We’ve all heard the expression “less is more!” More than likely we heard it when someone was attempting to encourage us to DO less of something. Maybe it was talking, the length of our emails/blogs, the amount of updates we post to Twitter/Facebook…something!
Chance are, our first reaction was defensive. Attempting to explain why we had to say so much (only making us more long winded & proving their point). The truth is, it’s true…LESS IS MORE!! Well, for me, it’s mostly true…
I wouldn’t say “Less is More” is as true as “Less is More, when Less DOES More!” As in, the GOAL is to work through what we want to communicate beforehand, so we can successfully share it ALL in less words/time. The goal is less text/time/frequency with even more useful content!!
Providing LESS allows whoever we are talking/writing to, to be able to focus MORE on LESS! Thus opening up the main idea (or takeaway) to be more widely understood and much easier to remember & apply.
It also makes it easier & less burdensome for others to listen to us or read what we write. Reason being, we become less overwhelming each time we begin.
On the other hand, for me, less for the sake of less, isn’t more! At that point, it isn’t more because it doesnt DO more! It just IS less!! The goal isnt simply to do/say/write less! The goal is to do MORE with less!! The goal is to think through it more so we filter what’s not needed and share only what is needed.
In the end, it’s a communication game that requires our constant monitoring in not only what we say, but how we say it. It’s a balancing act, because too much is overwhelming and too talkative (listening is good too)! Being incredibly ADHD, I’ve had to (and still am) learning this the hard way!!
While, at the same time, “too little” (less for just less’ sake) can make us seem distant (lack of communication) or incoherent at best (saying less in a way that makes no sense). I’m learning it’s about balance! It’s about not just applying “less is more” but making “less do more”
Just what I’m learning…! 