The acronym K.I.S.S. is mostly used in software project management and is often referred to as Keep It Simple and Stupid. Its origins lie at Lockheed Skunk Works, creators of the (in)famous U-2 and SR-71 Blackbird spy planes.
There are a few variants of K.I.S.S. that basically come down to the same meaning. Acronyms are powerful because they are used as one word potentially also conveying the meaning of that word. Acronyms are both easy to pronounce and to remember.
We recently made up another, more positive variant, in a conversation my friend and coach Ravi Chhabra. Ravi is always juggling with letters and giving powerful meaning to words and combination of letters.
Simple as in K.I.S.S. is not always easy to achieve and the essence of reaching simplicity can even be paradoxically complex at times. In a project that features many layers of complexity both technically and people wise managing attention can easily lead to things getting done only half-way. Identifying layers in complexity and exposing its underlying functionality or purpose is something you should when starting a project.
Taking small steps, baby keeps your head clear, your focus concentrated and allows you to celebrate reaching goals way easier than it is in an upfront project dealt with hastily.
People management asks for people skills, soft skills and has redefined leadership these past years. The definition of leadership in the context of management has long been regarded as a top-down action. The ‘leader’ or manager distributes his orders to employees that almost sheepishly are expected to execute what has been laid down in the project plan. Because of the size of the project plan is presumably ancient already when starting the project. This indeed is stupid.
There is not much power in stupid, however. Stupid has a negative meaning as some mindless interaction with your environment, although in K.I.S.S. stupid is only meant to strengthen the meaning of simple. Stupid is often used in human interaction where we express discouragingly how we feel about the actions of one of our fellow humans.
Specifically as a community leader you learn that engaging in your community it is all about encouraging and serving your community. K.I.S.S. has got a much more powerful meaning where the Stupid is transformed in Serve turning the whole acronym into Keep It Simple and Serve.
You do not necessarily need to be a leader or manager to serve, however. Living in a positive encouraging way serves your fellow humans and provides you with more fun and appreciation in life and a better relationship towards your fellow humans positively and turns your perspective from I into we.
It is amazingly easy how to give more positive meaning if you are open to the possibilities.
With Serve K.I.S.S. turns into an even more powerful mantra that is easy to remember for anyone in their life and work.
Keep It Simple and Serve
