Chapter 1: The Complexity of Simple Tasks

Growing up in the 1980s, I had a fondness for arcade games, particularly Frogger. However, I must admit that my experience was more about frustration than enjoyment. I never succeeded in getting the frog across the busy street without being squashed, which left me wondering why I invested so much time in that game. The goal was straightforward: navigate the frog across a road filled with speeding vehicles and then hop across logs in a river. Yet, what should have been an easy task turned into a complex challenge as the traffic intensified.

As a professional dedicated to performance excellence, I often notice the human inclination to overcomplicate straightforward processes. When teams aim to simplify a workflow, they frequently create an even more convoluted version than the original. This tendency to overlook simple solutions in favor of complex ones is common. Without intervention, this complexity can escalate, as further reviews and adjustments add layers of confusion in an effort to restore order.

Psychologists have labeled this behavior "complexity bias," which describes our propensity to favor intricate solutions over simpler ones. This bias makes it challenging to recognize and trust straightforward, effective answers.

"Complexity is the enemy of execution." — Ed Mylett

Complexity impedes our ability to make the right choices, ultimately leading to subpar outcomes over time. Humans have a knack for turning simple matters into unnecessary complications.

Let’s examine a light-hearted example involving one of my favorite indulgences: coffee.

Despite their name, coffee beans aren’t actually beans but rather the pits of cherries. The true origins of coffee are clouded in mystery, with multiple legends surrounding its discovery. Regardless of who discovered it, let’s consider their thought process when they stumbled upon this idea.

Someone likely observed cherries and thought, "Why not explore what’s inside?" It’s amusing to think about the leap from eating cherries to brewing coffee. Thankfully, someone did make that leap, and I express my gratitude for it every morning. However, when you strip away the familiarity, the journey to coffee seems quite absurd.

Moreover, the process of brewing coffee has evolved significantly since its initial discovery, accumulating layers of complexity along the way. If you decide to make coffee at home, you're faced with numerous options: pour-over, French press, automatic drip makers, and more.

Once brewed, you can customize your drink with creamers, flavorings, and sweeteners. Before even getting to that stage, various factors come into play, including different coffee plant varieties, growing conditions, and processing methods—some of which are downright bizarre, like having cats consume cherries and then process the beans through digestion.

Next comes roasting the beans, which can be done using various methods, from modified popcorn poppers to sophisticated roasters designed for commercial use. Given this array of choices, it might seem tempting to just grab a coffee from Starbucks instead.

But here's the kicker: a typical Starbucks offers over 87,000 possible drink combinations! That’s an overwhelming amount of options.

So, how do we navigate this complexity?

Am I critiquing your choice of a Grande orange-flavored mochaccino latte? Not at all, even if it’s not to my taste!

Here are some questions to help you manage complexity bias and keep your life and work streamlined:

1. Does the solution I'm considering complicate the process?
2. Are there simpler alternatives that could be as effective? If so, why aren’t we exploring those?
3. In what ways might the solution we’re about to implement fail?

The key is to recognize when we’re introducing unnecessary complexity and to ensure we don’t overlook simpler, equally effective solutions.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to brew some coffee.

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More by Jon

Chapter 2: Embracing Simplicity in Daily Choices

The Most Authentic Guide To Making Daily Bias EASY - YouTube

This video delves into recognizing and overcoming complexity bias in our daily decisions. Discover strategies to simplify your life and enhance productivity.