One of the primary jobs of every chief executive is to figure out the most effective pathway to growth and profitability. In most cases, this involves developing new products or services, moving into new markets, acquiring or enhancing capabilities, or some other “additive” strategy. In the past few years however, a handful of CEOs have realized that one of the most powerful ways to grow the firm is not just to add – but also to subtract, consolidate or streamline – in essence to “simplify.”

In this article, you'll learn why simpler organizations outperform their more complex competitors, including:

• How simplification can lead to growth
• How a well-known food company used simplification to grow its business
• The three simple (but not easy) steps to make simplicity a part of your strategy
• Why simplification is important now more than ever