The 3,000 Piece Puzzle

I've always enjoyed puzzles. But, at like a reasonable level. Maybe snag one a year to do with the kids. Maybe 500 pieces. Fun for a few screen-free evenings, right?

Well, I recently went totally bonkers and ordered a 3,000 piece puzzle. THREE THOUSAND PIECES. As a lifelong DC Comics fan, I thought one with dozens of superheroes would be a blast!

My rationale was that it would be great for a rainy (or way-too-hot) weekend.

I even thought it would be cool to start a Threads series on my progress.

Here I am (well) over a month later and the puzzle is roughly 80% complete. I've spent hours standing over a table trying to figure this one out, even while holding the completed image in my hand. And I gave up on the Threads posts. It got too depressing.

Throughout the process, I started to see the similarities between a tabletop puzzle (especially an EXTREME one) and how leaders must solve problems at work. Here are four of those overlapping observations:

You have to start somewhere. When there are an overwhelming amount of options on how to start addressing a problem, you have to just pick one. Ideally, it would be one that you can trust will provide a long-term framework.

For the superhero puzzle, I started with the edges. Easiest to separate from the pile, right? However, with a puzzle so big (it's 4 feet wide!) even putting together the edges has proven to be a massive challenge.

Don't be afraid to change what you had "locked in." As leaders, we have to constantly update our decisions with fresh information. Even if we made a decision with confidence in the past, it may require a switcheroo down the road.

As you can see in the puzzle image, there are FIVE Green Lanterns. Plus many other characters who wear green clothes. And don't get me started on the red capes and costumes. I've had to move so many pieces that "fit" both structurally and visually because, despite all the evidence, it wasn't where they belonged.

Sometimes, things just aren't perfect. We can strategize. We can counsel. We can aim for perfection. But perfection is rare, even in a controlled environment. Part of the role is understanding when you just can't make changes.

One of the biggest surprises with my 3,000 piece puzzle was that the pieces in the direct middle were cut wrong. They don't align the way they should. After dealing with my DEEP frustration (and some loudly whispered words), I came to realize that the imperfection in the cut of the puzzle was a consistent line. When I saw it as a FEATURE and not a BUG, it became a way to confirm I was on the right track.

The devil is in the details, but you need to zoom out to understand the bigger picture. Yes, micro solutions add up to macro progress. Which one should you focus on? Both. You need to make sure you are heading in the right direction at all times. And you also need to make sure everyone on your team understand their role in solving the problem.

From the puzzle perspective, it's sometimes impossible to see how two pieces fit together until you actually put them together. There have been hundreds of pieces that don't appear to belong next to each other from the pile...but when you connect them, they are perfect. By focusing on the micro situation, the macro got closer to completion.

So...the puzzle is still not complete. And I think there is some beauty in that, no? A journey worth taking takes time. Certainly more than I anticipated. But the peace and quiet and focus in putting it together has provided a little bit of needed zen.

Non-Puzzle Articles Very Much Worth Your Time

• Ideas Have an Aftertaste by GiGi Downs on Medium - Taking an interview line from comedian Jim Gaffigan and applying the lesson to the impact of creative campaigns? Sign. Me. Up.
• Why Kindness Pays Off at Work by Andrew Swinand in Harvard Business Review - The old stereotype of a screaming boss feels incredible antiquated in today's landscape. Kindness and empathy are the way forward for leaders at all levels.
• ‘I didn’t understand the power of this microphone’: How Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade learned to use his voice by Martenzie Johnson on ESPN 's Andscape - Hearing from Wade - on the occasion of his Basketball Hall of Fame induction - reflect on the impact he had as a player, leader, and celebrity is a must. The deep self-reflection is an important lesson for all of us.