Simplification Can Save Your Team From Burnout

A 2024 Gallup report, From Suffering to Thriving, highlights the real concern: burnout has led to stagnant employee engagement and a decline in well-being throughout 2023. The World Health Organization even classifies burnout as an “occupational phenomenon,” defining it as a “syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”

At the heart of this issue? Complexity. We’re overloaded with unnecessary processes, excessive meetings, and constant notifications. People are spread too thin, and the real work—the work that matters—gets buried beneath layers of distraction. According to a study by the Harvard Business Review, over 60% of managers say excessive complexity at work negatively affects their productivity.

Subtraction: The Unseen Solution

The University of Virginia’s research shows that humans tend to overlook subtraction as a solution. Many of us default to adding more when we encounter a problem: more meetings, more tasks, more initiatives. But what if we flipped the script? The key to breaking the burnout cycle is focusing on subtraction, not addition. By removing unnecessary tasks, irrelevant meetings, and redundant processes, we can clear the space for meaningful work. The University of Virginia’s research shows that humans tend to overlook subtraction as a solution, defaulting to adding more complexity instead.

The Power of Simplification for Well-Being

Simplifying isn’t just about productivity—it’s about well-being. When you reduce the clutter in people’s day-to-day tasks, you give them the space to breathe, think, and focus. A study by Deloitte found that companies with simpler structures and fewer processes reported 25% higher employee engagement . Engaged employees are healthier, happier, and less likely to burn out.

“Employees seek a voice, choice, and purpose within their companies,” says Debbie Herd, Senior Vice President, Director of Talent Development at Comerica. When too much complexity exists, it’s difficult for employees to contribute in meaningful ways. It’s best when a company encourages simple ways to work and rewards people for it: reduction of tasks, meetings, emails, and approval layers.”

The connection between a healthy workplace and meaningful work is clear: when employees feel they can make progress on work that matters, their sense of purpose and job satisfaction soars. The antidote to burnout is clarity of purpose and freedom from chaos.

Takeaways to Create a Culture of Well-Being and Impact

1. Stop Organizing, Start Simplifying. Marie Kondo’s philosophy of decluttering goes beyond just tidying up—it’s about focusing on what truly matters. In the workplace, it’s not about neatly organizing everything; it’s about removing unnecessary tasks. You can’t thrive if you’re just organizing chaos. Simplification is the path to clarity and effectiveness.
2. Build in Subtraction, Not Just Addition. Just like a garden thrives when you pull the weeds, organizations thrive when you make space for what truly matters by removing what doesn’t. Subtraction is a growth strategy—it’s about constantly clearing the unnecessary to make room for the important.
3. Focus on the Compass, Not Just the Clock. Too often, we measure productivity by how much we do, rather than how aligned we are with what truly drives impact. Focusing on the clock leads to task management, while focusing on the compass leads to leadership. Simplification creates the space for strategic thinking and impactful work.
4. Simplify to Amplify. Complexity stifles creativity and innovation. When we eliminate distractions, we give ourselves room to breathe and think. Simplification is the fuel that powers deep thinking and transformative solutions. It’s not just about doing less; it’s about doing less, better.
5. Create Time for Thinking. Thinking shouldn’t be a luxury—it should be a priority. Innovation and problem-solving stem from creating mental space for deep thought. Business units within Accenture and Sanofi have started mandating thinking time, recognizing that this is the foundation of impactful work. Simplification isn’t just about time management; it’s about fostering the space for creativity, innovation and people to thrive.

The Path Forward: Less is More

For the sake of our companies and our people, it’s time for leaders to embrace subtraction as a strategy imperative. Let’s stop adding layers of complexity and start removing the noise that’s causing our people to suffer. Simplifying is the most human-centric productivity hack there is. It’s time to design workplaces where well-being is the foundation of productivity, where employees can focus on what matters, and where healthy people create thriving companies.

The bottom line? To prevent burnout, we need to subtract. It’s time to rethink, reduce, and redesign work for a healthier, more productive future.