Getting to the Root: A Personal Practice for Lasting Change

Part 3 of the Root Cause Analysis Blog Series

In the first two parts of this series, we explored what Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is and how it’s often used in professional environments to identify the root of recurring problems—so we’re not just patching things up, but designing solutions that address deeper breakdowns.

But today, I want to pivot inward.

Because here’s the truth: RCA isn’t just a workplace methodology—it’s a whole-person tool. And when used with intention, it becomes one of the most effective ways to examine our own habits, reactions, and patterns with more clarity and care.

Whether you’re leading a team, managing a household, or just trying to meet your own expectations, personal RCA helps us step outside of the emotional clutter and into a space of reflection, accountability, and action.

When You Don’t Examine the Root, You Risk Becoming It

Let’s start with a moment that might feel familiar.

You’re in the middle of a performance review or interview, and the feedback is… fuzzy.

You hear things like:

• “We just need someone with more presence.”

• “You’re great, but there’s something missing.”

• “We’re looking for a different kind of fit.”

There’s no policy violation, no missed deliverable, no glaring failure—just vibes and implications.

And if you’re not careful, you start internalizing it all as a personal flaw, rather than what it really is: a breakdown in communication, misaligned expectations, or a systemic issue no one is naming. Without root cause analysis, we turn into emotional sponges. We soak up every ounce of tension, confusion, and criticism in the room—without asking, “Is this really mine to hold?”

RCA gives us the tools to stop absorbing and start analyzing.

How to Use RCA in Your Personal Development

At its core, personal RCA asks us to treat our inner life with the same curiosity and rigor we bring to our work. Here’s what that can look like:

Use the “5 Whys” Technique

One of the most practical tools in Root Cause Analysis is the “5 Whys” method—a simple exercise that encourages you to peel back the layers of a problem to discover what’s fueling it.

Example:

Problem: “I keep missing opportunities to advance in my career.”

• Why? → “Because I hesitate to apply for roles I’m interested in.”

• Why? → “Because I’m not sure I meet all the qualifications.”

• Why? → “Because I focus more on what I lack than what I bring to the table.”

• Why? → “Because I’ve internalized the idea that I have to be over-prepared to be considered competent.”

• Why? → “Because my early professional experiences taught me that being ‘qualified’ isn’t always enough—being perfect is the bar.”

Rather than identifying a single “root” at the end, the combined insights from each Why give you a layered understanding of how your belief systems and behaviors were shaped—and what they’re costing you now.

That depth is where clarity lives. Once you understand the web of contributing factors, you can begin designing solutions that reflect what’s really going on—not just what’s visible on the surface.

Journal Your Patterns

RCA doesn’t always require a team meeting or a spreadsheet. Sometimes it’s just you, your notebook, and a moment of radical honesty.

Ask yourself:

• Where do I feel stuck, frustrated, or constantly reactive?

• When did this pattern begin?

• What continues to trigger it?

• Who else is consistently involved?

Identifying breakdowns—whether they show up in your relationships, your workflow, or your emotional responses—is the first step toward naming what needs to shift.

Look for Loops, Not Just Episodes

Breakdowns rarely exist in isolation. If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “I keep ending up in the same situation,” or “Why does this always happen to me?”—that’s a loop. And it’s not random.

Root Cause Analysis helps you zoom out far enough to see the pattern, not just the pain point. From that vantage point, you can finally ask:

“Am I solving the right problem?”

Because more often than not, the real issue isn’t that we haven’t tried to fix it—it’s that our solutions don’t match the actual problem. RCA helps you bridge that gap.

Real Life, Real Roots: A Few Examples

Let’s ground this in lived experience:

• Nonprofit burnout

You’re on your third nonprofit job in five years, and you’re exhausted. You love the mission, but the workload and blurry boundaries are taking a toll. Personal RCA might reveal that your sense of value is tied to being needed—which makes saying “no” feel like failure. That’s the root.

• Leadership struggles

You’ve stepped into a leadership role but feel constantly questioned. RCA might show you that your discomfort with authority figures has turned into overcompensation—and now you’re micromanaging because you fear being undermined.

• Interview self-sabotage

You prepare thoroughly for interviews but freeze up or downplay your accomplishments when asked about strengths. RCA might uncover a deep discomfort with being seen, or a fear of sounding “too much.” Addressing that belief—not just practicing answers—is what changes the game.

A Whole-Person Approach to Growth

Root Cause Analysis isn’t about blame—it’s about awareness.

When we understand why we respond the way we do, we’re better equipped to make decisions that reflect who we’re becoming—not who we’ve been trained to be.

This personal approach to RCA invites us to lead with curiosity instead of criticism, strategy instead of shame, and growth instead of guilt.

Because sustainable change starts when we stop asking “What’s wrong with me?”

And start asking “What’s underneath this pattern?”

And if you’re willing to sit with those answers, you’re already on your way to a wiser version of you.