Avoid the Complexity Creep

One of the most interesting things that happen as organizations grow, and as people grow, is that something I call “complexity creep” moves into the process of how things are being done.  What ends up happening is that everything gets more and more complex, until eventually so much complexity creeps into the system that it hinders, stops and then reverses growth.  As everything gets more and more complex the person, business, or organization begins to experience more and more problems, and less and less rewards from the actions they are doing.  In many cases, it is complexity I believe that ends [Read more]

My Lesson From the Missionaries

Several years ago I was working at a law firm and virtually from the moment I arrived a woman I’ll call “Linda” used to come into my office for a few hours a day to talk. Her topic? How bad things were at the law firm. She would share one rumor after the other about how many bad things were going on at the law firm. I was treated to information about allegedly corrupt activities, affairs, who did not like who, incredible insights into who was about to be fired, what different people had said to her, [Read more]