Making the Essential Enjoyable & Easy
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Minimum Viable Structure
January 23, 2023
If we want to change something in ourselves or our lives, the default in our culture is to add more structure and control.
We come up with a new system or organizational tool or productivity app, then add layers of expectation, measurement, and accountability.
I think of these as control structures—systems with the intent to measure and drive compliance and accountability.
I've used such systems many times in my life and in organizational roles. They are not inherently good or bad.
They do, however, cast a long shadow, and I've come to question their value as a default.
Besides that, they don't work so well for many people.
Here's the problem: we don't like to be controlled.
And paradoxically, least of all by ourselves.
Setting up a control structure for ourselves immediately invites resistance from the parts of us who by nature rebel against control.
And these rebellious parts tend to be the energetic, creative, resourceful aspects of ourselves that are essential to have on board as we seek a solution.
A better alternative may be to think in terms of enablement structures.
What enables action, alignment, and enrollment from ALL our parts?
We find these tactics when we focus on increasing ease, enjoyment, and efficacy.
We also find greater enablement thinking in terms of Minimum Viable Structure.
What's the LEAST amount of structure we can add to enable the actions necessary to bring about the outcomes we seek?
Our goal is not to comply with the thing that's put in place to support doing the thing.
Our goal is to do the thing itself.
Creating elaborate control structures is like building gates between where we are and the destination we seek. We end up spending significant time and energy just fussing with the lock and latch.
Minimally viable enablement structures are like open archways.
We just pass through, guided on our way to where we're headed.
Together, let's end the fight to change!
Delmar
