SLPs: Less can be more, so get rid of stuff!

The big picture:

Most SLPs seek to add new services, projects, and workflows to improve the quality of their work for clients. But what if – instead – we asked ourselves: “What can I get rid of?”

Why it matters:

“Addition sickness” describes unnecessary rules, procedures, communications, tools, and tasks that grow over time, increase workloads and reduce productivity. It happens because:

• humans have an addition bias;
• we reward SLPs (including ourselves) for new initiatives; and
• sometimes we have a limited grasp of how additions burden others.

The cure:

Treat your addition sickness aggressively:

• Kick-off a “Getting Rid of Stupid Stuff Team Project” in 2025.
• Talk to clients and your team to find subtraction targets, especially obstacles that:
  • delay or frustrate clients;
  • stymie cash in-flows; and
  • distract or exhaust the team.
• Simplify/shorten forms.
• Crack down on jargon, especially in client communications.
• Reduce team communication overheads:
  • Cancel useless meetings. 
  • Reset defaults for meetings (e.g. 15 minute calendar blocks).
  • Ban internal emails outside work hours. 
  • Use a single channel for urgent communications.
  • Implement meeting-free days.
  • Reduce direct reports to any one manager.
  • Streamline interviews and onboarding processes.
• Impose a “rule of halves”, seeking to reduce task burdens by 50%, e.g., for meetings per week or average length of emails.
• Include “subtraction ideas” in supervision and team meeting agendas. 
• Run “waste hunter” competitions, rewarding people with the best suggestions.
• Eliminate non-core services and services that lose money.
• Enforce FTA/discharge policies for clients who regularly don’t show up or cancel at short notice or without good reasons.
• Cancel subscriptions you don’t use.
• End contracts with unreliable suppliers.

Bottom line:

Addition sickness wastes everyone’s time, distracts and burns out staff, frustrates clients, saps cash, and impedes the ‘mission’. Ask “What can we get rid of?” Get rid of unnecessary stuff and busywork. Start now.    

Read more:

Rid Your Organization of Obstacles That Infuriate Everyone