I have been thinking lately about the concept of Why. You may have seen the TED Talk by Simon Sinek. The concept is simple. If you know and clearly communicate your Why, you can inspire team members and customers.
Example of A Great Why
Recently I stopped to get lunch from Chipotle. They had changed the look of their menu, and I immediately noticed two things. First, they clearly state their Why. They call it Food Integrity.
Second, their Why clearly influences the How and What of their menu. Notice the simplicity. What do you want (burrito, taco, salad)? What meat do you want? What sides do you want?
A Clear Why Makes It Easy
A clearly defined Why makes it easier to state the How and What. Defining the Why is the hardest part. What is your Why? Have you spent any time lately to write it down? A few minutes, a couple of hours, a day?
Very good, brief, and clean explanation of the importance of Why. Thanks!
Some time ago I learned a “method of 5 why” as the most efficient way to identify source of any problem. Since then I have never found more efficient method.
How does it work? Ask “Why has this happened?” Then, to the answer you find or get, ask “Why?” again. Do it 5 times and you will most likely know the real source of the problem.
The reason why many problems reappear again and again is that most people get angry when having to answer “Why?” more than 3 times in a row and never get to the fifth iteration.
This is also why I am so much looking forward to the time my son (2 and half years now) will start asking why. That will be the time when he will really start learning to solve problems. And my best way to help him will be to be patient and keep answering. Just to make sure he will never feel afraid asking why 5 times in a row.
Hi HOnza! Thanks for stopping by our blog.
Why really is a powerful word. It is essential for identifying the source of something–why an organization exist, why a problem exists, etc.
Another aspect of Why is on a personal level. Jon Acuff has written a new book on finding your personal Why.
“Food with Integrity” I love it! Now that’s an inspirational way to look at food!
I read in another blog somewhere something along this line: To live without faith, without a patrimony to defend, without a steady struggle for truth, that is not living, but merely existing.
True of a person and probably also true of a business. Everything needs a powerful WHY, a powerful reason to live and thus impact the world, otherwise we’re merely existing.
I think all of them are important: the why, the what and the how. And all of them are related.
Without the what you can have the why, but not vice versa. A lot of people know they want something, but their why is “because I want it”. The how is important to us, developers but not the client. They don’t care, they just want their “what.”
I love the Chipotle example, because I noticed the same things about them. I love their simplicity and continued quality.
Thanks for writing this.
Hi Agi, thanks for dropping by.
I agree. Each is important. The reminder is Why must come first. Without it, How and What do not matter.