By simplifying processes you make everyone else’s life easier. You break things down to their essence, which allows others to understand each other better and see things from the same perspective. You are constantly simplifying things down, from recipes you’re making at home to business systems you’re implementing at work. You feel successful when you’re eliminating complexity and removing unnecessary steps.

The challenge that comes with the HOW of Simplify is embracing the fact that others are quite comfortable with a fair amount of chaos in their life and to you this makes little sense. Chaos and extra steps are confusing and inefficient. They add layers of unnecessary complexity to any task or relationship and from your perspective it contributes nothing positive. This can lead to the appearance being too stiff or cold or direct because you want it the way you like it.

There is no easy solution to the dilemma facing those who have the HOW of Simplify. Human beings are messy by nature and most are not prone to seeking simple solutions at every turn as much as you wish they would. So basically acceptance and celebration are your friends – accept the fact that others cannot do what you do and celebrate the contribution that you make to everyone around you. 

With the HOW of Simplify, you tend to be direct and to the point in your relationships. For a relationship to be great for you, you want to know what is going on, you want things to be simple to understand, and you don’t want a lot of fluff. You don’t like drama, nor do you need a lot of attention, as that would be too confusing and would feel excessive.

Conversations with you are short and sweet, and you are good at making others feel comfortable. Sometimes being so direct may make it seem like you are upset or unhappy, although really you just want the facts. 

You are great to have on the team because you are excellent at taking complex information or ideas and simplifying them for others to understand. In meetings you are typically not very vocal, and may go an entire meeting without saying anything. However, when you are called on for feedback or advice you are great at summarizing what was said while also making it easier for others to “get” the important points. Sometimes you can seem disengaged or disinterested, but that is because you are gathering data or figuring out what others are saying. You can sometimes seem blunt, especially when your answers are short, but that directness is your gift. When the rest of the team realizes that, you become an appreciated asset!

Less is more also applies with friends and family. You see that when people have less things to make decisions about they are happier. You do well when others agree with this thinking, but will experience conflict if they want more and more (like many do). It can become challenging for you as their desire for what you see as “excess” goes against what you believe.