Our best instincts can quietly work against us when solving complex problems. The more experienced we become, the faster we recognise patterns, but that speed often means jumping to solutions before the problem is actually understood. 

This episode, Ishan unpacks three habits that get in the way of real improvement. We jump to solutions before agreeing on what the problem even is, research shows most executives believe their organisations are genuinely poor at this. We chase individual speed rather than understanding how work flows through an entire system, the same thinking behind Toyota’s shift from batch processing to single-piece flow. And we get pulled into detail before establishing the bigger picture, a trap illustrated by BP’s Deepwater Horizon disaster, where losing sight of context had real consequences. 

Solving complex problems isn’t about better tools or more data. It’s about the discipline to slow down, understand before acting, and zoom out before zooming in. 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/