Why Do You Need A Complex Solution To A Problem When A Simple One Will Fix It?
As a Professional Speaker and Corporate Trainer I get the chance to observe many massive changes in peoples productivity and workflow. However, I am always amazed at what people do when they are given a fix, solution and answer to a problem.
In the spirit of full transparency. I am a reformed control freak and over-thinker. Fixing these issues gives me some license to write and speak about my observations below. My hope is to offer you some solace from the bondage of being an overthinking control freak and implement simple solutions.
No doubt many problems are complex, multi-layered and bothersome. However, I have discovered over the past 23 years of working in this industry that no matter the complexity of the problem almost all of the solutions to the problems are simple. It’s as simple as don’t do that. Start doing this… Just as the famous quote says “just do it” but they don’t. When I sense that the (easy) solution is not going to be implemented that second I explore why?
How to implement a simple fix to a complex problem requires a few things. First, determining if you can control it and making it hard to screw up the solution.
One of the most common obstacles in implementing a simple solution is trying to control things we can’t. He’s a little help.
Running things through the control decision filter looks like this.
As you can see running these through the decision filter you get two possible outcomes. Let it go or do something about it. If social media is disruptive to you or chews up a ton of your time then delete the social media account offenders. If you are worrying about what other people think. Let it go – you cannot control third parties and people. Ruminating and overthinking. Again, through the filter it goes. It you say I can do this and handle it, then do it now. If you can control it – let is go now!
Simple right?
It is. That’s all there is to it. Another common obstacles in adopting a simple solution is wanting a complex and dense solution.
We discount solutions that lack complexity and density. I’ve found that sometimes it’s that people want to be beautiful unique snowflakes and a simple fix is to general for them. They need the density of a solution to un pack to make them feel special. You want to feel special rescue a dog from the shelter and watch how they treat you when you come home from a long day at work. There… you’re special. Feel it?
Make it hard to mess up and simple fix.
Some fixes require friction or self-imposed barriers to carry out the solution. Friction makes it hard to screw up a simple solution. You identify you have a slight peanut butter overconsumption problem. The massive amounts of nut butter you shovel down your gullet is making you fat. Hmmmmm what do you do? I’d say, don’t buy any more peanut butter and delete the @I ❤️ peanut butter account from your Instagram app (self-imposed barrier). Problem solved. You say, no my kids need peanut butter for their school lunches. I understand. Then buy it and have them hide it (friction). Every morning when you get ready to make their lunches they bring it to you. After you make the lunches they hide it again.
Now, you try it.
Take a problem run it through the decision filter. If you can’t control it then let it go. If you can control it. Look for a solution and implement it now. Apply a self-imposed barrier or friction. There you go. All better.
