Micro-summary:
You’ll learn what Kidlin’s Law is, why putting your problem into words is more powerful than it seems, and how to use it in work or life to find solutions faster.
A Story to Start With
Imagine this: you’re leading a team project, and everyone keeps complaining “things aren’t working,” but no one can say what exactly. You hear vague feedback like “communication is bad,” “deadlines are unclear,” “stakeholders aren’t aligned”—but when you ask for specifics, there’s silence. Frustrating, right?
Then you decide to write down: “The team often doesn’t know what to do after weekly check-in meetings because action items are vague and responsibilities are not assigned.” Suddenly, people nod. They see the problem. And almost halfway to solving it.
That moment? That’s Kidlin’s Law in action.
What is Kidlin’s Law?
Kidlin’s Law is a simple but powerful problem-solving idea. It says:
“If you write the problem down clearly, then the matter is half solved.”
(Medium)
In other words, clarity of problem definition isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. If you can’t state what the problem really is, you don’t fully understand it.
(David Hager)
Why It Works: The Hidden Power of Clarity
Writing the problem down does several things:
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Clarifies your thinking. It forces you to move from vague feelings to concrete statements. (Accept Mission)
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Reveals gaps. You often notice missing info: Is it every message? Only email? Only with certain stakeholders? (David Hager)
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Focuses effort. It prevents wasted time chasing symptoms instead of the root cause. (Accept Mission)
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Reduces anxiety. Problems that are vague feel overwhelming. Writing them down makes them manageable. (Apartment Therapy)
How to Apply Kidlin’s Law: Practical Steps
| Step | What to do | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Write one clear sentence | “My team doesn’t complete tasks on time because responsibilities aren’t clearly assigned.” | Forces precision; filters out fluff. |
| 2. Identify missing pieces | Ask: Who, when, how often, what impact? | Fills in blind spots. |
| 3. Break it into smaller parts | E.g. unclear responsibilities, vague deadlines, meeting structure. | Smaller parts are easier to solve. |
| 4. Use visuals | Flowcharts, mind-maps, bullet lists. | Helps teams see the problem. |
| 5. Review and refine | Share with others: “Does this feel right?” | Feedback sharpens clarity. |
Real-World Examples
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Team Project: A startup’s marketing and product teams missed deadlines because each assumed the other would handle tasks. Once the problem was written as: “Deadlines are missed because both teams assume the other is responsible, and there is no shared calendar or owner,” the fix was simple—shared spreadsheet + weekly accountability.
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Personal Life: Feeling overwhelmed by chores became: “I don’t feel productive on weekends because there’s no plan, I forget tasks, and they pile up.” Writing it led to a chore checklist—stress reduced immediately.
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Project Management: Clients complained about “unclear status.” Written clearly: “Clients expect weekly updates but reports are inconsistent, leading to confusion about deliverables.” Solution: standardized weekly status templates.
Did You Know?
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Kidlin’s Law is often described as a “gateway tool” for innovation and problem solving.
(Accept Mission) -
Some experts go further: “If you cannot write your problem down clearly, you don’t understand it.”
(David Hager)
When Kidlin’s Law Might Not Be Enough
Sometimes writing it down won’t solve everything:
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The problem may be clear, but resources are limited.
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The issue may have hidden complexity (e.g. systemic or cultural problems).
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You may discover multiple interlinked problems that need separate solutions.
Even then, Kidlin’s Law gives you a starting point.
How to Make It a Habit
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Begin meetings with one-sentence problem statements.
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Keep a personal or team “problem journal.”
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Use templates like: What’s the issue? Why now? Who’s affected?
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Get feedback—ask others if your problem statement makes sense.
Takeaway
Kidlin’s Law teaches a deceptively simple truth: Clarity is half the battle. Write your problem down clearly, see what’s missing, break it into parts—and suddenly the mountain looks climbable.
Call to Action:
Try this today: take one problem you’ve been avoiding. Write it down in one clear sentence. Put it somewhere visible. Then notice how your approach shifts.
If this helped, share it with a friend or colleague—they might need Kidlin’s Law too.