I met with a friend recently (John Thomas of IFA) and we were chatting about bureaucracy and process and how some people just love to make things difficult and he exposed me to a personal campaign which he has called ‘Decomplexification’. (Which he admits is a word more easily attributed to George W. Bush than himself.)John feels that there is a growing number of people and organisation that like to perpetuate the notion of complexity [Have you ever read the manual that comes with a mobile or laptop recently] and their mission in life is to confuse and mystify the rest of us mere mortals.
I remember participating in a meeting where a group of Civil Servants and Lawyers were tasked to write a guide titled ‘A Plain English Guide to the New Legislation’, can you imagine a group less qualified to write anything in plain English? They wrote the Guide and it was almost unintelligible!
So I’m with John and would encourage all readers to look around and where process is engineered or copy is written; in promotional material, on websites, in briefing notes or even Board Minutes, commit yourself to the principle of ‘decomplexification’.
Gareth
PS. I'm going to have a look at the APA website again this week to ensure I practice what I preach!
8 comments:
Hello APA, I have been thinking about this since I first read it on Saturday. I spent the day yesterday turning the concept into a powerpoint file and I'm going to use it later this week for a team meeting we are having.
I'm going to start by standing up and admitting that I am a 'Complexifer' and am starting a programme of rehab called 'Decomplexification' to reduce the bureaucracy in my internal processes. I hope it will be fun but I believe i will be a revelation!
Thanks APA, this could be an epiphany.
Hi Hayley,
Wow, what a great response. I am thrilled it works for you and would love to see your PowerPoint - if you feel comfortable sharing it with me (email address below).
I would also love to hear how it goes and perhaps we could help roll it out to other ddepartments. I am sure NHS and others would benefit massively. Good luck!
(gareth.osbrne@paprofessional.com)
Sorry:
gareth.osborne@paprofessional.com
Hi Hayley,
Wonderful, it's great to have another convert, especially in an organisation paramount to the well-being of UK Plc. both literally and figuratively.
My desire grew out of frustration whilst working as a Corporate Suit for a major international computer manufacturer and supplier. One of my 'nom-de-guerre's' was 'W.N.'
Any ideas?
If I can be of any assistance please email as below.
Regards
John.
john.thomas@ifa-voice.com
p.s. I just love the idea of someone standing up and saying
'Hi everyone, my name is Hayley and I am a Complexifier'.
Hi John,
Thanks for your comments - looks like we might have a joint roadshow here? Decomplexification-on-tour.
Any tips on how we can do achieve decomplexification - If so I'll publish them as a Blog or even something special in the Members Area.
Hello Mikki here,
I was just reading this blog (already have it in my favourites) and, like Hayley, really love the concept. we teach KISS (keep it simple, stupid) but 'Decomplexification' leads to KISS for all those who get it wrong the first time round.
We are Technical Authors and we constantly struggle with the 'technology ego' where everyone wants to impress their peers with their indepth knowledge and expertise. Some of the manuals are totally indigestible and cause endles complaints from customers, who only want to know how to make it work; not how it works.
I can't wait for our next Innovation Group meeting to air this thought; I can see it going down like a lead balloon (or a high mass, rubberised inflation devise as we would call them. J)with the techies but the marketers will love it.
Gareth,
The concept is in the first instance very simple but also very difficult. Let me explain the difference; the simple part is learning how to say no to 'the experts' who insist that 'without this whizzy-bang go-faster widget' the business is doomed. Because they are labelled the 'experts' they have this inbuilt belief that you MUST and will act on their say. Absolute garbage.
So the simple part is learning what you have to do. Refuse and question. Ask why. Ask 'Why Not'.
Sense when you are being 'snowed', bring in your own tame expert to question 'THE experts'.
That's the simple part.
The difficult part is delivering it and therein lies the secret which we can share with everyone when we do 'Decomplexification-on-tour' or 'Decomplexification - The Roadshow'.
Best regards to all and keep spreading the gospel (let's fight back).
John.
Crikey! This has hit a nerve and obviously goes straight to the heart of many of our Members and readers. It is getting close in style and content to the earlier blog and responses created by Colin Minto on 'Technology'. I will put this on the agenda for future discussion. It is obviously an important one.
It leads me to another common difficulty in business, marketing your product and service; I feel a blog coming on.
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