Simple Rules

How to Thrive in a Complex World

The world we live and work in has become increasingly complex, with a surfeit of information, pressures and choices. Complexity typically causes overwhelm and takes up valuable time in trying to assess and clarify the critical variables. It can also result in the paralysis identified by psychologists when people have a superabundance of options that causes them to either delay, default to the safest option or avoid the decision altogether.

The authors recognise that "fighting complexity is an ongoing battle that can wear us down. Disheartened, people tolerate complicated solutions that don’t work, or cling to overly simplistic narratives." Simple rules, they suggest, can be a powerful weapon in this fight.

What are simple rules?

Simple rules are cognitive short-cuts or heuristics that save time and effort. They focus attention and simplify the way that we think. The authors identify six specific types of simple rules; relating to boundaries, how-tos, coordination, prioritisation, stopping and timing.

Characteristics of simple rules

The authors note that simple rules share four common traits:

• They are limited to just a few. Capping the number of rules makes them easy to remember and keeps the focus on what matters most. The authors cite Zipcar's revolutionary car-sharing model as an example. The company gives customers simple rules: report damage, keep cars clean, no smoking, fill up with gas, return on time, and keep pets in carriers.
• They are tailored specifically to the person or organisation using them. Olympic athletes and middle-aged dieters may both use simple rules to decide what to eat, but their rules will be very different.
• They apply to a well-defined activity or decision. For instance, consider the different boundaries in asking how you can prioritise patients for care in A&E versus how you can improve healthcare.
• They provide clear guidance without being overly prescriptive. The book refers to Michael Pollan's advice, "Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly plants." as an example of offering simple rules that leave room for choice and unanticipated opportunities. (note: by "food" Pollan here means real, non-processed food)

"I would not give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity,
but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity."