Getting to the root cause: The Lice Story

Sit tight, here comes the story:

A month ago, I was packing for our annual trip to Brazil when I noticed my daughter scratching her head. Instinctively, I asked her to wash her hair, which is always a battle. She has beautiful long, curly hair that takes a lot of time to care for, and as a typical 8-year-old, she doesn’t want to spend that time on her hair. When we arrived in Brazil, the scratching continued. Quick to act, I bought every anti-dandruff shampoo known to mankind. Lara’s hair smelled like a botanical garden, but the scratching persisted.

I changed her conditioner and leave-in treatment. I switched to hypoallergenic shampoo. Yet, Lara’s itchy head persisted. I then considered she might be having an allergic reaction to something and gave her an antihistamine. Nothing changed. I took her to a pharmacy and asked the pharmacist to look at her head for any lesions or patches that might explain the itchiness. Nothing.

A month later, as I packed for our return home, my aunt was sitting on the floor playing with Lara. Suddenly, she said, “I can’t believe you are still scratching your head. Let me see!” She grabbed her glasses, and decided to investigate up close. What she saw made her eyes widen – tiny, wiggling creatures having a great time on Lara’s scalp.

"Lice!" she exclaimed. Lara, in her usual cheerful manner, asked, "What are they? Do I have fleas like the dog?”

“Lice?” I yelled. How did I never think of that? My poor baby had suffered for a whole month, and I never considered this possibility.

After a trip to the pharmacy for some lice treatment and a thorough cleaning of the house, we boarded our plane and got home safely, lice-free. Her head stopped itching, and I could finally put away the arsenal of shampoos.

Of course, I felt like a horrible mom for missing this. I treated the symptoms but didn’t get to the root cause soon enough. I got over the guilt and learned a big lesson: at work, I always look for the root cause of the problems I face and instruct my teams to do the same, instead of just treating the symptoms. This experience was a humbling reminder to apply that principle at home as well.

Let’s talk about this:

How many times do we go through life treating symptoms and not really digging into the root cause of our problems? Whether at work or in our personal lives, we often address the immediate issues without examining the underlying causes. This approach might provide temporary relief, but it rarely leads to lasting solutions.

In our professional lives, we might encounter recurring issues such as missed deadlines, low team morale, or declining performance. We may address these problems by pushing for harder deadlines, organizing team-building activities, or launching new motivational campaigns. However, if we don’t investigate the root causes—perhaps inefficient processes, lack of clear communication, or misalignment of goals—we are merely putting band-aids on deeper wounds.

The same principle applies to our personal lives. We might feel stressed, unhappy, or disconnected from our loved ones. In response, we might take a vacation, buy a new pair of shoes, or seek temporary distractions (get drunk, scroll thru social media for hours, or do online shopping). These actions might offer short-term comfort but fail to address the underlying issues such as unbalanced work-life routines, unresolved conflicts, or unmet personal needs. 

A good friend of mine complained some time ago about feeling disconnected from her teenage daughter. She noticed that they had grown distant as her daughter spent more time on her phone and less time with her. Despite her efforts to reconnect—talking to her, reminiscing about good times, and even buying her a new iPad—nothing seemed to work. Eventually, my friend realized that the root cause was her own increasingly busy schedule, which left her daughter feeling neglected. With this insight, she decided to prioritize quality time with her daughter to rebuild their bond.

Getting to the root cause is not easy, it requires a deeper level of introspection and a willingness to ask tough questions. It involves looking beyond the surface and understanding the fundamental reasons behind our challenges. It might mean reevaluating our priorities, changing habits, or having difficult conversations.

By addressing the root causes, we can create more sustainable and meaningful solutions. In the workplace, this could mean redesigning processes for better efficiency, improving communication channels, or realigning team objectives. In our personal lives, it could involve setting clear boundaries, seeking therapy, or investing time in self-care and personal growth.

Taking the time to dig deeper can be challenging and uncomfortable, but it is essential for real progress and lasting change. The next time you encounter a problem, ask yourself: Am I treating the symptoms, or am I addressing the root cause? The answer could lead to profound improvements in both your professional and personal life.

My experience with Lara and the lice made me realize how often we address surface issues without digging deeper into the root causes. Sometimes we intentionally avoid addressing the root cause—like avoiding setting boundaries with a toxic person because it feels too painful. Other times, as with the lice situation, we miss the root cause unintentionally, perhaps due to lack of knowledge or unconscious biases. I didn’t consider lice because I associated them with uncleanliness and didn’t have experience with them before. Regardless, addressing the root cause is crucial for lasting solutions. By being intentional about finding and tackling real problems, we can avoid prolonged discomfort and achieve true resolution and peace.

Let's commit to understanding the true source of our problems and solving them from the root, ensuring genuine improvements in our lives and those of our loved ones.

What excellence looks like:

• We communicate openly and effectively, leading to deeper connections and understanding. Issues like miscommunication and neglect would be resolved at their core.

• Instead of temporarily alleviating stress and anxiety, we address the underlying causes, leading to lasting mental well-being.

• At the workplace, if we identify and resolve root causes of inefficiencies and burnout, we can lead to more productive, satisfied and engaged employees.

​​Food for Thought:

"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." vy Abraham Lincoln

Resources:

Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know - This book encourages readers to question their assumptions and be open to rethinking their beliefs, which is crucial for identifying and addressing root causes rather than just symptoms.