Stop Solving the Same Problem Twice

When something goes wrong, most leaders ask: Who made the mistake?

Sometimes that's the right question. But if you've had to solve the same operational breakdown multiple times, it's time to start asking a different one.

What made this mistake so likely?

Were expectations clear? Did the team have the information they needed to make a good decision? Did the process or infrastructure make success more difficult than it needed to be?

Accountability still matters. But addressing individual performance and improving the system serve different purposes.

Accountability addresses today's problem. Diagnosing why the same problem keeps happening is what prevents your organization from paying the exact same tax next month.