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The key decisions of a manager entail when and where to collapse complexity into simplicity (and inversely expand a simple system into something more complex).

The key decisions of a manager entail when and where to collapse complexity into simplicity (and inversely expand a simple system into something more complex). So you can pick out a foolish manager by their unwillingness to work with complexity in areas core to their business/craft/discipline, and you can find bad ass collaborators by examining what sorts of complexity they're enthusiastic about. (Note: I'm using the term "manager" broadly. It could be an executive, a team lead, an entrepreneur... basically any contributor making choices.) I personally love being around people who are willing to get dirt under their finger nails, smell the soil, ask questions, and read the documentation (ie, willing to step into complex systems). It's inspiring. It also is a good indicator that the environment I'm in is being well-cared for. Think of a human caretaker – those with empathy (a beautiful example of willingness to engage complexity) far surpass others in both ability and impact. Think of a barista observing details like humidity while adjusting their process. And now keep this analysis while moving to higher levels of abstraction. (BTW, this is a phenomenal essay. I love how the author left it to the reader to realize all the lessons contained in the McDonald's anecdote.)

ludicity 3y ago
I was already going to write that this is a beautifully written comment, and then the high praise at the end sealed the deal! Thank you! I must confess that I am still in the reactionary phase of having watched Simple Made Easy two years ago, and am relentlessly trying to remove complexity, but your comment made me think about whether I've gone too far the other way. Complexity is frustrating because it is frequently the result of bad choices (at least where I work), but the ability to handle it probably is a fair marker for excellence. "Make it simpler" isn't an option sometimes, and I still instinctively flinch away from those instances. Oh, and the description of "empathy" as really being the willingness to engage with a kind of complexity is a very beautiful parallel between the worlds of software engineering and being a decent human being. I really love that.

ludicity 3y ago

I was already going to write that this is a beautifully written comment, and then the high praise at the end sealed the deal! Thank you! I must confess that I am still in the reactionary phase of having watched Simple Made Easy two years ago, and am relentlessly trying to remove complexity, but your comment made me think about whether I've gone too far the other way. Complexity is frustrating because it is frequently the result of bad choices (at least where I work), but the ability to handle it probably is a fair marker for excellence. "Make it simpler" isn't an option sometimes, and I still instinctively flinch away from those instances. Oh, and the description of "empathy" as really being the willingness to engage with a kind of complexity is a very beautiful parallel between the worlds of software engineering and being a decent human being. I really love that.