Comments on: Leadership and Simplicity http://www.n2growth.com/blog/keeping-it-simple/ Where CEOs Come to Grow & where Leadership Matters Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:46:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mike Myatt http://www.n2growth.com/blog/keeping-it-simple/comment-page-1/#comment-32426 Mike Myatt Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:31:00 +0000 http://www.n2growth.com/blog/keeping-it-simple#comment-32426 Most athletes will share it's their efforts to simply the complexities associated with any given task (mental or physical) that gives them a competitive edge. To improve a jump shot, a golf swing, a running stride, etc., it's necessary to simply them by exploiting the opportunity that comes from eliminating the complexities associated with unnecessary movements, hitches, etc. Most athletes will share it’s their efforts to simply the complexities associated with any given task (mental or physical) that gives them a competitive edge. To improve a jump shot, a golf swing, a running stride, etc., it’s necessary to simply them by exploiting the opportunity that comes from eliminating the complexities associated with unnecessary movements, hitches, etc.

]]> By: Peter van Riet http://www.n2growth.com/blog/keeping-it-simple/comment-page-1/#comment-32423 Peter van Riet Fri, 14 Oct 2011 06:36:00 +0000 http://www.n2growth.com/blog/keeping-it-simple#comment-32423 I like to compare it with sport. Top athletes make their sport look easy when in fact (or because) they embrace the complexity of their craft. That is their talent and skill: a simple approach to complexity. They don't run away from it, but deal with it for what it is. I like to compare it with sport. Top athletes make their sport look easy when in fact (or because) they embrace the complexity of their craft. That is their talent and skill: a simple approach to complexity. They don’t run away from it, but deal with it for what it is.

]]> By: Jean Kantambu Latting http://www.n2growth.com/blog/keeping-it-simple/comment-page-1/#comment-32422 Jean Kantambu Latting Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:04:00 +0000 http://www.n2growth.com/blog/keeping-it-simple#comment-32422 Thanks for the clarification, Peter, between simple and easy. Good food for thought. Perhaps you are distinguishing between simple to understand and easy to implement? The solutions I cited are simple to understand yet hard to implement. I say that the skills in my book, Reframing Change, are  "deceptively simple" because they are easy to understand yet difficult to implement. Would you say this is getting at what you mean -- or am I "over-simplifying" it :-) Jean Thanks for the clarification, Peter, between simple and easy. Good food for thought. Perhaps you are distinguishing between simple to understand and easy to implement? The solutions I cited are simple to understand yet hard to implement. I say that the skills in my book, Reframing Change, are  “deceptively simple” because they are easy to understand yet difficult to implement. Would you say this is getting at what you mean — or am I “over-simplifying” it :-)

Jean

]]> By: Mike Myatt http://www.n2growth.com/blog/keeping-it-simple/comment-page-1/#comment-32421 Mike Myatt Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:06:00 +0000 http://www.n2growth.com/blog/keeping-it-simple#comment-32421 Hi Jean: Thanks for your comment. I actually agree with the quote "behind every complex problem is a simple solution." To that quote I would add that simplicity alone doesn't mean the solution is correct. In the examples you cited, I believe the distinction which needs to be made is the difference between easy vs. hard. Easy often masquerades as simple, when it often breeds its own set of complications. Simple doesn't mean lacking in detail, process, or logic, rather, simple means not layering in unneeded detail, process, or logic just for the sake of feigning sophistication. I actually believe the solutions you cited as being the correct solutions are in fact simple - they just aren't easy. Thanks for adding to the thought stream Jean... Hi Jean:

Thanks for your comment. I actually agree with the quote “behind every complex problem is a simple solution.” To that quote I would add that simplicity alone doesn’t mean the solution is correct. In the examples you cited, I believe the distinction which needs to be made is the difference between easy vs. hard. Easy often masquerades as simple, when it often breeds its own set of complications. Simple doesn’t mean lacking in detail, process, or logic, rather, simple means not layering in unneeded detail, process, or logic just for the sake of feigning sophistication. I actually believe the solutions you cited as being the correct solutions are in fact simple – they just aren’t easy. Thanks for adding to the thought stream Jean…

]]> By: Jean Latting http://www.n2growth.com/blog/keeping-it-simple/comment-page-1/#comment-32420 Jean Latting Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:52:00 +0000 http://www.n2growth.com/blog/keeping-it-simple#comment-32420 On the one hand, I agree that people (myself included) often unnecessarily make easy things hard and unusable. On the other hand, one of my favorite quotes is "behind every complex problem is a simple solution -- and it's usually wrong." The challenge is to convey a complex idea in simple terms rather than to try to "simplify" complexity by taking the first easy solution that pops into one's head.  -- Kids acting up? Punish them. (Learning effective, nonviolent means of discipline is too complex.)  -- New change initiative? Order employees to comply. (Taking the time to communicate about the change and involve employees in its implementation is too complex.) -- Jails overcrowded by people who haven't even graduated high school? Build more jails! (Figuring out which GED and high school programs are most effective and then actually implementing them is too complex.) The simple route is to address the visible problem at hand -- pulling the dead bodies out of the water. The more complex and harder route is to figure out how to address the cause of the problem -- to go upstream and see what's causing all those dead bodies to show up in the first place. Now, that doesn't excuse meandering, unfocused explanations and meetings.  However it does mean that the danger of simplification can be just real as the danger of unnecessary, unfocused complexity. Your word "usability" is key. Could we simply convey a complex solution in a way that people can understand and use the idea? Jean On the one hand, I agree that people (myself included) often unnecessarily make easy things hard and unusable.

On the other hand, one of my favorite quotes is “behind every complex problem is a simple solution — and it’s usually wrong.” The challenge is to convey a complex idea in simple terms rather than to try to “simplify” complexity by taking the first easy solution that pops into one’s head. 
– Kids acting up? Punish them. (Learning effective, nonviolent means of discipline is too complex.) 
– New change initiative? Order employees to comply. (Taking the time to communicate about the change and involve employees in its implementation is too complex.)
– Jails overcrowded by people who haven’t even graduated high school? Build more jails! (Figuring out which GED and high school programs are most effective and then actually implementing them is too complex.)

The simple route is to address the visible problem at hand — pulling the dead bodies out of the water. The more complex and harder route is to figure out how to address the cause of the problem — to go upstream and see what’s causing all those dead bodies to show up in the first place.

Now, that doesn’t excuse meandering, unfocused explanations and meetings.  However it does mean that the danger of simplification can be just real as the danger of unnecessary, unfocused complexity.

Your word “usability” is key. Could we simply convey a complex solution in a way that people can understand and use the idea?
Jean

]]> By: Mike Myatt http://www.n2growth.com/blog/keeping-it-simple/comment-page-1/#comment-32419 Mike Myatt Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:46:00 +0000 http://www.n2growth.com/blog/keeping-it-simple#comment-32419 This is an astute observation Peter. I've also observed the K.I.S.S. principle being used as a dodge for doing what's necessary. "Getting it" will always be crucial:). Thanks Peter. This is an astute observation Peter. I’ve also observed the K.I.S.S. principle being used as a dodge for doing what’s necessary. “Getting it” will always be crucial:). Thanks Peter.

]]> By: Peter van Riet http://www.n2growth.com/blog/keeping-it-simple/comment-page-1/#comment-32418 Peter van Riet Thu, 13 Oct 2011 08:16:00 +0000 http://www.n2growth.com/blog/keeping-it-simple#comment-32418 I completely agree. However, one occasionaly comes across people / managers who try to keep it simple by not being intrested in the actual complexity. They try to receive simplicity rather than going through the process of making things simple. Slight problem is: if they read a post like this, they will probably feel encouraged, thinking they are on the right track......."Getting it" is still crucial. Peter van Riet (Netherlands) I completely agree. However, one occasionaly comes across people / managers who try to keep it simple by not being intrested in the actual complexity. They try to receive simplicity rather than going through the process of making things simple. Slight problem is: if they read a post like this, they will probably feel encouraged, thinking they are on the right track…….”Getting it” is still crucial.

Peter van Riet
(Netherlands)

]]>