Why are we making everything so complicated?

Why are we making everything so complicated?

Over the years I have read many books on culture. And I’ve participated in too many change programs to remember.

One thing I’ve noticed is how complicated we make everything.

We all do it.

Maybe things are more complicated than we give them credit.

Maybe we should explore these complex topics in depth and with appropriately sophisticated models, concepts and frameworks.

Maybe. Maybe not.

Here are three helpfully simple ways we could also choose to see culture:

A very, very good culture.

The best ‘culture book’ I have ever read (and re-read many times) is called ‘Mr Good’ and it’s part of the Mr Men series of books originated by Roger Hargreaves.

This, from the first page, is everything you need to know about very, very good cultures:

A very, very good culture is not made up of the things you’d kinda like to sometimes do. It’s not built upon things that some do and others don’t. In the best cultures there are things people ALWAYS do (like treat customers with respect) and things we NEVER do (like lie to each other).

Decide what your always’ and nevers’ are.

That isn’t complicated.

The Human Experience.

People are complicated. But here’s a way to look at the human experience that isn’t.

On any given day, at any given moment, we are ALL somewhere on a continuum between the best versions of ourselves and something much less than our best.

There isn’t one group of people who are permanently at their best and another group who constantly fall short. No matter how smart we are, how wealthy or what genes we got... we go up and down the continuum all day long.

It’s not realistic to expect we will always be at our best and, frankly, sometimes we need to just chill down.

But our human experience can be improved by knowing the continuum exists and knowing where we are on it. At least, with that information we have some degree of agency over our life, our mood, and our relationships.

That’s pretty simple. And helpful.

Lastly, here’s an incredibly simple idea I was recently reminded of, that has been super helpful.

Two Doors.

When we notice where we are on the continuum we will also notice we are standing in front of two imaginary doors. Barry Oshry calls them Door A and Door B.

Door A is easy to fall through and leads to fear (I can’t), apathy (I won’t) and blame (if only). These responses are so ingrained within us they are not experienced as choices. They are reflexes.

Door B is hard to push open. It requires us to make a conscious choices, to stand for something. To ask what kind of leader or person do I want to be.

Do I want to give up, stand back, or point the finger. Or, like Mr Good, do I want to make my bed, clean my teeth and wipe my feet.

Not always an easy choice. But at least it a simple one.


Hello. I'm Jason Moore.

I've spent 20 years leading, designing and coaching the planet's most ambitious and innovative culture transformations. I've activated game-changing purpose, values, habits and rituals, resolved the impact of toxic beliefs, prepared leaders, and I've been deeply involved in the nitty gritty of everyday change.

I've worked with culture heavyweights, including Microsoft, HSBC, Nordea, Netflix, Equinix and many others in more than 30 countries.

If you'd like to chat about how I might be able to help you, I'd love to set up a time to talk. Connect here on Linkedin or via [email protected]...

Kirsten Brown

Leadership, Culture, Inclusion

7 个月

We humans will do almost anything to avoid the less than fab aspects of ourselves - including complicating allthethings. Love this advice (and the Mr Men flashback). One step in front of the other, make the brave tough choices, every day, to be at our best (with - I’d add - compassion for ourselves and each other).

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