You’re Solving the Wrong Problem

What you’re solving isn’t what’s actually broken...

Author

Justin Mecham
April 09, 2025

Hey Full Potential Zoners!

Solving problems isn't about quick fixes.

Problems don’t just happen, they have root causes.

When a problem feels overwhelming, it’s easy to focus on symptoms.

But the real solution? It starts with digging deeper.

The Fishbone Diagram helps you find the true cause.

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Instead of fixing symptoms, the Fishbone Diagram helps you solve the real problem.

It’s not just about fixing what’s broken— it’s about understanding why it happened.

When you understand the root cause, you create lasting solutions.

Today we are going to help leaders master this by using the:

‘Fishbone Diagram - A Smarter Way To Solve Problems'. 

Let’s dive in!

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Real Problems, Real Fixes Using the Fishbone Diagram

1. Project Deadlines Keep Slipping

Scenario: Your team is consistently missing key deadlines.

  • Define the problem:

    • “We’re consistently missing delivery dates.”

  • List categories:

    • Team, tools, scheduling, communication.

  • Brainstorm:

    • Ask “why” the delay happens in each area.

  • Spot patterns:

    • Maybe it's always when clients change scope late.

  • Prioritize:

    • Scope creep and unclear ownership are the biggest causes.

2. Customer Churn is Increasing

Scenario: More customers are canceling or leaving your platform.

  • Define the problem:

    • “Customer churn rate has risen 20% in Q2.”

  • Use categories:

    • Product usability, support delays, unclear pricing.

  • Ask “Why”:

    • Why are they leaving? Why are support tickets slow?

  • Connect dots:

    • Long response times and complex pricing show up across causes.

  • Action:

    • Fix onboarding flow and ongoing support/retention.

3. Team Morale is Dropping

Scenario: Employees are disengaged and quiet in meetings.

  • Define the issue:

    • “Team energy and engagement has dropped.”

  • Categories:

    • People, feedback, workload.

  • Dig deeper:

    • Why are people quiet? Why do they avoid meetings?

  • Patterns:

    • Micromanagement and lack of recognition appear often.

  • Root cause:

    • Team members don’t feel heard or trusted.

4. Sales Numbers Are Falling

Scenario: Despite a good product, monthly sales are declining.

  • Define the issue:

    • “Sales down 15% over last 3 months.”

  • Break down:

    • Are reps trained? Are tools outdated? Is messaging off?

  • Ask “Why”:

    • Why aren't leads converting? Why is outreach slowing?

  • Relationships:

    • Reps say CRM is slow and scripts feel outdated.

  • Root causes:

    • Misaligned pitch and slow tools.

5. High Employee Turnover in One Department

Scenario: The marketing team has lost 4 people in 6 months.

  • Write the issue clearly:

    • “Marketing turnover is higher than all other teams.”

  • Category list:

    • Work-life balance, career growth, team dynamics.

  • Ask “Why”:

    • Why are they leaving? Why isn’t leadership catching this?

  • Patterns:

    • No career path and unclear job roles.

  • Focus solution:

    • Define clear growth plans and role clarity.

6. A Product Feature Keeps Breaking

Scenario: A key feature in your app keeps failing after updates.

  • Problem:

    • “Feature X breaks post-deploy every sprint.”

  • Categories:

    • Dev process, handoff, testing, version control.

  • Ask “Why”:

    • Why is QA missing it? Why is code unreviewed?

  • Connect:

    • Bugs only happen when changes are rushed.

  • Root cause:

    • No final code freeze or full regression testing.

Leaders aren't the loudest—they’re the clearest.

Teams respect those who slow down to ask why.

You don’t need more tools. You need better thinking

Real influence comes from solving what matters.

Until next time and with lots of love,

Justin

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