One month ago, I packed an overnight bag and jumped onto a plane to be with my dad. In that month, I travelled from Calicut to Wayanad and then finally found my way to Chennai, where I am currently camped. It has been a rollercoaster of a ride, and I have learnt many things about life and myself. One of the insights it has brought home to me is that in terms of ‘things’, I need very little.
Take my blue striped shirt for example. It is my trusted companion throughout the week that I wash and wear for work. A collared seersucker shirt that is cool and ticks the boxes of being Chennai-friendly and work-appropriate (for the many Zoom and Teams calls I am part of). One pair of jeans, a pair of pants, two shorts, a few T-shirts, shorts and undies have been my companions. All the other clothes I have, are not missed at all. I am reminded that I don’t need much and much of what I have back in my cupboard is clutter. The ‘things’ that I have filled up my life with are not the things that matter.
In a work context too, it becomes clear as to where I am filling up my time with clutter versus where I am really needed and creating impact. This ability to find focus and meaning in a few ‘things’ is like decluttering and from this emerges clarity of purpose. This clarity is very liberating. The freedom to focus on a few important things that feel right.
Another reminder about how little I need comes to me through the ironing table that now serves as my work desk in my new home office. My client and my team don’t seem to mind very much if I am connected to them from my cabin and my desk, or my ironing table. More important is the quality of the connection and the nature of the interaction. I am deeply grateful to my firm that is supportive and allows me this flexibility to work from Chennai and the gift of spending quality time with my dad.
As we are planning for the year ahead, I observe the teams that seem to have crafted a good solid plan have narrowed it down to a clear value proposition, that is well articulated. They have identified a segment of the market to serve and created an offering that works well for that market and situation. A bit lit my blue striped shirt. It is cool, it’s got a collar, it’s easy to wash and dry and it does not need ironing. Perfect for the current situation I find myself in.
In communication, this holds true as well. The rule of three is something I am reminded of. What are your top three messages that are most relevant and resonant to your context and your audience? Find those and focus on delivering them. Rinse and repeat.
We often fill our lives with too many things, too many people, and too many distractions. In life and work, decluttering to focus on what truly matters is a good strategy. A good communications consultant can help you cut through the clutter by finding the narrative that matters and enabling you to deliver it well. A good coach can do the same, help you look inward, identify what really matters to you, and then align your path forward with this inner truth.
My blue striped shirt and the ironing table are a reminder to me that we need little and that we should be grateful for what we have. Note to self – listen to my wife who keeps telling me to give (stuff that is stored in my cupboard) the ‘things’ I am not using, away. Maybe in this act of giving away, someone else will find a shirt that is useful to their context. Less truly seems to be more in all walks of life and work.
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A trusted coaching and communications professional, Nikhil Dey is a certified life and leadership coach (International Coach Federation - ICF). Nurturing talent and helping clients achieve their goals is what makes him happy. He loves learning from students of communication, teaching courses and guest lecturing at various educational institutions. When he is not working you will find him on the tennis court or out for long walks with his family and four legged friends.
Previously he has held senior leadership positions at Weber Shandwick and Genesis BCW.
He can be reached on twitter @deydreaming
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