Surface hidden power by spotting negative space
The greatest breakthrough in the 18th century was the steam engine—an additive innovation. Yet the most transformative gains often come from subtraction: removing excess. That’s why jet airliners replaced propeller planes for transoceanic travel—they shed weight and complexity.
In behavioral science, it’s called ‘choice architecture.’ By removing options, you guide people to the desired action—think toll booths instead of stop signs. It doesn’t feel like innovation, but it is.
When IKEA revolutionized furniture, it not only standardized parts but removed nails and glue: the flat-pack idea was born from subtraction. In Japan, the practice of ‘kaizen’ urges employees to cut unnecessary steps, yielding massive productivity gains over time.
Next time you brainstorm features, spend equal energy listing what to remove: step functions, approvals, meetings. Often, subtraction uncovers hidden elegance that addition can never achieve.
Begin by listing five steps or features in your current project that add friction rather than value. Then, research a lean competitor and borrow one of their minimalist tactics. Finally, convene your team for a rapid subtraction sprint—everyone pitches one thing to cut, and you vote on the highest-payoff elimination. This lean-first approach often reveals breakthroughs where more ideas fall short. Try it next week.
What You'll Achieve
You’ll internally embrace clarity and learn that less can be more, improving focus. Externally, you’ll reduce waste, speed up processes and deliver more elegant solutions.
Define what you remove, not add
List eliminations first
For your next project, start by listing five things you could remove to improve it—steps, features, meetings—before adding any new ideas.
Benchmark lean rivals
Identify a competitor who does more with less. Dissect how they cut costs or features, then apply one elimination tactic to your work.
Run a subtraction sprint
Block 30 minutes with your team and challenge everyone to propose one subtraction that could save time or money. Vote on the biggest payoff and try it.
Reflection Questions
- What’s one feature of your favorite app that you could live without—and why?
- Where in your work do extra steps slow you down—and which can you cut today?
- How might removing a popular but nonessential component improve your project?
Personalization Tips
- At home: Strip out all but five most-used apps from your phone home screen to strengthen focus.
- Health: Remove one ‘optional’ grocery item per shopping list to decrease binge snacks.
- Leadership: End one meeting per week that yields no clear action items, replacing it with an email summary.
How Innovation Works: Serendipity, Energy and the Saving of Time
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