Important for Sustainability and CSR: Keep it simple

Life can be complicated sometimes. We all know that. Especially if you work in the Sustainability / CSR sector trying to convince other people of the purpose and the good of Sustainability / CSR can be very complicated and challenging at times.

Todays post has one straightforward message:

Keep It Simple.

I have found this to be so important especially when you work in the Sustainability / CSR field. In order to properly communicate your point of view or argument you need to keep it simple. This will help you to reach the other person much easier and not overwhelm them with the message you are trying to convey.

How do I mean that?
Well if you overcomplicate topics or try to tackle to many issues or tasks all at once your results will show it – in a negative way. Not only from the communications but also from a business results point of view. You might be the one in a million professional that can do that now (at least you think you do) but this is is impossible to keep up all the time. We all have our limits and keeping it simple might just help to make your business life as a Sustainability / CSR professional more effective and at the same time more enjoyable.

This is a really basic way of working. But think about it. What is the argument for making it more complicated? There is none in my opinion.

So why not use time this Monday to take a look at where you can make your work in the Sustainability / CSR field or any other field of work simpler but at the same time more organized and effective. I bet you will find at least one area of work where you are overcomplicating matters.

This is your task then: Make it simpler and therefore more manageable.

Picture Credit: Jimee, Jackie, Tom & Asha

http://twitter.com/hanseric Hans Eric Melin

I definitely agree. CSR messages are so often packed with facts that do more harm than good as people lack the knowledge required to understand them. There are also too much “WHY” and too little “HOW”. And even more importantly, there are too few “DO”. People don't always care that much about why they are doing things. But they like to do what other people are doing and then they have to know how to do that.
http://twitter.com/claytontford Clayton Ford

Great reminder and challenge Fabian. Keeping it simple helps engage all employees behind CSR and really focus mangement's and the company's efforts, (the old maxim no one can do everything, but everyone can do one thing) in addition to improving measurment, progress and communications. Seems Nike is heeding the message (http://bit.ly/776cYY) – be interesting to see if this really is a tipping point.
http://twitter.com/CJ_Esposito Cindy Esposito

Fabian – This is perhaps one of the most important aspects of communicating CSR. If we don't make it accessible to “all” and we only use complicated, technical jargon that only those in CSR community can relate to then we miss the opportunity to broaden the reach and engage people from all walks of life!
http://www.fabianpattberg.com FabianPattberg

Thank you everyone for your comments.
@Cindy: I totally agree. Simplicity can be so powerful.
@Clayton: Thanks for the link. I will check it out.
@Hans Eric: I agree. If we would adhere to your Why, How and Do we would be more informed for sure.
http://www.fabianpattberg.com FabianPattberg

Thank you everyone for your comments.
@Cindy: I totally agree. Simplicity can be so powerful.
@Clayton: Thanks for the link. I will check it out.
@Hans Eric: I agree. If we would adhere to your Why, How and Do we would be more informed for sure.