Log in or create a free Rosenverse account to watch this video.
Log in Create free account100s of community videos are available to free members. Conference talks are generally available to Gold members.
Puzzled? How to Coordinate Humans for Complex Challenges
Summary
How do we coordinate people for complex challenges? Certainly not with traditional work structures, designed to optimize for performance. Rather, we need new ways of working—new structures—that have been specifically designed to coordinate people for understanding. We'll look at a framework that can be used by teams, organizations, and other groups of humans working on complex problems. Stephen P. Anderson is a speaker and author who spends too much thinking about visual collaboration, how people learn, and board games; not necessarily in that order. Oh, and he’s on a mission: To make learning the hard stuff fun, by creating ‘things to think with’ and ‘spaces’ for generative play. This mission has led Stephen to MURAL, where he facilitates design strategy and innovation. Stephen's newest book, Figure It Out: Getting From Information to Understanding, has been described as both “required reading for designers and anyone else who needs to explain things” and a book that will “change the way you see the world.”
Key Insights
-
•
Complex problems differ fundamentally from complicated problems by involving unknown variables, shifting participants, and unclear success criteria.
-
•
Traditional top-down management structures often fail to coordinate people effectively on complex challenges.
-
•
Just enough structure—no more—is vital to prevent both chaos and rigid control when coordinating teams.
-
•
Cultivating shared language and standards is crucial; vague or specialized language can hinder true agreement and alignment.
-
•
Invisible environments like shared vision, mission, and values shape team coordination but must be actively lived, not just documented.
-
•
Designing visible environments—physical or virtual spaces—can shape group behavior and collaboration outcomes.
-
•
Psychological safety is foundational for teams to learn fast and innovate, emerging from deep listening, empathy, and interpersonal trust.
-
•
Accumulating multiple perspectives through drawing, analogies, and frameworks enriches understanding of complex challenges.
-
•
Adult development models explain why groups may act less mature than individuals, especially during frequent organizational resets.
-
•
Metaphors like gardening help in framing culture cultivation, emphasizing ongoing care, attention, and shared responsibility.
Notable Quotes
"All these traditional ways managers tell employees what to do probably don’t apply in complex problem contexts."
"We need just enough structure and no more to avoid chaos or stifling control."
"Until we clarify our language, we’ll agree on everything but not truly agree."
"Specialists would rather share their toothbrush than their language."
"The smartest person in the room is the room itself."
"Psychological safety isn’t created by an initiative but through a thousand tiny habits in language and behavior."
"If you want psychological safety, you have to start with self-awareness and deep listening."
"Teams often reset every 18 months and regress to infancy in trust and decision-making."
"A gardening metaphor fits culture better than cold, invisible icebergs because it highlights nurturing and growth."
"Drawing pictures together helps reduce interpretation and share perspectives effectively."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"We have got you covered with sketch notes, resource lists, session notes, videos, and decks all shared ASAP after presentations."
Louis Rosenfeld Bria AlexanderDay 1 Welcome
September 23, 2024
"The components you design in Sketch or XD come with matching coded components in the app builder, so what you design is what you get in code."
George Abraham Stefan IvanovDesign Systems To-Go: Reimagining Developer Handoff, and Introducing App Builder (Part 2)
October 1, 2021
"Aim for a two for one: how can you make your goals and the goals of others align?"
Jess GrecoClaiming your power: Practical tools for amplifying your unique voice
March 13, 2025
"In order to do this kind of work, you have to be willing to take a bloody nose. Those bloody noses are badges of honor."
Robert SchwartzWe're Here for the Humans
June 9, 2017
"Not everyone has the same capacity to aspire to a future; this is critical when working with marginalized communities."
Nicole AleongFuture Orientations to Everyday Life: Futures Anthropology as a Methodology
March 26, 2024
"Recruiting kids really means recruiting adults as their proxies and gatekeepers."
Mila Kuznetsova Lucy DentonHow Lessons Learned from Our Youngest Users Can Help Us Evolve our Practices
March 9, 2022
"Leadership is unlocking potential and taking responsibility, far beyond the title or executive level."
John Mortimer Milan Guenther Lucy Ellis Patrick QuattlebaumPanel Discussion
December 3, 2024
"How do we train AI models to prevent bias and preserve privacy, especially considering disability data is often seen as medical data?"
Sam ProulxTo Boldly Go: The New Frontiers of Accessibility
November 18, 2022
"Large language models are far better at figuring out what you mean than simply giving an answer."
Josh Clark Veronika KindredSentient Scenes and Radically Adaptive Experiences
June 11, 2025