Essential simplicity

In strategy there is only one rule and one rule only. Simplicity. If you can’t explain it simply, it isn’t comprehensible and people will not connect with it. Let alone work with it and tell it further. And it really doesn’t matter much on which level your strategy is aimed at. Is it communication, marketing, product innovation or organization? For all strategies goes Da Vinci’s saying: “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”. And that’s why so many strategies fail. Simply being tired of thinking, discussing or compromising, the words remain an empty shell of what could have been something really simple and rewarding. You can do your own check on the strategy of your company. Is it simple?! Can I explain it in one sentence to a relative on a birthday party?!

My favorite example is Dockwise. A renown consultancy company explained that they should move up the supply chain. That there was more money to be made in additional services than in the transportation of huge objects from port A to port B. They detailed their strategy in a document of over 50 pages fine print and schedules. All attempts to translate this document into something the employees would understand and wanted to work with failed in complexity or jargon. A simply line was the only thing needed… Instead of just moving huge things from port A to port B, Dockwise is now delivering all aspects for this transport from A to Z.

And than the question is, is it indeed pure simplicity?! Looking forward to your comments!