What’s Wrong With Easy? How to Achieve Simple Goals

I recently participated in a team building exercise where teams were responsible for designing and building sculptures out of canned goods.  After the structures are built and judged, the canned goods are donated to shelters and food banks to feed the hungry.

During the brainstorming process when our team was determining what to build, several ideas were presented—including mosaics, user interfaces, corporate logos, sculptures of food and immersive physical environments.  The ambiguity and complexity of each idea varied, but I noticed an interesting trend: many of the less abstract ideas were dismissed by members of the group as “too easy.” This got me thinking, what’s wrong with easy?

Some of the best things in the world are easy.  Objects that lack complexity and are pure in design and intent are often hailed as beautiful and revolutionary.  Simplicity is an art form many aspire to, and few achieve.

Or were my teammates arguing against easy because the judges would frown upon a structure that had a low level of difficulty?  Perhaps, but consider this—isn’t it better to increase the odds of success by achieving a simple goal rather than creating a complex and insurmountable task that lacks a clear vision?  Accomplishment of something simple is surely more favorable than failure to complete a task due to its lack of definition and complexity.

Five steps that can help teams reach their goals

1. Define a clear and achievable goal, and get everyone to buy into it.
2. Keep stakeholders focused on that goal and develop tactical strategies to achieve it.  Any tactics that do not meet the need of achieving the goal should not be pursued.
3. Once the tactics are clear and agreed upon, execute them to work toward the goal.
4. Measure progress.
5. Refine tactics as needed to get the best results.

Remember that keeping something simple (especially when working with multiple stakeholders) is actually not easy at all.

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