Can’t We Just Keep It Simple?

One of the five beliefs that govern our work with Genuine Contact is the belief in ‘keeping it simple’. Leadership today requires success in complex situations and complex systems. ‘Keeping it simple’ does not ignore this complexity. Ignoring the complexity could be fatal. Rather, for me ‘keeping it simple’ has other meanings.

Keeping it simple means that when figuring out how to handle the complexity, I approach the complexity with simple frameworks to comprehend the complexity, sometimes using the frameworks to map what is known and what is unknown to the degree that this information is available.

Keeping it simple means that I pay attention to the processes I use to engage people in conversations designed to make a difference. The simpler the process with the least amount of facilitator intrusion, the more likely the people involved in the complexity of their situation can find solutions.

Keeping it simple means that there is an important simplicity on the other side of the complexity from which traction can occur for implementing the right actions at the right time for the best results.

Keeping it simple means that any sustainable change must begin from the inside of an organization and cannot be externally driven.

One of my favorite quotes is from Oliver Wendell Holmes “I wouldn’t give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity but I’d give my life for simplicity on the far side of complexity”

Personally, I think he goes a little far in giving his life for this simplicity. And yet this quote conveys the vital importance for simplicity that takes the complexity into consideration.