Seeing and Seeking Balance

Thinking in extremes is a common trap, a counterproductive habit that even the most self-aware may unknowingly slip into from time to time. When faced with complex situations, the human mind tends to oversimplify things, categorizing them as good or bad, right or wrong, “with us” or “against us.” The uncertainty and pressure created by the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the increasing polarization experienced in many countries in recent years, has exacerbated this tendency. Circumstances have combined to create an environment in which extremes and divisions flourish.

Sure, there are parts of our lives that are best left simplified. Sleeping in on the weekends (aah, to remember those days before kids). A nice glass of wine. Enjoying the company of others without distraction. There is a reason the “simple living” movement has taken off in recent decades. The problem arises when we attempt to simplify not our lifestyles, but our thinking. When we ignore the full complexity of an issue, homing in instead on just one aspect of it, without taking the time necessary to understand its nuances.  

Life is too complex and nuanced for a dichotomous view of the world to be of much use. Many situations—in both our personal and professional lives—require us to make balanced decisions that can only be possible through the right mix of information and insight.

At home, we strive for a middle ground to bridge differences or diverging preferences. It’s Saturday morning, and one kid wants to stay home to play Minecraft, while the brother would prefer for the family to meet up with friends outside. Meanwhile, the parents want all hands on deck to help with errands and tidying up the house. Surely, there’s a solution somewhere in the middle—a solution that, while not fully satisfactory to all, at least gives something to everyone.

A balanced approach in business is somewhat more complicated but equally crucial for leaders seeking to drive long-term growth and progress. It is essential to building a culture of innovation. Yes, you need scope for experimentation and a willingness to try out new ideas, but, to yield tangible results, this needs to be balanced with a structured approach. In a similar way, leaders must enable collaborative work and foster collective responsibility, but without forgoing the sense of individual accountability. It’s all about finding the right balance.

Especially close to home for me is the oversimplification and lack of balance surrounding discussions of tobacco harm reduction. For decades, tobacco control has focused on strict measures to deter people from smoking and to encourage cessation. These efforts must continue. Yet today, we also have a unique opportunity to provide better alternatives for those adults who would otherwise continue to smoke. These scientifically backed smoke-free products are not risk-free, but they are a much better choice than continuing to smoke. Through the right balance of science-based regulation and government oversight, there is opportunity for adult smokers to switch to these better alternatives and stop smoking while protecting youth and nonsmokers from unintended use. It’s an approach that makes sense to anyone genuinely interested in reducing the harm caused by smoking, and yet too often we see people closing their minds to the idea because it doesn’t fit neatly within their worldviews. If only more people would subscribe to the mindset of scientist and writer Isaac Asimov, who noted, “Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.”

To ensure a balanced outlook, we first need to be able to see beyond the simplistic perspective of seeing the world only in terms of extremes. We need to be able to look beyond our assumptions and view the world from different—even conflicting—perspectives to have a chance to identify the best solution or even a suitable middle ground. A rigid focus on our differences or disagreements limits our thinking, shrinking the pool of potential solutions. If we choose instead to consciously favor a balanced approach that avoids oversimplification, we will open our minds to a much more thoughtful blend of possibilities. This is how progress is achieved.

And this, too, is how a certain family in the western part of Switzerland discovered that Minecraft can be postponed, provided there is a guarantee of dedicated playtime later that same day.