Ah, you are speaking my quality language for sure!
If anyone is looking for additional resources, I suggest looking up the Fishbone Diagram. Really, the only thing you need is this:
What are the major categories of the problems at hand? If you can't think of any, then use the categories below:
- What METHODS are you using that are causing the problem?
- What EQUIPMENT is lacking or out of date that is causing the issue?
- What MANPOWER is lacking or causing the pinch point?
- What MATERIALS would you need to make things better / easier / different
- What MEASUREMENTS do you need to make things better or are you measuring anything at all?
- What ENVIRONMENTAL changes do you need to make to make this better / easier / different?
You can use the 5 Why's on each to see if there is something you can Pareto into existence (the concept being 80% of the value comes from 20% of the changes).
Also, as much as people dislike AI, this is a prime use example of what AI can be used for. We have our own blindspots and AI can generate multiple unique suggestions and ideas for every category.
From an AI session this morning regarding this very topic:
Define the Problem:
Problem Statement: "I feel disconnected and lack motivation."
Identify Major Categories:
The Fishbone Diagram typically includes several categories. For this situation, we might choose categories like:
Personal Factors
Work/Professional Life
Relationships
Health and Well-being
Environmental Factors
Mindset/Beliefs
Brainstorm Possible Causes for Each Category:
Personal Factors:
Lack of hobbies or interests
Unclear personal goals
Low self-esteem
Work/Professional Life:
Lack of challenging tasks
Unfulfilling job
Poor work-life balance
Relationships:
Lack of meaningful connections
Feeling unsupported
Conflict with family or friends
Health and Well-being:
Poor physical health or fitness
Mental health issues (e.g., depression)
Poor sleep or diet
Environmental Factors:
Uncomfortable living environment
Lack of exposure to new experiences
Geographical isolation
Mindset/Beliefs:
Pessimistic outlook
Existential doubts
Fear of failure or success
Analyze and Identify Key Factors:
The client should look at the Fishbone Diagram and identify which factors seem to have the most significant impact on their feelings of disconnection. The goal is to identify the 20% of causes that might be leading to 80% of the problem, in line with the Pareto Principle.
For instance:
If the client identifies that a lack of meaningful connections and poor mental health are the most prominent causes, these areas would be the primary focus for intervention.
Prioritize Actions:
Once the key factors are identified, the client can prioritize actions to address these areas.
For Relationships: Start with small steps to reconnect with people who matter or seek new meaningful connections.
For Mental Health: Consider talking to a therapist or counselor, engaging in mindfulness or self-care practices, and establishing routines that promote well-being.
Implement and Monitor:
After identifying and prioritizing the key areas for change, the client should create an action plan to address these factors and regularly monitor progress. The focus should be on the areas with the highest potential impact.
I really appreciate that you used the example of always arriving late. That's a characteristic I have, and largely for the reasons you noted. I could also add that I usually have lots of projects and I want to finish them before I go somewhere else, which also puts me behind. This was very relatable and I'm glad I'm not alone.
I arrived early (read: on time) for a party once. Was shamed deeply for arriving early. Nonetheless, I highly recommend doing whatever you need to do to get to appointments early. I have found that my stress level and shame level are very low when I arrive early. You can breathe which is essential to life. You can observe which allows you to see that you are not the only one struggling. You can relax in the knowledge that you are doing all you can. Some famous guy once said that showing up is 98% of life. I would submit that showing up early is 98% of life.
This is such a handy process I use for myself and with my burnout clients. Often the first response is the message we're telling ourselves but not what's really going on.
That gnarly uncomfortable stuff is where the real change happens.
Ah, you are speaking my quality language for sure!
If anyone is looking for additional resources, I suggest looking up the Fishbone Diagram. Really, the only thing you need is this:
What are the major categories of the problems at hand? If you can't think of any, then use the categories below:
- What METHODS are you using that are causing the problem?
- What EQUIPMENT is lacking or out of date that is causing the issue?
- What MANPOWER is lacking or causing the pinch point?
- What MATERIALS would you need to make things better / easier / different
- What MEASUREMENTS do you need to make things better or are you measuring anything at all?
- What ENVIRONMENTAL changes do you need to make to make this better / easier / different?
You can use the 5 Why's on each to see if there is something you can Pareto into existence (the concept being 80% of the value comes from 20% of the changes).
Also, as much as people dislike AI, this is a prime use example of what AI can be used for. We have our own blindspots and AI can generate multiple unique suggestions and ideas for every category.
From an AI session this morning regarding this very topic:
Define the Problem:
Problem Statement: "I feel disconnected and lack motivation."
Identify Major Categories:
The Fishbone Diagram typically includes several categories. For this situation, we might choose categories like:
Personal Factors
Work/Professional Life
Relationships
Health and Well-being
Environmental Factors
Mindset/Beliefs
Brainstorm Possible Causes for Each Category:
Personal Factors:
Lack of hobbies or interests
Unclear personal goals
Low self-esteem
Work/Professional Life:
Lack of challenging tasks
Unfulfilling job
Poor work-life balance
Relationships:
Lack of meaningful connections
Feeling unsupported
Conflict with family or friends
Health and Well-being:
Poor physical health or fitness
Mental health issues (e.g., depression)
Poor sleep or diet
Environmental Factors:
Uncomfortable living environment
Lack of exposure to new experiences
Geographical isolation
Mindset/Beliefs:
Pessimistic outlook
Existential doubts
Fear of failure or success
Analyze and Identify Key Factors:
The client should look at the Fishbone Diagram and identify which factors seem to have the most significant impact on their feelings of disconnection. The goal is to identify the 20% of causes that might be leading to 80% of the problem, in line with the Pareto Principle.
For instance:
If the client identifies that a lack of meaningful connections and poor mental health are the most prominent causes, these areas would be the primary focus for intervention.
Prioritize Actions:
Once the key factors are identified, the client can prioritize actions to address these areas.
For Relationships: Start with small steps to reconnect with people who matter or seek new meaningful connections.
For Mental Health: Consider talking to a therapist or counselor, engaging in mindfulness or self-care practices, and establishing routines that promote well-being.
Implement and Monitor:
After identifying and prioritizing the key areas for change, the client should create an action plan to address these factors and regularly monitor progress. The focus should be on the areas with the highest potential impact.
I really appreciate that you used the example of always arriving late. That's a characteristic I have, and largely for the reasons you noted. I could also add that I usually have lots of projects and I want to finish them before I go somewhere else, which also puts me behind. This was very relatable and I'm glad I'm not alone.
I arrived early (read: on time) for a party once. Was shamed deeply for arriving early. Nonetheless, I highly recommend doing whatever you need to do to get to appointments early. I have found that my stress level and shame level are very low when I arrive early. You can breathe which is essential to life. You can observe which allows you to see that you are not the only one struggling. You can relax in the knowledge that you are doing all you can. Some famous guy once said that showing up is 98% of life. I would submit that showing up early is 98% of life.
This is such a handy process I use for myself and with my burnout clients. Often the first response is the message we're telling ourselves but not what's really going on.
That gnarly uncomfortable stuff is where the real change happens.
Great overview!
I like the idea of - definitely going to try that
The 5 questions you asked and the answers you gave as an example are almost the exact same line of thinking I've had about why I'm late so often 😆