achieve your desired success in life.

• Understanding Past Failures

Root cause analysis involves reflecting on past failures and setbacks.

By understanding the underlying reasons for these failures, you gain valuable insights into the obstacles and

challenges that hindered your progress toward your goals.

• Identifying Limiting Beliefs

Failures can sometimes be caused by limiting beliefs or self-doubt.

Analyzing the root cause helps you recognize and challenge these beliefs, allowing you to break free from self-imposed barriers.

What is root cause analysis?

Root cause analysis (RCA) is a problem-solving technique

used to identify the underlying or fundamental causes of an issue or failure,

rather than just addressing its symptoms.

The goal of a root cause analysis is to get to the root of the problem,

allowing organizations or individuals to implement effective and sustainable solutions.

7 simple steps to conduct root cause analysis of your failure:

1. Define the Problem

Clearly define the failure that needs to be analyzed.

Be specific about what went wrong and the impact it had.

Having a clear problem statement will allow you to avoid any confusion, find better solutions and conduct a root cause analysis properly.

Not defining a problem clearly, carries risk of misidentifying a problem

which can waste a lot of time and effort, exacerbating the existing problem.

• Clearly State the Issue

Start by stating the problem in a clear and concise manner.

Use specific language to describe what the problem is

and avoid any vague or ambiguous statements.

• Describe the Impact

Explain the consequences or impact of the problem. For Example,

How does it affect your life?

This helps in understanding the severity and urgency of the problem.

• Identify the Symptoms

Identify the observable symptoms or manifestations of the problem.

These are the signs that indicate the presence of the issue.

2. Gather Information

Gather all relevant information related to the failure.

This may include your experience, expert opinion, and root causes that may be associated with the problem.

You can also analyze the past events and actions that might have caused the failure.

This step is very critical in deeply understanding the various causes of a failure.

Relevant and accurate information is the backbone of Effective ‘root cause analysis’.

3. Create a Timeline

Develop a timeline of events leading up to the failure.

This helps in understanding the sequence of events and identifying potential trigger points.

This is quite useful especially when you are not sure of the root cause or

lack a proper understanding of the circumstances that led to the failure.

Creating a timeline of actions you took provides a clear perspective

that can make it easier to conduct a root cause analysis.

4. Use “5 Whys” Technique

Use the “5 Whys” technique to dig deeper into the problem.

Start by asking “why” the failure occurred and then repeat the question multiple times for each answer.

This can help you in identifying the root cause behind each contributing factor.

• Ask “Why?” Once

Ask yourself or your team why the problem occurred.

For example, “Why did the machine break down?”

• Ask “Why?” Four More Times

In this technique of ‘5 whys’, For each cause identified in the previous step, ask “why” again to dig deeper into the issue.

Each “why” question should be based on the answer to the previous “why” question.

Continue this process for a total of five “why” questions.

• Reach the Root Cause

By asking “why” multiple times in 5 whys, you will gradually uncover deeper layers of causes,

eventually leading to the root cause of the problem.

The root cause is the deepest layer of the problem,

that if addressed will prevent the problem from recurring.

5. Develop Corrective Actions

Now, Based on the root causes identified,

develop appropriate corrective actions to prevent the failure from recurring.

Ensure that the solutions directly address the root cause and not just the symptoms on the surface.

• Brainstorming

Generate as many ideas and solutions as possible without judgment.

Brainstorming allows for creative thinking

and the exploration of different possibilities to solve problems more effectively.

• Decision Matrix

The 2nd step is to Create a decision matrix to compare

and evaluate different solutions based on predefined criteria.

This technique helps in making an objective and informed choice from the multiple options you have. Which is crucial for effective root cause analysis.

7. Implement Corrective Actions

Put the corrective actions into practice and a timeline for implementation of your plan.

• Clearly Define the Corrective Actions

Be specific and clear about the corrective actions

that need to be implemented and the specific process to implement the actions.

• Monitor Progress

Regularly monitor the progress of each corrective action.

Use key performance indicators (KPIs) or milestones to track the status of implementation

for making necessary changes when necessary.

The Bottom Line:

The root cause analysis technique “5 whys” is an incredibly powerful and simple tool to deal with your failures.

Analyzing failure using 5 whys will allow you to learn from your mistakes and grow.

Failure can often be caused by limiting beliefs and self-doubt.

Conducting a root cause analysis using 5 whys allows you to discover those limiting beliefs

and eliminate them as quickly as possible.

Additional Resources:

• 10 Healthy Ways to Cope With Failure
• What to do when it all goes wrong – tips for dealing with failure