Hey all,

researching for my thesis on individual ambidextertiy, I came across the idea of simple rules by Kathleen Eisenhardt.

Simple Rules

Living in a digitalized and highly connected world, many of us might sometimes feel overwhelmed by increasing complexity and a seemingly unlimited number of choices. Yet, we are expected to manage this complexity which more often than not creates anxiety and stress among the individual.

Simple rules provide an antinode to this. This concept is grounded in the fact the human mind is built for complexity reduction and likes to categorize, select perception, and use heuristics in decision making deal with complex situations.

Simple rules are clear, concise, and easy-to-understand guidelines that help people and organizations navigate complex situations. They provide a framework for decision-making that is both efficient and effective.

The key characteristics of simple rules are that they are specific, actionable, and tailored to the situation at hand. They are not one-size-fits-all but rather tailored to the situation at hand.
Kathleen Eisenhardt emphasizes that simple rules need to understand the problem or opportunity in context, thus reflecting the values and goals of the person or organization using them.

Simple rules:

1. Simple rules are simple. 2-5 rules
2. Simple rules depend on the person and situation. Everyone has different rules
3. Simple rules relate to a defined activity

The intention here is to provide a small number (2-5) of rules that depend on the person and the situation. Your rules would be quite different from mine.

Example: Simple rules for eating (for Michael Pollan):

1. Eat real food that your grandmother would recognize
2. Eat mostly plants
3. Eat not too much

This translates to following a mostly plant-based diet, keeping an eye on the total calorie intake and food that is not processed.

Concerning the person and situation, a bodybuilder or marathon runner might have a different set of rules that serve their needs when choosing foods as the defined activity.

Simple rules can be applied to a wide range of situations, from personal decision-making to organizational strategy. They are most useful in situations with great uncertainty or complexity, and where traditional ways of decision-making may not be effective.

Personally, I think introducing simplicity through clear boundaries can help our feeling of confidence and clarity in complex areas of life where choices seem unlimited.

So for this week, my couple of simple rules for maintaining close relationships are:

1. Have lunch with friends five days a week.
2. Call one friend of the inner circle that you haven't heard of in two weeks.
3. Listen twice as much as you speak.

I am excited to apply this simple guidlines.

If this concept resonates with you, you might also be interested in the book The checklist manifesto by Atul Gawande.

Have an awesome week everyone!

All the best,
Florian