It’s not always easy to achieve simplicity. What does that mean, and why? We make most things in our lives difficult, and they don’t have to be. Life is simple, but we persist in making it complicated. — So said Confucius in 500 B.C.
Firstly, life may be more difficult for you because of the tremendous flood of information and technology. Simplicity has become impossible, especially in businesses. For instance. Try scheduling a Zoom meeting at the last minute — what happens?
How We Complicate It All
Consider the daily barrage of elements: calendar invitations, metrics, measurements, methods to account for things, technology, too many permissions, paperwork, unnecessary tasks, etc. We often generate complication instead of simplicity. We generate it by over-correcting and creating exceptions — and staying in meeting-mania-mode.
Secondly, some people make up for poor performers with crazy workarounds. We frequently over-engineer solutions to make people feel better about participating in a process. Much of it is superfluous — but really, it’s us.
The technique of complicated workarounds has several drawbacks: weariness, lack of results, dissatisfaction, shattered passion, execution expenses, and employees leaving companies.
Or could this be you? Talk for about a half-hour, then send a letter of agreement to finalize the sale.
What is the cost of making that choice in any company? Multiply that amount by all of their choices. And all of their meetings.
Why Simplicity Helps Businesses
Businesses that aim for simplicity have an edge. Here is one lesson learned in the 1990s. The mortgage application procedure was excruciating for prospective customers. Consequently, the banks and lenders just blew up the process, making it more client-friendly, and they were able to see tremendous growth.
Use a Devotion to Simplicity
The evidence backs this up. Heidrick & Struggles studied Fortune 500 “super accelerators” and discovered devotion to simplicity. They incorporate simplicity as a way of living, thinking, and working — and this allows them swiftly identify and reallocate resources to the essential opportunities, the report’s authors wrote. Teams who followed these rules fared better financially. Simplicity pays.
Think: Fast. Simple. Good. Done.
This is the foundation of a “Fast. Simple. Good. Done” mentality with clients and employees and a game-changing mentality that combines these four interconnected components to boost performance. Change to this motto and see the results.
How To Be Simple
Experts frequently tell customers to act as a private equity business. History or connections do not bind customers, so they may make various simple judgments about how they do their tasks. However, this is a liberating and powerful perspective for your work. Moreover, many of us feel the influence of our emotions trickle into our actions and choices.
Think: Simplify now or sink later.
To meet simple, we must think differently. Many experts typically have groups of ten people pass a ball around in a circle, stressing it must contact each person’s hands.
Try this game with your team.
Managers schedule their first round and give them some planning time. Some experts have many groups do this little exercise simultaneously to make it competitive. Then we celebrate the winner. When the advice is to reduce their time in half, the room erupts, and they experiment and typically succeed. Next, some experts instruct the team to double their time.
Now they say the manager (boss) is insane. Finally, the victorious team should join hands and have one person sweep the ball around, touching the hands (this is what you want the team to finally come to.
Think: We must alter our mentality. Simplicity will win, hands down.
How?
1. Take a figurative weed-whacker to your old methods. Be brutal as you simplify.
That is to say, don’t hold back simply because that’s how you’ve always done it.
2. Communicate concisely.
Moreover, say anything you want to say on a bumper sticker.
3. Consider your audience.
The point of reference is usually a bright, retired 95-year-old mother. However, is it basic enough for her to grasp even if she has no prior experience?
4. Simplify all decision-making.
Who is the lowest-level decision-maker?
5. Aim for outcomes. Simplicity goals.
However, time is money, so act appropriately.
6. Define your requirements.
Do we need it? What can we do? How can we speed up? Re-purpose the surplus for good.
7. Get a review of your processes.
Examine it with a neutral party. One who believes in simplicity.
8. Be brave in the scene cuts. No excess talk or processes at work.
Say no to complications.
9. Accept flaws.
The pursuit of perfection is costly. One and done is a good motto. Or, it doesn’t have to be perfect.
10. Lastly, review your to-do list and prioritize chores.
That is to say, remove meetings, reports, etc., and observe whether anybody notices/needs them.
Defend simplicity.
Expert opinion advises that your firm, workers, and shareholders will benefit greatly from shaving down the minutes needed on processes, in meetings, and on perfect projects.
Think: Like a Zen Master.
How simple can you make scheduling a meeting? And then, how can you introduce disruptive simplicity into each meeting? Impossible? Unproductive? UnAmerican? Nonsense. Decide to be one of the greatest business executives — and think like a Zen master.
Think: Like Henry Ford.
For instance, Henry Ford set an egg time in meetings. Ten minutes. When it went off, he left. Anything left undecided or unexplained went to him as a memo. Ford executives were known for the brevity of their meetings. And Henry laughed all the way to the bank. You can do the same.
Image Credit: Anna Nekrashevich; Pexels; Thank you!
The Power Of Simplicity: Avoiding Workplace Complications was originally published on Calendar by Abby Miller.
