How can you identify the root cause of career management problems?

2 How to use the 5 Whys technique

The 5 Whys technique is a simple and effective way to identify the root cause of a problem. For instance, if you are bored with your current job, you can ask yourself why five times to get to the core of the issue. For example, you may realize that you took the job for money and security rather than meaning or purpose because you lacked confidence and self-esteem. In this case, the root cause of the problem is a lack of confidence and self-esteem, which led to choices that caused boredom and dissatisfaction. By recognizing this root cause, you can work on improving your self-image and overcoming fears, as well as exploring other career options that fit your true self.

3 How to use the Fishbone Diagram technique

The Fishbone Diagram technique is a useful tool for identifying the root cause of a problem. Also known as the Ishikawa Diagram or Cause and Effect Diagram, it consists of a horizontal line representing the problem and several branches representing the categories of causes. For example, if you are not getting promoted, you could create a Fishbone Diagram with the categories People, Processes, Policies, Place, and Products. Under each category, brainstorm possible causes that contribute to the issue and prioritize them based on their impact and frequency. For instance, under People you might list your boss not recognizing or appreciating your work, colleagues being more qualified or experienced than you, clients not being satisfied with your results, and competitors being more aggressive or innovative than you. By creating a Fishbone Diagram, you can visualize the problem in a structured way and identify the most likely root cause or causes that need to be addressed.

4 How to use the Pareto Principle technique

A third technique to identify the root cause of a problem is the Pareto Principle technique, which involves applying the 80/20 rule to the problem and its causes. The Pareto Principle, also known as the Law of the Vital Few, states that 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. For example, 80% of your sales come from 20% of your customers, or 80% of your complaints come from 20% of your products. By using the Pareto Principle, you can focus on the most significant causes that account for the majority of the problem, and ignore the less important ones that have a minor impact.

To use the Pareto Principle technique, you need to collect and measure data related to the problem and its causes, and then rank them in order of magnitude. For example, if your problem is that you are not meeting your deadlines, you can collect data on how much time you spend on each task, and how often you miss or exceed the deadline. Then, you can rank the tasks according to their duration and frequency, and identify the 20% of the tasks that take up 80% of your time and cause 80% of your delays. By identifying these tasks, you can then focus on finding ways to improve your efficiency, productivity, or quality, and solve the root cause of your problem.

5 How to use a Personal Coach

While these techniques can help you to identify the root cause of your career management problems on your own, sometimes you might need some guidance, support, or feedback from a professional. A personal coach is someone who can help you to clarify your goals, identify your strengths and weaknesses, uncover your blind spots and biases, challenge your assumptions and beliefs, and create an action plan to achieve your desired outcomes. A personal coach can also provide you with tools, resources, and strategies to help you overcome any obstacles, difficulties, or setbacks that you might encounter along the way.

A personal coach can help you to identify the root cause of your career management problems by asking you powerful questions, listening to your answers, reflecting back your insights, and holding you accountable for your actions. A personal coach can also help you to explore different perspectives, options, and scenarios, and to discover new opportunities, possibilities, and solutions. By working with a personal coach, you can gain a deeper understanding of yourself, your situation, and your potential, and achieve your career goals faster and more effectively.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?