It does just what it says on the tin
Have you noticed that the simplest things are often the best?
- Diamond earrings
- One line gags
- A stop sign
- Pencil drawings
- A wind up alarm clock
- Walking on the beach
We love simple things, we love things that “do just what it says on the tin”. Nothing more, nothing less.
So why make things complicated?
If you can distill your work down to its bare minimum it will be clearer, have more impact, cost less, work better and will be far, far, far less likely to go wrong.
Something to think about next time you:
- Write to a customer
- Create a work instruction
- Develop a process
- Pull together a PowerPoint presentation
Improvement is often about what you take out
Not what you put in, but don’t over do it… fish is nothing without chips (and mushy peas).
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Image by EEPaul
James,
Don’t agree with you on the mushy peas, I’m afraid. But, I’m completely with you on the quest for simplicity or eliminating unnecessary things.
However, making something more simple, more clear, more concise etc etc tends to require more time, more effort, more thinking. Maybe, most of us are too lazy to do simple? Or, are not given the time or the resources to do simple.
Adrian
I agree (not about the mushy peas, food of the gods).
But as an old boss once said to me why do we never have time to do it right but always have time to do it again?
An anomaly of human nature?
What, the bit about mushy peas?
James,
Have you read Matthew May’s Laws of Subtraction? He would enjoy this post.
“Less is more” is my new motto. It is hard to do, though. Perhaps it’s from learning as children to “give it your all?”
Annette :-)
I have, a very good book indeed.
Hello James,
You write “if you can distill your work down to its bare minimum it will be clearer, have more impact, cost less, work better and will be far, far, far less likely to go wrong.” And the following thoughts arise for me:
1. Who has the time to actually think about what is so and distill it down to its essence – the bare minimum in your word? Really, who has the time? I find nobody has the time not even the Tops. Everybody is busy spinning his/her/their particular plates.
2. Who is actually paid to design-do work that has more impact, cost less and works better? People like you show up as dangerous. Do you not get that you are preaching revolution? The good soldier obeys orders, follows the script, fulfils the job description, and above all does not rock the boat by questioning how things are done.
All the best
maz
Sooner or later I will get the sack Maz, it is only a question of time.
I have found that often procedures and articles have been written to make the writer look intelligent and not to make the process easier for the user.
I have found the same at interviews, where the questions have clearly not been intended for me but for the others on the panel.
We should never need to read the instructions repeatedly just to understand them…
The same holds true for any parts to be assembled or processes to be followed: simple is best.
Even science has a beauty in simplicity – look at Einstein’s equation E=mc2.
When we get something right, we usually wonder why we used to find it so hard.
Steve
EVERYTHING SHOULD BE MADE AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE, BUT NOT SIMPLER—ALBERT EINSTEIN
There is beauty in simplicity… but not everything is simple… to make the attempt to simplify beyond reason is to risk misunderstanding of the subject… just look at today’s dangerous “junk science”
I completely agree with all the above, I believe that companies should now start to invest employee time for creative thinking (is it Google that has 20% time for this?). Employees in sensitive posts where a new strategy is needed to streamline the business should be encouraged to take time to “think outside the box”, contribute to bridging the gap between “as is” + job experience … and … new objectives for improvement!
“Simple” might cost companies employee time, but the return on investments should not be overlooked!
Thanks for your thoughts Catherine, I agree wholeheartedly about the 20% idea
James
Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage — to move in the opposite direction
– Albert Eistein