Tackling Complex Workforce Challenges: Step Back, Strategise, Succeed
Workforce challenges in health and social care are some of the most stubborn problems to solve.
Issues like recruitment struggles, disengaged staff, and high turnover are compounded by ever-growing service demand.
When faced with these kinds of “wicked problems,” it can feel overwhelming—like an untamed mess of curly hair that refuses to cooperate (fellow curly-haired folks, you know the struggle!).
When the demand for services is massive, it’s tempting to dive straight into solutions. But as the saying goes, “You can’t fix what you don’t understand.”
So, what’s the solution?
The truth is, there’s no quick fix.
But the first step to solving any complex problem is to pause, take a step back, and truly understand the big picture.
Just like managing unruly curls, you need a strategy to make sense of the knots.
The strategy
Step 1: Confront the Brutal Facts
Deep dive into your organisation, so you can better understand what’s causing the tangles.
This means asking the tough questions:
- What is driving high staff turnover?
- Why can’t we recruit or retain talent?
- Are we unintentionally creating barriers to success through our processes (or lack of) or culture?
But guess what – happy message – addressing brutal facts doesn’t have to be a brutal process!
Step 2: Develop a Clear, Evidence-Informed Plan
Once you’ve identified the key challenges, the next step is creating a roadmap to address them. Here’s how to approach it effectively:
- Clarify the Desired Outcome
Begin with the end in mind. What does success look like? Is it reduced turnover, improved employee engagement, or enhanced service delivery? Having a clear vision ensures every action you take aligns with the ultimate goal.
- Prioritise the Problems
Not every challenge can or should be addressed at once. Use tools like root cause analysis or priority matrices to identify the most critical issues. Focus on what will have the greatest impact or what is creating the biggest bottleneck.
- Leverage Evidence and Expertise
Base your plan on what you know works. This could mean drawing on research, learning from peer organisations, or consulting with staff and stakeholders who understand the nuances of the problem. Evidence-based strategies not only build credibility but also increase the likelihood of success.
- Break It Down into Actionable Steps
A massive challenge can feel overwhelming, but breaking it into smaller, manageable actions makes it more approachable. Define each step clearly, assign ownership, and set realistic timelines. Progress often comes from consistent, incremental improvements rather than sweeping changes.
- Engage Your Team
People are at the heart of any successful plan. Involve staff at every level, ensuring they understand the vision, their role in achieving it, and the benefits for themselves and the organization. Engagement fosters commitment and collaboration, turning the plan into a shared mission.
Step 3: Build on Strengths
When communities come together, united by a shared vision, they become a powerhouse of ideas and action.
For organisations, this means tapping into the strengths of your people and culture. What assets can you leverage? What values bind your team? Understanding and amplifying these strengths can make even the most daunting challenges feel surmountable.
Step 4: Execute, Learn, and Adapt
Just like managing untamed curls, no plan is foolproof. New knots will appear, and unexpected challenges will arise. But if you’ve created a culture where the brutal facts are welcomed and addressed with honesty and care, you’ll be equipped to learn and adapt along the way.
An example
A recent project I was honoured to be a part of offers a great example. See more here.
Over two years, the project tackled rural health workforce issues using small, consistent, evidence-informed actions.
The journeys teachings
- Small actions, taken consistently, create big impact.
Change doesn’t come from grand gestures; it comes from steady, purposeful steps. - Trust the process.
When your actions are guided by evidence and expertise, stay the course—even when progress feels slow. - Lean into the hard work.
Addressing complex problems takes time and persistence, but the rewards are worth it. - Leverage strengths in your community.
Rural communities, for example, are filled with passionate, resourceful people who can drive transformative action when united.
These lessons echo the need for calm, consistent strategies to tackle workforce issues.
Like navigating the tangles of curly hair, finding solutions requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to learn from the process.
So, take a deep breath. Step back. Look at all the moving parts of the problem. And then make a plan that allows you to address challenges piece by piece, learning and adapting as you go.
Because when it all comes together, even the most unruly knots can be smoothed out—and the results can be something truly beautiful.
A Call to Action
Tackling workforce challenges—or any complex issue—is not easy. It requires stepping back, confronting the truth, and committing to consistent, strategic action. The path may be messy, but with the right mindset and tools, even the most tangled knots can be smoothed out.
So, how does your organisation approach its “brutal facts”? Is confronting them a scary prospect or part of your norm?
Need some help doing this work?
Are you overwhelmed, even after that deep breathing?
Together, we can help you with the whole package – deep dive, develop and execute with Unplex’s support. We’ve got a heap of solutions in our back pocket (alongside the mousse and curl defining brush), and we would love to support you.
Just head on over to our connect page to join our newsletter, or send us an email at hello@unplex.com.au and we’ll be in touch!