Fix the Symptom and You'll Fix It Twice
When something goes wrong, the obvious cause is rarely the root one. Fix that and the problem tends to come back wearing a different coat. The Five Whys is a simple habit: ask why, take the answer, and ask why again, until you reach a cause you can actually change.
Try It on a Real Problem
- State the problem in one plain sentence.
- Ask 'why did that happen?' and write down the honest answer, not the comfortable one.
- Repeat until you reach something you control, usually after three to five rounds.
Five Is a Guide, Not a Rule
The number isn't the point. The skill is not stopping at the first reasonable-sounding answer.