This is another one of those principles to live by that we’ve heard about for most of our lives. It’s a bit different than the last one, Murphy’s Law. This one is not just a “universal law” but a rule or principle we can put into practice. And it’s a good one, especially for our purposes here on Tough Talk.
The principle of Occam’s Razor dovetails nicely with everything I’ve been teaching all these years and writing about on this Substack, especially in pieces like, “Don’t Say Everything,” “Use Plain Language,” “Simple & Strategic,” and my favorite - “More is Just More.”
If you want to communicate clearly and with purpose to solve problems, then you have to offer the most reasonable and plausible explanation using the fewest number of elements. That’s Occam’s Razor.
Since the principle relies on the fewest number of elements, it’s also called the Law of Parsimony - which means thrift or frugality.
In other words, be spare in your use of detail and be sure to rely on the most basic facts to make your case.
Any more than that triggers a response in your audience that can range from confusion to distrust or even distraction.
(I’m going to address distraction in another post in the not-to-distant-future. Stay tuned. Distraction is one of the biggest stumbling blocks to successful communication.)
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Here’s the relevant wisdom from the earlier posts I referenced above.
Don’t Say Everything - I know you’re trying to be transparent, but you don’t have to say everything. Leave out the unhelpful parts that don’t help you solve the problem. Click on the link to read one of my favorite examples of a White House press release that added an unnecessary tidbit which derailed their good work.
Use Plain Language - If you’re trying to communicate to solve a problem, use words people already know. Aim for understanding. Don’t try to dazzle your audience with novel word choices or introduce concepts they might not understand. Keep it plain so your audience can track what you’re saying and not have to think too much.
Simple & Strategic - People can recall three things from their short term memory, so that’s why it’s best to communicate three main messages. That’s the Rule of Three. Distill everything you want to say down to three and be sure to dispense with the messages you don’t need in order to make your point.
More is Just More - More isn’t necessarily better, and sometimes it’s worse. Don’t over-explain. When you juice your argument, you may give the impression that you don’t have confidence in your explanation. That’s a serious violation of the principle of Occam’s Razor. Be sure to include the fewest number of elements.