We’ve always done it that way…

We’ve all heard it before.

Why do we do that? Inevitably someone will say because we’ve always done it that way. This response could be a defensive one or an answer because they don’t know why this task is done that way in the first place. The reality is someone did decide to do it that way. It may or may not have been a thoughtful decision. It may or may not have been a good decision. It may have been a decision based on the tools, technology, or people in place at that snapshot in time.

If you find yourself hearing that response for long enough, at some point, you should consider digging deeper. Whether you find out that it is still the best choice or that there are now better ways, you’ll be better for it. When you’re performing a task, knowing why something is the way it is, frees your mind to solve that problem and not be distracted by why you’re doing it the way you’re doing it.

It also allows you to consider ways to automate or streamline a task because you now know all the parameters around it.