It’s your superpower in a world gone crazy, complex, caca!

For over two decades, I’ve consulted and coached and spoken to hundreds

of thousands of people, making things simpler for them. Here are five

ways that you, too, can be Mr. or Ms. Simplicity…



1.

Practice Disciplined Empathy and Common Sense

Simplicity is based on very basic human needs: Could this app be made

easier to use? Could this medicine container be made easier to

open and easier to read and understand? Can making a bank deposit be

made easier? The first step to making most anything simpler is to

walk a mile in the user’s/audience’s/customer’s shoes. And, as part

of that, focus on the basics. Making most things simpler isn’t

about solving world hunger. It’s about making each small step in

the process easier.



2.

Ask Just One Question

Steve Jobs was correct in his belief that customers can’t tell

you what they want when it relates to innovations such as the first

iPod or iPhone or iPad. But most complexities people encounter

can be addressed by simplifying something that already exists.

Ask your user/audience/customer just one question — “How can we

make this easier for you?” — and you will quickly learn what

simplicity looks like.



3.

Always Start with Time Poverty and Attention Deficit Disorder

Yes, there are bigger, more systemic, more entrenched problems

that need simplification. But if you focus on saving people time

and on capturing and using their attention wisely, you will never

go wrong. These are among the top two challenges that will always

benefit from simplification efforts.



4.

Always Give the User More Control

The more control that the user/audience/customer has over using

your product or service, the simpler it will be for them. (Assuming

you have diligently practiced Steps 1 and 2!)



5.

Joy and Great Experiences Trump Pain Reduction

Listen carefully to the responses you get in Step 2. Most people

will describe simplicity in terms of pain reduction. e.g., “This

medicine bottle cap is too hard to open.” or “I hate how long it

takes to download this.” Your job is to push past that because,

in the end, while people describe simplicity in terms of things

they want to reduce or get rid of… Growth in sales and reputation

is almost always based on the thrill of simplicity! Something that

truly excites!



FOR MORE

• Communication Tools: Speed-Freak Clarity

• How to Delete 75% of Your Emails

• The Ultimate Ten-Page Presentation

• Ten Simple Truths

• Jensen research, sponsored by SAP:

Building Simpler Corporate Cultures

The resources above are all free.



The following Fastpak resources require a small fee:

• Managing Your Manager

• How to Say No and Get Ahead

• How to Work Smarter by Asking the Right Questions

• Easy Ways to Build the Courage You Need to Work Smarter

• Leading Simply: New Basis

• Strategic Plan on One Page