30
Antipattern #30 · curiosity · p. 247
Avoiding Hard Problems
To put a talking monkey on a pedestal, start with the monkey problem, not the pedestal.
The Tin Man Behavior
Choosing to tackle the more achievable parts of challenges first and focusing on visible progress rather than validating that the hardest parts are achievable.
The Results
- ·Costly delays discovering critical roadblocks
- ·False signs of progress
- ·Missed opportunities to learn and pivot strategy
How Octopus Organizations Behave Instead
- ↳They tackle the hardest, riskiest part of a project first to learn and validate.
- ↳They get to "no" quickly when the hardest parts prove insurmountable.
- ↳They reward intellectual honesty and learning from failure.