Thrive: Keep it simple.
I’m longing for simplicity. How about you?
With so many challenges, both daily obstacles and massive global issues, the human nervous system can get pretty overloaded. The concerns we face are sometimes complicated and other times complex or chaotic. In our work, we sort through these challenges each day, trying to get something done. We could stand for a few things to be simple to solve. Our challenge is often recognizing the kind of problem we are facing and using the right kind of problem-solving approach. When we are overwhelmed, it is easy to apply a one-size-fits-all approach to every issue and miss the simple things that need simple solutions.
To avoid escalating problems and creating unneeded stress and effort, we can learn to keep what we can simple by understanding what is not simple.
The Landscape of Challenges: Simple, Complicated, Complex, and Chaotic
In the Cynefin (“ku-nev-in”) frame offered by David Snowden and Mary Boone, there are four ways to understand our challenges and make decisions in context: Simple, Complicated, Complex, and Chaotic.
Complicated
Some problems we need to solve are complicated by multiple symptoms that are known by some. We need their expertise to analyze these problems and point us to trusted solutions. This keeps us from re-solving and re-re-solving the same problems again and again. We can cut to the chase and get on with things.
Complex
Other times the problems we face are complex. We’ve not seen the likes of this thing before. We face strange symptoms in odd configurations, and we have no idea what we are dealing with or what to do. Such complex challenges need experimentation to test, learn, and find our way to novel solutions.
Chaotic
Still, other challenges are chaotic and require immediate actions to intervene and stabilize the situation in an attempt to avoid harm. We act first to mitigate immediate harm, ask questions to learn more, and move the situation to one of the other categories as soon as we have a better understanding.
Complicated, complex, and chaotic challenges are all around us, offering plenty of opportunities to solve each kind. By learning more about each type, we can avoid misdiagnosing and taking an ineffective approach. Problem-solving becomes much easier when we apply the approach that fits the challenge.
But, some problems are not complicated, complex, or chaotic.
They are simple.
Our Habit: Making Simple Problems Complicated, Complex, or Chaotic
Simple problems and simple situations are not layered. They have a clear cause-and-effect that we have seen before or have standard ways to solve.
Yet for some reason, we too often take a simple situation and treat it as if it is complicated, complex, or even chaotic.
When we do, we make simple challenges much more difficult than they need and lose the chance for a simple solution. And those actions can turn the situation into a whole other kind of problem. We waste time, resources, and energy.
Maybe we do this out of habit. Maybe ego or fear.
We insist on expertise that is not needed and don’t trust those close who know the cause and effect. Or we run test after test, gathering data, and insisting on oversight and approvals to ensure something bad doesn’t happen. Or we jump to panicked action stirring traumatic energy.
But we are overburdened and weary. And we really could stand for those things that are simple, to be kept simple.
How?
Keeping the Simple, Simple
First notice. Notice there’s a problem to solve, and notice the inclination to act on that problem a certain way.
Next, pause and get clear on what type of problem you really have. Study up on the Cynefin Framework to understand the types of problems and their solutions so you are ready when these moments come.
Then, choose the approach that matches the problem.
Avoid making what is simple into anything more than it is.
Peel away the excess.
Get clear about what’s really needed. Say no to more.
Let that be enough.
If it is simple, keep it simple.
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I share more about leading teams that thrive on To Work: With Love a NEW series airing on the Gut + Science leadership podcast. Find episodes HERE.
If you’d like to take a Thrive Self-Assessment, email me at Renee@MakeWorkMoreHuman.com
And if you want to talk about real strategies for wholeness, contact us here.
Our Thrive Strategy Lead is Faith Addicott and our Thrive Program Lead is Lili Boyanova Hugh. To learn more about bringing Thrive to your team, reach out here.
