The Clearer, The Better

We all want improvement, greater cash flow, more value, better quality. We all have problems to solve. Vagueness, while a subtle enemy, is a greater enemy than complexity. Simple is good. Clarity is better. As helpful as simplifying complexity seems to be, clarity that a child can understand is better. It might just be a subtle aspect of complexity that is the root cause opportunity for improvement. While simplifying might overlook something subtle, clarity spells it out. Important difference.

When things aren't going well, life gets more complicated, especially whenever and wherever we are not clear about why, what, and how things aren't going well. When things are going well and things are all clear we can sleep well at night even during storms, and life is better.

The "simpler" that is desirable has the uncommon clarity of common sense without missing anything meaningful. Getting things clearer might take more thought initially but more complete and accurate clarity is apt to yield better, faster, lower cost results overall.

Many forms of obfuscation (concealment of meaning) foster vagueness and can happen for sometimes subtle, but almost always knowable reasons. Root cause clarification for obfuscation will reveal meaningful improvement opportunities.

Statistical process control, key performance measurement, monitoring, and management systems, personality and behavioral profiling, practices of modern science and improvement programs applied to business are potential power tools in the hands of those who are suitably enlightened in the vital basics of business and appreciate the perpetual advantage of clarity.