Death by Framework: Why Simplicity Wins

What yoga can teach us about navigating complexity.

As humans, we love nothing more than being able to put things into metaphorical boxes and tidy things away. It can give us a sense of control in a world that feels fast-moving, chaotic, and ever-changing.

This is where frameworks often come in handy. They appear to be a lifeline, to bridge the gap between complexity and organisation.

The Framework Trap

Nobody takes this more literally than those working in learning and development; it doesn’t take long to come across the ubiquitous 2 x 2 framework. Excitement builds as we oh-so-neatly put tasks, people, or processes into boxes, tidied away and perfectly organised.

It’s even more satisfying to then have a range of boxes, results, acronyms, or titles to label everything with. We increasingly seek simplicity and a way to quickly filter out the noise, hence the desire for neat boxes (a.k.a. the quick fix).

However, there’s a bumpy, turbulent reality to face if something or someone doesn’t fit inside the box. Or circumstances change.

The irony here is that there are many companies, influencers, and tools that are flying the flag that says ‘hey, we have the answer… ’, and as a result, leaders are increasingly drowning in the plethora of ‘quick fixes’, thus negating the very intention of them. And, so, the whirlwind continues (leaving you feeling like Dorothy desperately wanting not to let go of Toto).

But surely frameworks can help, I hear you ask? Yes, they can, but held in isolation they are not the only answer. Why? Because not everything in life fits neatly into a box, and quite frankly, sometimes it really shouldn’t fit neatly into a box.

What Complexity Actually Needs

So, let’s think about complexity and what people really need if they are going to navigate the choppy seas with confidence. For those of you who know the work we do, the word Clarity will come as no surprise here. Weeding out the chaff and getting to the essence of what you want or need to happen, and why.

At LIW, we believe it’s always going to be more nuanced because life itself its nuanced. There is no ‘one size fits all’ (unless you’re talking about hotel slippers, apparently). As we’ve already said, human beings and the conditions we operate in are ever-evolving, shifting, and bring new challenges almost daily. That’s what makes it such fun, right?!

So where do we go from here?

From our experience with leaders over the last 30 years, we’ve seen tools and ideas come and go, but the one thing that remains is the essence of what the individual leader brings to the moment…their ‘self’. As the saying goes, we can’t control what happens to or around us, but we can control how we respond.

Introducing the 4 Practices

This is where our 4 Practices stand the test of time and the complexity that faces us all. It’s not about looking outwards and trying to control, organise, or compartmentalise the circumstances, but about knowing how to navigate them with authenticity, integrity, and kindness. Basically, who we are being as human beings in the experience we’re having.

We call them practices because they take practice. A bit like yoga. There is no end-point. You haven’t achieved a result or won an award because you can hold downward-facing-dog for a minute (sorry to disappoint you). You use this time in pose to connect to what is, and observe how your body feels without judgement.

For us, being present to ‘what is’ means you are observing in the moment. Stay curious and you withhold judgement, which can often lead us into a right/wrong, good/bad, us/them dynamic.

This increased awareness enables you to make conscious choices, the very epitome of responding in the moment no matter what comes your way. These choices may be informed by experience, advice, or even frameworks stored somewhere in your memory.

What you experience in the moment may at first feel and appear complex, however by taking just a moment to slow down can give you the space required to think and respond, not react.

Sounds simple, right? Not always, that’s why it’s a practice. Keep experimenting to see what works, and what you can learn from that experience.

Click here to learn more about our research on the 4 Practices in partnership with the London School of Economics.

Less Control, More Navigation

Our offer to you is simple, though. Let goof trying to control your external environment and seize opportunities throughout your day to observe how you’re being. Without judgement, be curious about what you’re feeling, what you’re seeing, what you are learning. Less control, more navigation.

Oh, and don’t forget to breathe!

Namaste.