Lesser Discussed Traits of Complexity


Popular descriptions of complexity include terms such as: unknowns, unknowability, emergence, interactions, connections, uncertainty, unpredictability. Lesser discussed aspects are those of:
  • tension;
  • compromises;
  • tradeoffs;
  • costs;
  • tolerances;
  • sacrifices;
  • competing values.
Each of these lesser discussed traits of complexity require looking at things from multiple perspectives, seeing spectrums & dimensions, considering competing alternatives, making assumptions, & asking questions about potential futures. 

So what sorts of tensions or spectrums am I talking about? Here is a short list of some that immediately come to mind, in no particular order:
I realize many of these seem redundant, overlapped, and interconnected. In some cases, my vocabulary reaches its limits. The point is that, in each of these spectrums, none(!) of the extremes are right; none(!) of them are wrong. There is a natural, perpetual tension between these conceptual bookends. The spectrums arise in different forms in different contexts. And there are almost no(!) answers...only preferences that seem appropriate based on the perspective, mindset, and desires of the actor.

 In this sense, complexity can be just as much about preferences, intentions, beliefs, values, & priorities as it is about emergence, unpredictability, or interactions. Adaptability and agility begins with an understanding of choices along spectrums.

Know what you're giving up.  Choose wisely.  

What tensions would you add to my list above?? 

 ***



Lou Hayes, Jr. is a criminal investigations & intelligence unit supervisor in a suburban Chicago police department. With a passion for training, he studies human performance & decision-making, creativity, emotional intelligence, and adaptability. Follow Lou on Twitter at @LouHayesJr or on LinkedIn. He also maintains a LinkedIn page for The Illinois Model.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Presentation Hack: Your Last Slide(s)

Image
I've written before about introductory presentation slides . When the audience is filtering into the room, I prefer to play a few minimalist slides on a looping show over the typical static slide jammed with titles, organizations, names, events, and logos. (Many of you have circled back to me after having used this trick to share your successes with it! Thanks for trying it!) But what about ending the presentation? What tricks do I use to bring closure to a projected slide deck? How do I handle a summary or a Question-and-Answer session? First let me contrast two (2) different chronologies of the tail ends of presentations: Weaker Ending Final detail point. Grand closing (climax?) "Are there any questions?" Answer them if they're asked. Thank the audience. Awkwardly leave the platform Stronger Ending Final detail point. Brief Summary "Before I get into the final closing, what questions can I answer?" Answer them if they&#
Read the entire post here »

Presentation Hack: "For those of you who don't know me..."

Image
I've been to quite a few weddings. Not that I've been invited to more than any of you, but I have moonlighted in a few banquet halls over the years. As such, I've heard my fair share of toasts by Best Men and Maids of Honor. (And eaten my fair share of dinners in the back half.) For many Best Men or Maids of Honor, the dinner toast is one (1) of the most stressful aspects of a wedding weekend for them. Public speaking causes all sorts of anxiety - magnified by the pressure of knowing your failure might ruin your best friend's most special day of his/her life! Yikes! It doesn't take long to determine who is comfortable holding the microphone. And whether I can see the body language or not, it's sometimes the first few words that come out of their mouths that give it away. Few public speaking phrases get me to cringe as reliably and as intensely as an introduction of  "For those of you who don't know me..." This introduc
Read the entire post here »

The Generalist versus The Specialist

Image
There exists a conspiracy against the Generalist. Today's culture rewards those who Specialize: doctors, athletes, teachers, cops. Being labeled a Generalist comes with ridicule of being luke-warm, a moderate, uncommitted, or without passion. Those images are false. They are hallucinations. Time and time again, life penalizes the Specialist. We never learn from our mistakes. Striking a balance between being a Generalist or a Specialist hinges on one factor: one's confidence in the future . The equation is quite simple -- the greater the predictability of approaching problems, the more one should become the Specialist; the less foresight one has, the more benefit in being the Generalist. This axiom holds for any aspect of life: financial investment, medicine, emergency preparedness, physical fitness, backcountry camping, education, gambling, and of course....law enforcement operations. As with most of our theories, this is a spectrum bookended by two extremes. With a
Read the entire post here »