Why You're Solving the Wrong Problem (and How to Fix It Fast)
- Marina Lukyanova
- Aug 27
- 2 min read
When traction stalls, most founders rush to solve what’s directly in front of them: slower sales, feature delays, missed metrics.
But in scaling companies, the visible problem is rarely the real problem. What you’re seeing is a symptom. The root cause often lives deeper in your structure, decision flows, or communication gaps.
One of the fastest ways to get clarity is a deceptively simple tool: the “5 Whys + 1-Sentence Problem” technique.
The Tool: 5 Whys + 1-Sentence Problem Definition
This is a lightweight, fast diagnostic I use inside alignment audits and leadership offsites. It cuts through noise and helps teams frame their real problem in one sentence so they can solve it instead of spinning on symptoms.
Here’s how it works:
Name the pain point. What outcome is blocked? (E.g., “We're missing launch targets.”)
Ask why. Why is this happening?
Ask why again. For every answer, go deeper, 5 times minimum.
Look for the system gap. Don’t stop at behaviors. Get to process, ownership, or structure.
Write the 1-sentence problem. It should describe the root cause and its impact clearly, without jargon.
Example in Action:
“We’re launching features, but revenue isn’t growing.”
Why? → Users aren’t converting
Why? → Onboarding doesn’t lead to upgrades
Why? → Sales and product don’t coordinate
Why? → There’s no shared onboarding narrative or handoff
Why? → No cross-functional owner for onboarding flow
Problem Statement:“We lack a cross-functional owner for onboarding, leading to poor coordination between product and sales, which blocks user conversion.”
That’s not just a surface problem. It’s a solvable strategic bottleneck.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Stopping at surface symptoms
Writing long, vague problem definitions
Blaming people before diagnosing systems
This tool helps avoid solution theatre and align your team around the real issue before building plans, OKRs, or growth experiments.
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Marina Lukyanova is a Strategy Alignement & Ops Leader helping founders and executives turn big visions into aligned strategies that actually deliver results from revenue growth to execution clarity.
👉 Want help with alignment? Learn more at alignwise.co or reach out to me on LinkedIn to turn strategic intent into operational traction that moves the needle.
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