Climbing the Curve of Complexity
We aim for simplicity. In strategy sessions, we often begin with a simple sketch as a reference point for envisioning the process. Everything looks good on paper. (Or, a Miro board!)
As we ask questions about the context, our tidy map becomes riddled with detours and roadblocks.
Context questions can sound like:
What is the timeline?
What other processes and frameworks are also in play?
Who are key decision-makers?
What facilitative resources are available?
What expectations does the team have around input?
Pieces of the puzzle move. Areas are enlarged. New elements are added. What was once a clean diagram becomes riddled with notes. The effect can be overwhelming.
What’s happening? We’re climbing the “Curve of Complexity” and as anyone who has ever been on an uphill hike knows, there’s a point before the peak where you feel out of breath and unsure whether you have the energy to reach the summit.
We first encountered the Complexity Curve when we partnered with our friends at Visual Logic. We were so glad to have a name for our feeling.
At this point in a strategy conversation, just like on a hike, we like to pause. (There’s rarely the ambiance of sitting on a rock and eating trail mix in these conversations, but maybe you take a few minutes to grab a cup of tea.) Not only is pausing helpful, but so is naming the feeling of fatigue and sense of overwhelm. So. Many. Sticky Notes.
Navigating the curve of complexity requires reviewing how far we’ve come and then breaking down what key areas of uncertainty that remain. Our chosen path emerges and all of the extraneous information falls away.
“I see it now!”
That’s not to say there still aren’t a few big rocks left to scale, but the process does simplify once again.
Next time you feel overwhelmed by the messiness of strategy work, try to pinpoint where you are on the curve of complexity. Are there a few key decisions that can streamline your choices and highlight your path?
We’ve climbed this hill many, many times with organizations large and small. Sometimes it helps to have a trail guide who knows how to navigate the complexity curve, and can bring you down the hill with sure footing.