Three Minute Leadership: On the Magnificence of Simplicity
To: The Great leaders Who Have a Passion for Continuous Learning
Walt Whitman, 19th century American poet, wrote: “Simplicity is the glory of expression.” In their book, Made to Stick, Chip Heath and Dan Heath write about simplicity, one of the six characteristics that they suggest are critical to highly effective, memorable and “sticky” communications. They cite the Army’s Commander’s Intent (CI) as a powerful example of simplicity.
Colonel Tom Kolditz, former Head of the United States Military Academy’s Behavior Sciences Division at West Point, is quoted: “No plan survives contact with the enemy…. You may start off trying to fight your plan, but the enemy gets a vote.” So it is with any planning – professional or personal – someone or something else will always have a vote. Looking for something better, in the early 1980s the Army introduced the concept of Commander’s Intent.
“Commander’s Intent,” write the authors, “manages to align the behaviors of soldiers at all levels without requiring play-by-play instructions from their leaders.” The power of Commander’s Intent is captured in Kolditz’s words: “You can lose the ability to execute the original plan, but you never lose the responsibility of executing the intent.” What magnificent simplicity! Up and down the line, everyone gets the message – the “what”. When everyone gets the “what,” the “how’s” (i.e. the way the ‘what’ gets done) will be better aligned.
“Simplicity, clarity, singleness: These are the attributes that give our lives power and vividness and joy as they are also the marks of great art” writes John Holloway, Scottish writer. Fill your life with these attributes that your life’s purpose is clearly visible in all that you do, in all that you are. You will be certain that what you do, say and who you are will be memorable, will be ‘sticky.’ Enjoy the magnificence and beauty of the journey… and have fun doing it.
Have a beautiful day and an incredible week!!!
Mike