The Problem with ‘7 Steps’ and ‘3 Things’: Embracing Complexity

My news feed is filled with articles that provide easy answers. Do these headlines sound familiar?

• Seven steps to solving workplace conflict
• Three things that will change your life
• Four ways to raise healthy children
• Five ingredients that will change your diet
• You won’t believe #9!

Unfortunately, catchy headlines work! I often delve into these articles only to be disappointed with their content. I fear that this editorial trend is creating a culture of over-simplified solutions based on pop-culture principles. The core problem with catchy headlines is that most of the promised solutions trivialize complexity.

In his seminal book, The Fifth Discipline, Peter Senge reminds us that the complexity of our daily interactions is increasing. As a result, he proposes that effectiveness requires that we identify the structures which underlie complex situations. This is called systems thinking and requires us to evaluate how different parts interrelate over time and how they relate to other systems. For example, disciplining an employee for tardiness is ineffective unless it considers related factors such as the impact of their special-needs child or an addiction problem. Addressing an issue like this requires that we evaluate the individuals’ system.

Embracing Complexity

These questions may help you as you seek to identify and assess the systems which are at work in your complex world.

1. Do we thrive amidst rules or principles? Catchy headlines tend to rely on rules. I believe success is derived from being principle driven versus rules-driven. However, understanding principles take work.
2. Do successful people or organizations adopt or adapt? What works in one place doesn’t always work in another. Successful people learn from others, but they always adapt these lessons to ensure they fit their own situation. Adapting requires that we identify the principles of success rather than duplicating someone else’s practices (see #1!).
3. Are people or organizations like gears or snowflakes? A colleague recently referred to his clients as snowflakes. They all appear similar from a distance, but when viewed closely, everyone is unique and different. The snowflake embodies the concept of complexity and why we should challenge easy answers.
4. Is your environment changing (open) or unchanging (closed)? Rules and prescribed solutions work when there is little change in an environment. However, there are very few closed systems in our world! When you acknowledge your changing environment, you will be forced to look for patterns over time, see the big picture, identify complex interactions, and validate your understanding of ‘what causes what’ (Hughes & Beatty, 2005, p. 74).  

I was tempted to title this blog, “The one thing your MBA didn’t teach you”, but I had to follow my own advice! Successful people are able to synthesize complexity and that cannot be accomplished in ‘seven steps’ or by doing ‘three things’.

Jeff Suderman is a professor and consultant who works in the field of organizational development. He partners with clients to improve leadership, teamwork, organizational alignment, strategy and their FutureReadiness. He resides in Palm Desert, California. Twitter: @jlsuderman

Hughes, R., & Beatty, K. (2005). Becoming a strategic leader your role in your organization’s enduring success. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.