Management

How can I lead in addressing complex challenges?

The immediacy of a crisis makes it tempting to roll up our sleeves and work harder. But some problems are “wicked” — without clear starting and ending points, crossing social and conceptual boundaries — and require unconventional strategies.

Spending time framing questions about the challenge from every angle, discovering other individuals and institutions that are asking similar questions, and inviting a diverse group of stakeholders to work together are keys to addressing truly complex challenges.