How Nonprofit Leaders Can Calibrate Internal Complexity
Happy Friday!
Noise cancelling headphones work by destroying sound waves with sound waves. This diagram proves it.
When sound waves collide in just the right way (peaks to troughs and all that jazz), they cancel each other out.
Complexity is like sound in that way. According to W. Ross Ashby, only complexity can destroy complexity. Just for fun, let’s think of your organization as complexity-cancelling headphones.
Organizations organize things. It’s what they do. They organize a complex system of interdependent people, processes, tools, functions, and resources (anti-noise) to process the complexity of their unique mission (noise) in their specific environment.
The trick is matching the peaks to troughs and all that jazz. Internal complexity should be a dynamic response to your environment rather than the result of zombie processes, internal politics, operational bloat, etc.
What can we take from this analogy?
Internal complexity is necessary, but the least amount required to absorb the complexity in your chosen mission environment. Too little internal complexity and you’re ineffective. Too much and you’re irrelevant.
Honor your sensors. These are the people who are interacting directly with your primary stakeholders to deliver your mission in your environment. Listen to them. Involve them in change. They will pick up on problems and see opportunities before the rest of the org.
You can attenuate the complexity in your chosen environment by narrowing your focus (choosing what not to do). And you can amplify your anti-noise a hundred different ways (training, technology, new programs, Red Bull, etc.).
Have a great weekend!
Drew
PS: Thanks to all of you who responded to last week’s email. Complexity was a theme. Enjoy the new hat, Jen! Also, go Eagles!
