The KISS method. You know the one: Keep It Simple, Stupid. I first learned about this philosophy in college, from an instructor whose first name was Darryl. He was a lean, lanky man with a mop of curly reddish hair and a tendency to be overtly goofy.
At the time, KISS seemed like just another silly lesson designed to keep college communications majors from falling asleep. But it’s a lesson I keep coming back to.
Like last week. In BecomeMore’s Extreme Facilitation workshop, one of the recurring challenges was some facilitators’ tendency to over-complicate things. It’s something I was guilty of when I first took this course a number of years ago.
I over-explained the concept, instead of letting participants come to their own ah-ha moments. I was too prescriptive in my instructions, delivering so many details that people got more confused. If one question is great, I thought, wouldn’t five questions be better?
Why did (DO!) I struggle with this? Part of the reason, I think, is that communication is my thing. I like to transfer ideas. Doing that thoroughly equals doing it effectively. Also, my Big Sister (aka Predictive Index Guardian) profile tells me that I want to take care of people—to make sure they understand.
Which is another way of saying, I think, that maybe I don’t trust my audience enough.
This is a lesson I needed to hear again last week. And probably one I should embroider and frame above my desk. “Trust Your Audience.” Believe in their ability to learn. Let them grow at their own pace.
It’s true for facilitation, and it’s true for leadership. Leading doesn’t always mean telling people where to go and how to get there. Powerful leaders can also articulate a vision and leave room for their people to get there in their own way.
Karman Hotchkiss
