In business, we often pride ourselves on “adding value.” Yet, over time, this mindset can lead to unnecessary complexity—more tasks, more meetings, more reports. But what if true value lies in doing less, not more?

The mark of a great team isn’t how much it does but its ability to focus on what truly matters, cutting out the distractions and simplifying processes.

Consider these examples from business contexts:

🔹 Meetings:
How often have we said, “We spend far too much time in meetings”? Recurring meetings can easily become time sinks. Instead, ask yourself:

• Should I be here?
• Could this time be better spent elsewhere?
• If I miss something, does it truly matter?

FOMO (fear of missing out) often keeps us in the room. But intentional practices can change this:

1. Audit your meetings: Are their purpose and attendees still relevant? Sometimes one representative per department is sufficient.
2. Set clear agendas: No agenda, no meeting. Simple.
3. Empower decision-making: Meetings that don’t lead to decisions waste everyone’s time.
4. Streamline communication: Use tools to share updates so meetings focus on meaningful discussions.
5. Experiment with absence: Skip a meeting and see what happens—did you really miss anything?

🔹 Reports:
Are you creating reports that no one reads? Stop producing them and see if anyone notices.

🔹 Processes:
Are your workflows over-complicated? Simplify them. Ask yourself: What’s the simplest way to achieve the goal?

🔹 Product Development:
Are you pursuing features that customers don’t need or want? Go straight to the source—ask your customers.

It’s not about being busy; it’s about being purposeful.

Great teams streamline their efforts, prioritise what truly matters, and deliver value without unnecessary complexity.

What are some things your team has stopped doing to focus on what really counts?

Let’s embrace the power of subtraction. Time is our most precious resource—let’s ensure we spend it wisely.