#2 – Why do we often treat complex problems like complicated ones?

02. Juni 2026

You highlight a risk – and instead of clarity, you get several different directions.

And then it becomes about „who is right?“ and „who is wrong?“.

๐–๐ก๐ฒ ๐๐จ ๐ฐ๐ž ๐จ๐Ÿ๐ญ๐ž๐ง ๐ญ๐ซ๐ž๐š๐ญ ๐œ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ž๐ฑ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐›๐ฅ๐ž๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐ž ๐œ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐œ๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ž๐ฌ?

In a complicated situation, cause-and-effect relationships are linear.

Think of a machine:

If you want more output, you increase speed.

There is a right answer.

It may take time, data, and expertise – but eventually you can find it.

In a complex situation, that changes.

Think of an apple tree:

If you want more apples, you cannot pull the leaves.

Different interconnected factors influence the outcome:
sunlight, water, soil, temperature, insects, timing…

There is no single right answer.

In business, it is the same:

Different stakeholders have different needs.
And everything is connected.

That is where many organisations struggle.

๐“๐ก๐ž ๐ซ๐ž๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ?

โ†’ We apply analysis where collective sense-making would be needed
โ†’ We look for certainty where there is none
โ†’ We expect one person to โ€œown the answerโ€
โ†’ And we become frustrated when alignment takes time

If these questions resonate with you, please feel free to drop me a DM or explore the HELIBLICK Leadership Program starting in September via the โ€œVisit my websiteโ€ button.

LinkedIn Post