How to Do More with Less
5 Ways of Adding by Subtracting
Originally published in GoRetro
Do you know what we all want in common? A bulletproof, step-by-step success recipe that we thrive on whenever we follow it. We long for shortcuts, and we want to avoid pain and risks.
What’s the problem with that?
It doesn’t take long to complicate our work by adding processes, techniques, and quality gate checks. Instead of figuring out problems we want to solve, we start creating several problems we shouldn’t have by establishing misfitting processes and techniques.
Our fear of the unknown and risk-avoidance attitude eliminates our creativity and efficiency. We easily fall in love with processes and techniques, but we barely know why we use them, yet we don’t dare challenge them.
Failing to become efficient will drive costs up and make business inviable. I encourage teams to step back, reflect on their work, and simplify it. In difficult times as we’re in right now, this isn’t optional; it’s a survival matter.
Let me give you a magic wand. You can add efficiency to your work by subtracting many things you don’t need, though you may be blindly attached to them.
