Your Brain on Complexity

Tough problem? There’s a reason you may feel overwhelmed or stuck

•This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC

Ever find yourself in a situation where you feel overload, uncertainty or instability? There’s a whirlwind in your head; things are in flux; the path forward is unclear.

You are being asked to perform in a complex environment. And if you feel stuck or overwhelmed, there’s a reason for that. Your brain has gone into lockdown mode.

Before you read on to the ways our brains can let us down, don’t despair. It’s not inevitable.

How Our Brain Reacts to Complexity

We know we’re facing a complex problem or situation when:

• there’s a great deal going on with many moving parts;
• it is impossible to know all of the facts of the situation, so we are forced to act in the face of uncertainty. Some relevant information is beyond our knowledge (what my boss really thinks) and some is unknowable (whether there will be a recession next year);
• the situation is dynamic; tomorrow may look different from yesterday, today, next week, or next year.

(If this sounds familiar, it is…the speed of change and interconnectedness of the world have brought us all closer to chaos and squarely in the realm of complexity.)