• As minimal as possible: Simple things reduce the number of steps, pages, features, signoffs, requirements, and other hurdles required to get something accomplished..
• As understandable as possible: Simple things are defined by clear, straightforward language. They are comprehensible to someone who doesn’t already have expertise in the subject at hand. Simple things could easily be replicated by a novice.
• As repeatable as possible: Simple things can be scaled or replicated. They aren’t one-offs. They aren’t customized. It should be easy for someone to do them over and over again.
• As accessible as possible: Simple things are made available and transparent to as many as possible. An outsider can make use of them with as few, or no gatekeeper needed.

Complexity, then, is the lack of these four elements. It’s a process, product, communication, or procedure that isn’t as minimal, understandable, repeatable, and accessible as possible. It’s your choice.

When simplicity takes hold, doors open to a new kind of engagement. People know their sweat equity will result in a real return. They know what to do – and they’re more focused on their goals. They have the confidence to take action, simply because the path ahead is much clearer. Complexity is stressful. It’s hard to stay on the treadmill. It’s draining.

Simplicity’s benefits add up to a competitive edge by making companies nimbler, more efficient, and faster. We all know that markets today are more volatile than ever. The Player that can adapt to new conditions more quickly wins. It’s much easier to adapt when your teams don’t have as many meetings, e-mails, tests, reports, controls, and so on – all slowing them down. And when you go further and imbed simplicity into your operational models and customer interfaces, you’ve changed the game entirely.
-Excerpts from Lisa Bodell

Case Study:

Southwest Airlines placed a bet on simplicity. While other airlines flew a variety of aircraft models (American Airlines at one point flew fourteen different planes), Southwest chose to build its fleet around a single model of plane, the Boeing 737. In the event of a storm, when one plane couldn’t make it to a destination on time, another plane could take its place seamlessly, helping customers get to their destination while saving the company time and money. The benefits of the one plane model are enormous and far-reaching: All mechanics are trained and knowledgeable on the one model, parts inventory required is dramatically reduce and efficiency is increased, all ground equipment is designed for one model, all ground support people know exactly what to do because every plane is the same configuration, flight attendants only have to be trained on one plane, hangers are designed for one size and shape plane – the list goes on and on. If you must swap out a plane at the last minute due to an issue or maintenance problem, guess what, the fleet is totally interchangeable.

In so many ways, simplicity made the airline much more efficient to manage and operate, more flexible, and better able to meet the needs of customers. Its no coincidence that for years Southwest won the customer satisfaction “Triple Crown” award. Could the simplicity model be why Southwest is the only consistently profitable airline in the industry?

Amazing things happen for companies if they remove complexity and help employees get back to what matters. Better productivity. More creativity. Better engagement and retention. A healthier and happier workforce. All of which add up to a competitive edge that can help you survive disruption.

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”
-Confucius

“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.”
-Hans Hofmann

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
-Leonardo da Vinci

“Don’t make the process harder than it is.”
-Jack Welch