We tend to think of complexity as something to be avoided or minimized. But complexity is a good thing. It’s often a sign of maturity. Think about the biological system of amoebas and the biological system of a human being. Think about a preschooler’s crayon drawing and a high school senior’s art showcase. Think about a big business decision or think about a growing family. In all of these, complexity can be good, and a sign of maturity.
So the problem with complexity isn’t that it’s inherently bad. The problem with complexity is that is requires our sustained attention to understand, to solve, and to utilize. And sustained attention is something that we’re becoming increasingly bad at granting to anything.
The solution is actually simple, not complex. You’ve probably heard the advice to be careful what you practice because it’s what you’ll get good at.
Practice sustained attention.
Long-form media is your friend here. If your news typically comes to you 140 characters at a time, can you read a full article instead? If you love half-hour sitcoms, can you pick a show where the plot comes together over the course of a season, or maybe choose a feature-length film? Podcast lovers can try audiobooks. Novels work for anyone.
If we can practice following a complicated plot or understanding the nuances of an argument over the course of multiple pages, this will help us when we’re facing a complex decision. If we get overwhelmed or fatigued too quickly, then we’re more likely to give up or, worse, to substitute an easier question than the one we actually need to answer. Complexity is a good thing, and it’s a sign of maturity, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to deal with. Whether we’re making decisions on our own behalf or on behalf of an entire organization, we need to be able to keep our attention on the issue.
If you want to practice sustained attention but don’t know where to start, here are three suggestions for you:
1. Read a book about strategy, logic, or critical thinking. This way you’ll get the dual benefits of learning something new to help with your decision-making processes and practicing sustained attention. I will always suggest Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman. If you’re looking to make more strategic decisions, this is by far the best suggestion I can give you.
2. If you’re looking for fiction (reading or viewing) choose a political thriller. Following the motives of a variety of characters operating on behalf of different countries is great practice for understanding complex situations.
3. Pick something that interests you. Whether that’s a bestselling novel, a trade magazine from your field, or a documentary series, practice sustained attention with something that you want to spend time reading or watching. There will be plenty of opportunities to do the work with problems that don’t interest you. Let your practice time be enjoyable.
Practice seeing, understanding, and evaluating complex situations by reading, listening to, or watching long-form media. Your brain, and your decisions, will thank you.
(Side note: If you’re still stuck on what to read or watch, visit your local library. The people who work in public libraries are experts at finding something that will interest you, so don’t feel like you have to figure this out alone. They want to help.)
Written by Amie Pilla, without the use of AI.
Copyright Amie Pilla, 2024, All Rights Reserved.
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