There are many jobs that seem simple to those who don’t understand the nuances but are actually quite complex when you peel back the initial layers. Often, others feel like they can offer advice — or even do the job better than you can — but their assumption is based on limited knowledge that renders their input flawed.
If you are someone entering such a role, there is a delicate balance between simplifying the details so much that others feel like they understand the complexity vs. working on the relationships so that others trust that the job is complex but you’ve got it handled. In the latter scenario, you don’t need to provide in-depth education or justification that leads outsiders to have just enough understanding to be dangerous. Instead, work toward having both parties acknowledge that each is an expert in their own field and focus on how to merge diverse talents and interests toward something productive.
“Complex” can be accepted as a given state of how things are. “Complexity” evokes the idea of things in motion and begs for a solution. Don’t spend energy explaining complexity to those unwilling to invest enough time to understand below the surface.
