Minimalism: Improving Organizational Performance Through Simplicity

Minimalism: Improving Organizational Performance Through Simplicity

Minimalism is a word that appear in the art sphere in 1927. It focused on simplicity and objectivity.

It is a tool for achieving more with less resources through simplicity and focus. It is an intentional act of prioritizing things that are most valuable or important to the existent of an organization or individual.

Minimalism is a tool to achieving organizational goals amidst the complex business environment using simplified approaches. In the business world, complexity seems to project great technicality but it is mostly associated with a high level of uncertainty and resource utilization.

In reality, less can be more and simplicity promote calmness, clarity, focus, purpose driven and direction.

Most business or organizational culture is characterized by:

• ????? Multitasking
• ????? Complex work arrangement and work space
• ????? Excess meeting
• ????? Lack of digital boundaries, especially amongst people working remotely.
• ????? Complex project and task
• ????? Information overload
• ????? Complex organizational goals, structure and communication channel

It is generally believed that people and organizations are more productive when they multitask, handle several projects, attend several business or operational meetings, bombarded with several information… But on the contrary, these activities tend to steal time, and lead to both physical and mental burn-out or stress.

How to Promote Minimalism in Your Organization:

Business firm can promote minimalism by:

• Setting a clear SMART organization goals which can be achieved by gradualism. That is achieving a goal by starting out small and scaling up to the ultimate aim.
• Establishing a simple organizational structure that promote smooth flow of information and speedy decision with ample level of freedom through delegated authority.
• The Establishment of simple and clear process, procedures and policies that allows people focused on the main priorities of the firm.
• Institutionalizing a clear communication line and train line managers and supervisors to give clear and simple instructions/feedbacks on performance and feed-forward to improve the performance of their team members.
• Adopting a user-friendly technology that can promote business efficiency and agility
• Embracing humanity wherein people are valued and empowered

Minimalism is a tool that enhance purposeful living as an organization and it is important in promoting:

• ?Employee engagement and satisfaction
• ?Employee wellness, wellbeing and mental health stability
• ?Personal and organizational growth/development
• ?Performance improvement
• ?Environmental, social and governance effectiveness
• ?Resource optimization

Minimalism is as useful in business as in personal life.