You can't solve complex problems. You read the correctly. You can NOT solve complex problems. Complex problems involve too many people, too many factors, too many outside sources, too many things you do not control.
It does not mean that you do not have to deal with these problems.
People all around the world are navigating one of the must universally complex problems we have every faced; the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents are figuring out how to be educators. Small business owners are figuring out how to generate business with little face-to-face contact with customers. Educators are figuring out how to deliver education to their students remotely. Pastors are figuring out how to keep parishioners attending virtual services. The list goes on and on. None of these problems will be solved. A solution implies that there is a silver bullet, magic potion, or secret combination. There is not. There may be innovation, adaptation, or resignation, but there will not be solution.
'Complex problems are never solved but can only be navigated or re-framed' - Rex Miller , author of 'Humanizing the Education Machine'
We still have to deal with these problems! This post is not meant to give us a free pass from dealing with these problems. I do hope it releases you of the pressure to solve the problems you are facing and encourages you to boldly face these problems.
How to become responsive to complex problems...
Communicate all the time - Start communicating with anyone and everyone that may be able to help you solve the problem. More importantly, communicate frequently with the people that you are partnered with that are being adversely affected by the problem. You will be amazed at how many ideas you will harvest up from unexpected sources. I'm an athletic director and many of my best ideas for the department I lead have come from people outside of my department. George Bernard Shaw once noted that 'the single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place.' I shared some deeper thought and practical tips on communication in a professional journal here.
Connect with the people that will help you navigate the problem - The strength of your connection with these people is a big deal. It will be the foundation through which you and your team will freely exchange ideas. If the people around you are holding onto ideas because they do not like or respect you, think you do not like or respect them, or do not think you care about them and their ideas you will likely miss out on important perspectives. One of the practical ways I combine communication and connection is...wait for it because it's real genius...I call people on the phone and ask them questions. *insert mind blown emoji. **insert sarcasm It is amazing how freely people will share ideas with you when you ask them, 'what do you think?'
Collaborate with the people that will help you navigate the problem - Collaboration is a huge deal in our current culture. The perception of leaders being 'the sage on the sage' has been completely undermined with the advent of the internet and free access to the world's information. Leaders need to re-imagine themselves as 'guides by the side' willing to accept and support the implementation of ideas presented by the group. Dr. Tim Elmore of Growing Leaders talks about abandoning the 'sage' model and embracing the 'guide' model. If a leader is communicating and connecting with the people around them, collaboration happens fairly smoothly.
Commit to take action - One of the biggest challenges when facing complex problems and having access to the entire world of information via the internet is the 'paralysis of analysis'. I would encourage you to communicate, connect, collaborate and then commit to action expeditiously. You are not racing to respond to the complex problems, but it is also true that the longer you wait the more the problems become rooted in your path. As John Wooden, 11x NCAA National Champion, once said, 'be quick but don't hurry.'
You will most likely not solve the very complex problems we are facing. That does not mean that you can't lead yourself and others around, under, over, or through the problems we are facing.
It does not mean that you do not have to deal with these problems.
'Complex problems are never solved but can only be navigated or re-framed' - Rex Miller , author of 'Humanizing the Education Machine'
We still have to deal with these problems! This post is not meant to give us a free pass from dealing with these problems. I do hope it releases you of the pressure to solve the problems you are facing and encourages you to boldly face these problems.
How to become responsive to complex problems...
Communicate all the time - Start communicating with anyone and everyone that may be able to help you solve the problem. More importantly, communicate frequently with the people that you are partnered with that are being adversely affected by the problem. You will be amazed at how many ideas you will harvest up from unexpected sources. I'm an athletic director and many of my best ideas for the department I lead have come from people outside of my department. George Bernard Shaw once noted that 'the single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place.' I shared some deeper thought and practical tips on communication in a professional journal here.
Connect with the people that will help you navigate the problem - The strength of your connection with these people is a big deal. It will be the foundation through which you and your team will freely exchange ideas. If the people around you are holding onto ideas because they do not like or respect you, think you do not like or respect them, or do not think you care about them and their ideas you will likely miss out on important perspectives. One of the practical ways I combine communication and connection is...wait for it because it's real genius...I call people on the phone and ask them questions. *insert mind blown emoji. **insert sarcasm It is amazing how freely people will share ideas with you when you ask them, 'what do you think?'
Collaborate with the people that will help you navigate the problem - Collaboration is a huge deal in our current culture. The perception of leaders being 'the sage on the sage' has been completely undermined with the advent of the internet and free access to the world's information. Leaders need to re-imagine themselves as 'guides by the side' willing to accept and support the implementation of ideas presented by the group. Dr. Tim Elmore of Growing Leaders talks about abandoning the 'sage' model and embracing the 'guide' model. If a leader is communicating and connecting with the people around them, collaboration happens fairly smoothly.
Commit to take action - One of the biggest challenges when facing complex problems and having access to the entire world of information via the internet is the 'paralysis of analysis'. I would encourage you to communicate, connect, collaborate and then commit to action expeditiously. You are not racing to respond to the complex problems, but it is also true that the longer you wait the more the problems become rooted in your path. As John Wooden, 11x NCAA National Champion, once said, 'be quick but don't hurry.'
You will most likely not solve the very complex problems we are facing. That does not mean that you can't lead yourself and others around, under, over, or through the problems we are facing.
Keep on, keepin' on, friends!
BLOG BIO
‘Bite Down and Don’t Let Go’ is a collection of writings on
being intentional about life in a way that produces great persistence. Read
about it more here.
Dr. Chris Hobbs is an educational leader and Director
of Athletics at The King’s Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida. He’s earned a few
degrees and won some awards. He’s happily married to his high school
sweetheart and they have three teen age children. Life is messy and complicated
most of the time. You can follow him on Twitter
for all sorts of inspirational thoughts and good laughs.
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