How to do good work (Part 3): Co-evolving with the problem
If I care enough about a problem, I will try to coevolve with it.
When we work, we are trying to solve some sort of problem that currently exists, ideally, one that we are curious about.
We want to overcome the obstacles and constraints and brainstorm and implement the perfect solution. I call this the ‘conquering mindset’ to doing work.
This mindset often comes from how schools teach us to think and approach problem-solving.
In school, I will need to figure out some sort of correct answers to the problems presented, whether that’s in math class, art class, literature class, or science class. I will need to hack things, find shortcuts, and think fast to figure out the perfect answers in class, assignments, or tests. Oftentimes, schools present us with soluble problems which will give us an incredible feeling when we can successfully solve them.
In real life, however, we often have to figure out what the problems are, and we often might not know if they're soluble at all.
Meaningful problems and opportunities are rarely static. As we engage with them, we change and grow. The environment around us evolves. New information emerges. The optimal path forward transforms.
Three years ago, I was trying to find the best online learning experience design. I thought the solution was to create the most engaging 90-minute live session. We must optimize every minute so that we can squeeze in interactive parts where people discuss and challenge each other.
A year ago, I thought that cohort-based learning is the future of online learning and will create incredible transformations in learners. The best online learning design needs to include all elements of intensity, urgency, accountability, and community.
Today, some students from our course told me that they had trouble finding their place in the community, applying the content to their learning journey, or struggling with time management to fully engage with the course.
So, I thought hmm what the best design would be then? Increase accountability? Increase community elements? Or lower the intensity of the learning experience?
The answer is that I don’t know and I don't think there will ever be a perfect, correct answer to online learning experience design. Online education will transform and so will its design.
This example shows me that at every stage of my work, the problem I am tackling evolves. Learners will tell me they struggle with different things. They want different skills. Instructors will tell me they want to teach a certain way. New platforms arise that are better than Zoom. New technologies will replace the way we teach and learn.
Instead of having a ‘conquering mindset’ to work, I need to have a ‘coevolving mindset’ to work.
Paul Graham said in his article “How to do great work”:
Finding something to work on is not simply a matter of finding a match between the current version of you and a list of known problems. You will often have to coevolve with the problem. That’s why it can sometimes be so hard to figure out what to work on.
The problems themselves might change. I need to adapt and become a better version of myself to continue solving the problems that I care about. If I care enough about a problem, I will try to coevolve with it.
Here are some practices I've found useful for coevolving with meaningful work:
Question assumptions and hypotheses. Be willing to challenge your beliefs and approach problems through a hypothesis-driven lens.
Zoom out and zoom in. Toggle between high-level systemic thinking and ground-level observations by talking to the people you are serving.
Experiment, reflect, and iterate. Learn from each step and let those insights inform the next. Create hypotheses, experiment, reflect and then iterate.
Follow new directions. When the problem guides you somewhere unexpected, be open rather than forcing your agenda.
Doing good work is like building good relationships. No person is static. If we care enough about someone, we will try to coevolve with them.
What does doing good work mean to you? Would love to hear your thoughts on this as I navigate my post-grad life:)