Simplify your way to Success

Many of us are quickly hurtling into the Christmas season, aware of all the preparations that are yet to be made. From family relationships and events to be navigated, to nativity plays and carol services. There are the work deadlines that still need to be met, parties to attend, Christmas jumper day, Secret Santa gifts, office decoration competitions. . . I’m sure I’ve missed a few more.

Whatever your situation, Christmas time can be fun and bring joy, but it can also be overwhelming with multiple, relentless demands on our time and energy. Often by the time Christmas Day is done, we can be left exhausted and drained.

You don’t have to look too far to find tips and advice on how to simplify Christmas for your family and focus on what’s most important to you. A simple search can tell you how to give gifts and not get into debt, manage your own expectations of what Christmas lunch should look like, or declutter your home before adding more to it and so on. Think about leadership through this lens. Leadership is a privilege and is often exciting, meaningful work that when done well can bring joy.

However, in our experience, leaders are often at risk of becoming, or already are, overwhelmed by the relentless demands on their time, energy and performance. This plate spinning that was once energising and exciting might now feel exhausting. And the thought of adding another plate to the mix simply doesn’t bear thinking about.

It might be possible to simplify Christmas, but can leaders really practice simplification in an increasingly complex world? We would suggest that it’s not just possible, but essential. Hans Hofman, a German American artist, said it best:

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary, so that the necessary may speak.

This quote points to the two key aspects of simplification. Simplifying isn’t just about removing an element or elements; it is about using the space to augment or elevate something else. For example, a leader who empowers their team to make appropriate decisions, rather than the leaders themselves having to approve them all, creates space for more strategic thinking and simultaneously invests in growing their people.

Leaders need to be simplifiers. We know that vision and purpose are important, but a leader’s ability to convey these concepts simply and effectively is just as important.  A leader needs to be able to simplify strategy, values and behaviours so their people are clear about their roles and what is expected of them. Organisations need to have processes that are fit for purpose and allow people to do their jobs without unnecessary barriers and meaningless bureaucracy.

It is not unusual for us to come across businesses with overly cumbersome policies. Without a doubt they served a purpose at some point but they are now obstructing organisational success.

What do you need to simplify?

What is the unnecessary that is getting in the way of the necessary?

Here’s a few useful tips for leaders:

Round 1:

Identify what you need to declutter for yourself.

This will be different for everyone but finding somewhere to start is key to disarming the overwhelm.

Emails – what does your inbox look like? Is there is build-up of emails loitering which serve no purpose but to distract and slow you down? The delete button is your friend, this is a great time to get re-acquainted.

Diary – are there meetings scheduled that are not the best use of your time? Or not part of your role? Do you need to be in that meeting? Is there someone else who is better positioned to go instead? Saying no to meetings which are not your top priority (or are not necessary) is essential to decluttering your days.

Filing – With most businesses well on the way to functioning without paper we can be deceived into thinking we have no clutter. But just like emails, electronic filing systems can take on a life of their own. All of a sudden, we are wading through historical documents that have no bearing on or use within the current day-to-day operations. Again, that delete button is your friend.

Addressing any of the above will create greater mental capacity and promote an increased sense of well-being. We know this leads to improved focus, better decision making and increased motivation.

Round 2:

Now you can identify what needs to be decluttered from an organisational perspective.

Policies – every organisation has policies that are now redundant, get in the way of efficiency and stifle innovation. Find them and simplify them, or simply remove them.

Activities – mission or distraction? Are you overcomplicating what the business is doing? Are you labelling an activity as ‘growth’ when it is a distraction and dilution of the core purpose?

Meetings – we love a meeting... but do we need a meeting? And if we do, who really needs to be there? Can we achieve the desired outcomes in 30 minutes rather than 90?

There will never be a shortage of tasks to do, meetings to attend, or activities to be involved in. Leaders can fill their days many times over but unless we learn to do as Hans Hofman describes and ‘eliminate the unnecessary,’ we will never give the necessary the time and respect it deserves. As leaders, every decision we make builds a legacy. What we choose to focus on, give our time, energy and thought to informs the kind of legacy we will leave.

It’s easy to lose ourselves to day-to-day distractions that may make us feel ‘busy’ but waste our time and prevent us from leading the meaningful life that we desire. Cultivating a legacy mindset helps us to keep our focus on what is most important.

What is the unnecessary that you need to eliminate?