Simplicity is a compelling problem-solving tool. Simplicity leads to solutions that are:
- Easy to understand
- Focused on what matters most
- Faster to test and adapt
- Easy to maintain
But human beings are prone to complexity bias! Complexity bias is our tendency to believe that complicated solutions are better than simple ones. We assume a big problem must require a certain level of knowledge and effort to solve. In other words, a simple solution seems too good to be true. Sometimes, we think complex solutions show a deeper understanding of the topic. We believe that intricate answers will impress people and give us more credibility.
But the reality is that complex solutions are often not the most effective.
Let’s dig into why we should fight our complexity bias and embrace more straightforward solutions.
Easy to understand
People often feel that complicated answers make them sound like experts. But what impresses people is if you can take something complex that seems completely unsolvable and make it easy to understand.
In my experience, a shared understanding of the problem and the solution is critical to aligning everyone. People who don’t understand something are likelier to check out or dismiss it mentally. It’s easier to influence and get more people on board if your solution is simple. As the political saying goes, “If you’re explaining, you’re losing.”
Simple communication is also an important tactic. Simplify your language. Avoid big words or jargon. If the concept feels too large, break it into smaller, more consumable parts. Ever heard the saying, “Explain it to me like I’m five?” You’ll probably lose your audience if you have to be an expert to understand the solution.
Focused on what matters most
The Pareto Principle states that 20% of actions are responsible for 80% of results. The 20% are often called “the vital few.”
Focusing on “the vital few” will help you to avoid wasting resources and building too much. It forces you to narrow down to only what truly matters.
There will always be problems within the 80% that you can also solve. But those problems are red herrings. Solving them will not get to the heart of the issue and provide the most significant impact.
The challenge is that we don’t always know why when something goes wrong. And if you ask a group of people what the issue is, they might all give different answers.
So, how do you figure out what matters most? How do you know what to focus on?
An important first step is to always keep the goal you’re trying to achieve at the forefront. Prioritize solutions that achieve the goal in the simplest way possible.
For example, imagine you’re trying to improve your company’s recruiting process. In recruiting, you want to optimize for what will bring the best candidates into your company as quickly as possible.
There’s probably a long list of things people would like to see improved in the recruiting process. But keep it simple: focus on what will attract the best candidates. That doesn’t mean that the other problems don’t exist or don’t matter, but they should not be your primary focus.
Sometimes, the simplest solution that works is the right one. Brainstorming wild, creative ideas is fun, but it’s not the quickest path to a solution.
Faster to test and adapt
A significant advantage to building a simple solution is that it requires less time and resources than a complex solution.
This gives you the flexibility to test out simple proposed solutions as early as possible to determine what works and what doesn’t. The faster you get feedback and make adjustments, the sooner your solution can be finalized.
Complex solutions typically take longer to put into place and require a lot more moving parts. Think of a game of Jenga or a house of cards. Each piece you add has the potential to disrupt the others. (And sometimes, it can bring the entire thing crashing down!)
There’s a product development concept called Minimum Viable Product (MVP). The point of an MVP is to build just enough features to make a version of the product usable for a small group of early customers, who can then provide feedback. This allows product teams to collect information and make changes with minimal investment.
If you start simple, you can always add more later. You can always make improvements along the way. “Good enough” is a great place to start. Building in phases allows you to course correctly. “Built to address every possibility” will take longer to get started and be trickier to adjust.
You need a perfect, elaborate solution in certain situations before you can begin. But most day-to-day problems being solved at the office are not life-or-death high stakes. So, take advantage of the opportunity to learn and evolve. And only add what is truly necessary to achieve your goal.
Easy to maintain
A perfect solution no one uses is inferior to a practical solution that lasts.
The “Nirvana fallacy” assumes that a perfect solution exists and that non-perfect solutions should be rejected because some part of the problem would still exist after the solution is implemented.
If a solution is too complicated or a process has too many steps, people will either give up or cut corners. Imagine if you started a task, opened up the instructions, and there were 50 steps listed. You’d feel overwhelmed entirely before you even started. You have to balance the complexity with the user experience.
This also cascades down to things like training new people or maintaining documentation. Less complexity means less to break. Simple solutions are more accessible to transfer, easier to update, and easier to explain.
Conclusion
Simple isn’t always the best answer. However, a simplicity-first mindset will help you prioritize designing effective, sustainable solutions that you can deliver quickly and with lower investment. And that will help make you a great problem solver!
At NorthBailey we say, “spend time making it simple”
We bring fresh perspective and critical thinking along with a network and wealth of experience. We are provocative, challenge convention, ask the difficult questions and allow clients to change their mindset to see their business from a different perspective.
We solve business problems.
What problem are you trying to solve?