Did You Ask Why?

Author

Lauren Wambold Patel
June 25, 2024

Welcome back to The 2x2 - the ultimate newsletter for independent consultants! We're here to ignite your imagination, empower your expertise, and make this Twosday an unforgettable day of discovery.

Get ready for a double dose of awesomeness in this week’s email:

  1. Framework Focus: The Five Whys

    The Five Whys can save your career. And you don’t have to learn it the hard way like I did. Get to the root cause of the problem with this well-known problem-solving tool. Download our template below to see a sample.

  2. Because That’s Amore

    Spaghetti is better with more parmesan. The same way your deck is going to look nicer with more icons.

But before we go there…

Take it from me: solving strategic problems doesn’t always have to be complicated.

I’ve made a career in solving problems and I want to share with you my top tips from almost 25 (!) years in this business: 

  1. You can’t find a solution if you don’t know what problem you’re solving. The first step is to make sure you have defined the problem – and that the team agrees that is the problem, too. 

  2. Use a process to solve a problem. Otherwise, it’s just guesswork and chaos.

  3. Don’t mistake action for answers. A bias for action is good, as long as consideration comes first.

  4. Break it down, build it up, break it down again. The process to solve a problem is a series of breaking things into bits you can navigate, finding insight, and putting them back together in new and better ways. 

  5. Socialization = Success. The right people need to be engaged and on board.

And we’ll explore more of these during our workshop THIS THURSDAY, June 27th. Learn some valuable tips to streamline your work and solve strategic problems efficiently.

And while you’re at it, go ahead and block your calendar for our workshops – happening (almost) every third Thursday of every month!

1. Framework Focus: The Five Whys

The Five Whys can save your career. And you don’t have to learn it the hard way like I did.

The Five Whys is a well-known problem-solving tool. Initially developed in the 1970s by Sakichi Toyoda to help improve Toyota production, it was made famous as a McKinsey method for getting to the root cause of a problem.

It is also, less famously, the reason why I did not get past the second round of interviews at McKinsey.

Learn from McKinsey (and not from me): use this tool to rapidly move to root cause identification. 

Check out more Strategic Frameworks in our Community.

2. Because That’s Amore

Need to jazz up your slides?

Trust us: icons are the answer.

The more icons you add, the more your client is going to love it.

Works every time.

Remember, the path to success is paved with continuous learning and embracing fresh perspectives.

Let's stay connected, share ideas, and elevate your consulting business.

Stay curious, friends.

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