Academics — myself included — sometimes hide behind complexity. We dress ideas in dense language, not always out of pride, but often out of insecurity. Complexity can feel comforting; it creates distance and gives the illusion of control. The same is true in governance. Whether in a university, a company, or a town hall, people sometimes use intricate words or procedures to shield uncertainty — or to avoid the harder task of explaining things clearly.
But understanding is not proven by how complicated we can make something, but by how clearly we can share it. Mark Twain once said that you don’t truly understand an idea until you can explain it to your grandmother. I try to live by that.
My commitment, both as a teacher and as someone who believes in public service, is to speak the same language as the people I serve. Not by oversimplifying, but by translating complexity into clarity — by finding the words, examples, and images that make ideas accessible without diluting their meaning. Because true courage in governance often lies in doing the opposite of what feels safe: making things understandable, connected, and open to all. Simplifying does not mean reducing; it means clarifying.
1. Simplicity as Respect
The more I work within public systems, the more I see that complexity can become a kind of shelter. It protects decisions from scrutiny and gives the illusion of sophistication.
Yet when we take the time to explain things clearly — why a project costs what it does, how a regulation works, or what a tax increase funds — we make space for real participation.
Clarity is a form of respect. It says, “You deserve to understand how this works.” It opens the door to dialogue rather than defensiveness. In governance — at every level — that openness matters deeply. When people can see the reasoning behind a decision, even difficult choices become more acceptable because they feel included in the process.
2. When Everything Connects
Simplifying is not about hiding complexity; it’s about revealing connections. Decisions about infrastructure, zoning, education, or budgets all touch one another — and they all shape how we live together. The environment, the economy, culture, and social well-being are not separate files; they are threads in the same fabric.
When we present those links clearly — when we show how environmental care, fiscal discipline, and civic vitality reinforce one another — we replace confusion with coherence. That’s what I mean by the courage to simplify: the willingness to lay out the full picture in a way that everyone can follow.
It isn’t always easy. Clarity takes discipline. It means slowing down, asking better questions, and resisting the temptation to hide behind technical language. But when simplicity guides communication, complexity becomes an invitation instead of a barrier.
3. Simplicity Builds Trust
Trust in governance rarely grows from slogans. It grows from clear, honest, and consistent communication. When people understand what is being done, why it matters, and how it connects to shared values, they begin to see governance not as distant, but as part of their own civic life.
This applies everywhere — in universities, boardrooms, and municipalities alike. Every explanation, every exchange, can either build understanding or erode it. Simplifying is not about “talking down”; it’s about bringing everyone into the same conversation.
Closing Reflection
Simplifying takes courage because it exposes assumptions. It asks leaders to speak plainly, explain decisions, and welcome feedback. But it also builds something stronger than complexity ever could: shared understanding.
If I sometimes slip into academic language, it’s not from distance, but from habit. What matters is the effort to bridge that gap — to translate, to connect, to make meaning together. When we speak clearly about what binds us — our finances, our environment, our culture, and our shared hopes for the future — we make governance not just more open, but more human.