radical simplicity in communication

Have you ever experienced that moment when, in front of a room full of silent collaborators, you suddenly realize that your message isn’t getting through?

That despite the glossy slides, the elaborate sentences and the passage of time, the essential remains… vague? This happened to me more often than I expected. My belief: the true power of leadershiptoday more than ever, it is committed to a forgotten art: that of simplicity.

What if we learned again to formulate messages as clear as a well-chosen metaphor, as surprising as this phrase that we still repeat to ourselves years later? In the age of artificial intelligence, information overload and constant transformation, simplicity has become a strategic weapon.

Instead of exhausting ourselves by sugarcoating our ideas, what if we learned to say less, but better?

Because the simplicity of your communication is more strategic than ever

Look around you: how many emails, briefs, meetings leave your teams confused or, worse, passive? Excessive complexity contaminates our organizations. It stifles commitment, slows down innovation and, sometimes despite ourselves, promotes distance from the field. I like to remind you, with a wink at Leonardo da Vinci, that «simplicity is the supreme refinement». Nothing has changed, except the urgency of implementing it.

In a context where every transformation (digital, organizational, HR) requires a rapid appropriation effort, communicate in a simple way it becomes a lever for collective performance. The paradox? The more complex our environment, the more employees, customers and partners demand clarity.

Simplicity, here, is never weakness: it is the result of strategic thinking and authentic listening to the needs of the community.

A manager today works with hybrid, over-informed, sometimes dispersed teams… However, there has never been a greater need to ensure that everyone is moving in the same direction. A clear, actionable and meaningful message: this is the best resource for long-term mobilization.

Received ideas that sabotage the power of simplicity

There is a persistent belief: a simple message would be banal, or even “unintelligent”. We fear, by reducing, losing depth. However, when we master the art of synthesis the opposite happens: we get to the heart of the matter.

How many times have I seen teams get lost in 60-page PowerPoint documents filled with jargon and complex formulas, only to remember… nothing? The brain, faced with cognitive overload, does the sorting for us. Jargon gives an illusion of seriousness; as for complexity, it reassures the experts… but leaves others by the wayside.

A McKinsey study had already shown a few years ago that transformation initiatives explained in an accessible way were twice as effective in involving the entire organization. This demonstrates how simplicity is at the service of collective intelligence, circulating the right information, at the right time, to the right person.

Expert advice
Before writing your next message, ask yourself if every term used is understood by all your interlocutors. If the answer is no, edit. The more we go back to the origins, the more we unite.

Clarify your intention: the hidden source of a powerful message

Before looking for THE formula for impact, there is a task that is often overlooked out of habit or urgency: clarifying what we want to achieve with our message. Too often there is a great temptation to state a topic to «get something understood» without actually asking: What am I trying to achieve, provoke, inspire?

I offer everyone I support an ultra-simple matrix, which requires clarification:

• Quoi? What is it, objectively?
• For whom? Who am I talking to and what are their real expectations?
• For that? What change, what action, what belief do I want to create?

Let’s look at some concrete examples:

The purer the message, the more it transports: it affects the mind without parasites, it creates a dynamic.

Create simple messages that mobilize (for real)

Effective simplicity is not synonymous with blandness. It’s quite the opposite: it’s a style, a signature, a unique way of leaving your mark.

The most memorable messages use images, analogies, or short, surprising sentences. I particularly like metaphors, because they transform the concept into an experience: «A manager is like an orchestra conductor: he doesn’t play all the instruments, but his gesture marks the time.»

How to build these messages that resonate?

• Draw from real life. The more your image is anchored in common experience, the more the bond is created: «A team is a shared agreement. There are disagreements, but if we stop talking, everything collapses. »
• Cut, shorten, reduce. Re-read your message: does every word count?
• Test storage: ask the question (to yourself or a colleague): “what is the heart of the message, in one sentence?” » If the answer isn’t obvious, simplify it further.
• Have the courage to be emotional. A message that causes a smile, a mental image, or a little shock leaves a lasting impression.

Practical exercise

Write your message, then ask yourself: Does a ten-year-old understand what I mean? If the answer is no, rework the wording.

Anchoring simplicity in your leadership: the unexpected leverage effect

My greatest successes as a manager are not the most sophisticated workshops or the most detailed strategic planning. These are the moments when everyone understands perfectly what needs to be done… because the message was absolutely clear.

I’ve seen a graphic charter redesign, for example, fixated on the details for months, until we finally summed up the guideline in one sentence: “Our identity: green frame on the right bank.” From that moment on, confirmation and creativity flowed.

Same observation during crises: nothing is more powerful than hearing a leader calmly say: «We won’t solve everything tonight, but everyone has a key role, precisely because the situation is exceptional.»

What I call the “invisible trace”: simplicity gives the backbone to collective action. It clarifies the decision-making process (everyone knows what to judge), delegation (everyone understands what is expected) and company culture (we instinctively align).

To remember:
The clearer your message, the more trust will be built and performance will be established.

5 golden rules to keep it simple without falling into caricature

The temptation, sometimes, is to confuse simplicity with impoverishment. It’s a risk! Because an empty slogan is as toxic as a long-winded speech.

Here’s how to maintain accuracy:

1. Maintain the nuance.
   A simple message does not erase the complexity of situations. For example: «Let’s get straight to the point. And if there are pitfalls, let’s address them.»
2. Always connect to concrete.
   Illustrate with a field example if necessary. In this way we avoid the trap of the «slogan» disconnected from reality.
3. Reread: Have I removed all traces of unnecessary jargon?
4. Check the resonance:
   Does your formula «speak» to those who will receive it? Can it be carried out effortlessly during a meeting or in the canteen?
5. Avoid “too many tests”.
   A clear message should not be childish. Remain respectful of the intelligence of your interlocutors.

For example, instead of the eternal “the customer is king”, one could formulate: “Every customer leaves with a smile, otherwise we are not satisfied either.”

Managerial simplicity and differentiation: dare to be yourself

In an environment where information circulates at great speed and where every manager tries to «innovate» with sometimes abstruse concepts, daring to be simple means standing out. It also means taking on a form of vulnerability: that of saying exactly what you think, without artifice.

In my experience, employees thirst for this freedom of tone. The leader who formulates bluntly, who takes responsibility for his choices and admits his doubts («I don’t know, but I suggest we look together») inspires more lastingly than the one who hides unsaid things behind a technical vocabulary.

Little extra
Try humor, self-deprecation, simple words: you will be surprised by the positive energy this releases.

Integrating simplicity into everyday life: routines and mindsets for enlightened managers

Cultivating simplicity means first of all changing your posture. This is anchored in habits:

• Reread every important email from the perspective: “Did I convey the essentials in just a few lines?”
• Before each meeting, summarize the goal and expectations in one sentence.
• Dare to reformulate (out loud or in writing) until you touch the «hard core» of your message.

THE’artificial intelligence and digital assistants can help detect excess jargon or summarize key points. But, and this is fundamental: the responsibility for meaning, choice of words and nuances always remains human. Artificial intelligence accelerates clarification, but simplicity remains an act of leadership.

To go further
Ask yourself each week: What is the strong message I would like to convey to my teams? Is it simple, actionable, authentic?

Simplicity, heritage of impact leaders

Sometimes one sentence is enough to change the dynamics of a collective, to make an impression, to give birth to a project. From Churchill to Mandela, from field managers to business leaders, those who truly inspire are above all «simplifiers» of reality.

In 2025 as never before, the leader’s ultimate luxury is to be able to say a lot in few words. This requires investment, humility and… courage. It’s up to you: dare radical simplicity, experiment with it tomorrow in an exchange, an email, a speech. See the impact: You’ll be surprised by the power of the message when it hits home.

Ready to transform your impact? I invite you to follow me on LinkedIn to continue these discussions. And you, what is the simple phrase that changed the way you manage?