HOW TO MAKE SIMPLICITY LAST
by David Brewster
What's the one thing many fun-loving single males find
daunting? That's right. It's the 'C' word: Commitment. On the
other hand, politicians seem to find commitment the easiest
thing in the world. Understanding the difference is key to
ensuring that your efforts to simplify don't fizzle out to
nothing.
With election campaigns currently running in Australia and the
U.S., the concept of being 'committed' is getting a good
workout. Everyone, it seems, is committed to everything.
"Is health an issue for you? We're committed to addressing the
health issue. Education? We're committed to fixing that too. The
environment? To that we are absolutely committed. Oh, and we're
committed to being economically responsible too."
Commitments are easy for politicians because they make them
with private parentheses: "We're committed (to the extent that
we don't interfere with our real agenda)". "We're committed (as
long as we don't jeopardize too many votes)".
[On this point, we shouldn't only point the finger at
politicians. Commitments with private parentheses are common in
business too. I've been into many workplaces where there is a
stated commitment to safety (as long as it doesn't threaten our
profitability). And we're all familiar with organizations
dedicated to customer service (as long as it doesn't get too
onerous).]
The problem, as our swinging single will tell you, is that REAL
commitments can't come with these conditional clauses. They come
devoid of ifs, buts and maybes - for the term of your natural
life.
Real commitments are ENACTED. You have to DO something to
demonstrate them. Real commitments are also ENTRENCHED. They are
made sustainable via some form of institution. Marriage, for
instance.
Let me give you an example. Back in 1976, Australia's Olympic
team returned from the Montreal games without a single gold
medal. For this sports-proud country, this was a catastrophe.
The government, fearing an electoral backlash, did what any
worthwhile government does: it got 'committed'. Only this time,
it got REALLY committed.
The government acted to turn things around by establishing and
funding the Australian Institute of Sport. This body proactively
supports the development of sporting excellence. In the 23 years
since the AIS was started, Australia's Olympic success has
soared. The team returned from the recent Athens games with a
record haul of 17 gold.
Now, while some may question the government's priorities, the
point I am making is that their commitment to this issue was as
solid as the one feared by Mr. Eligible. It was clearly enacted
and entrenched.
It is this sort of commitment you will need to make if you want
to make simplicity work for you over the long term. Complexity
is powerfully seductive. But if you avoid its temptations and
make a real commitment, I, for one, think it will make your life
a whole lot simpler.
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David Brewster specialises helping managers succeed in complex
environments. He helps managers succeed by finding ways to
simplify the way they work, the products they create and the way
they communicate. David is a professional speaker, trainer,
advisor and coach. More information along with free downloads
and resources are available at his website:
http://www.businesssimplification.com.au
