Keep It Short and Simple
The Smarter Way to Lead, Coach, and Train
By Randall Doizaki CEO, Doizaki on Leadership LLC | Leadership Speaker, Trainer, Coach Warrior Mindset Developer
In a world full of leadership noise, complexity, and over-explaining, we have all sat through those drawn-out workshops, read overly complex leadership books, and attended training sessions that tried to do too much in too little time.
What stuck? Probably very little.
I have chosen a different path.
As a leadership speaker, coach and trainer, I have learned one truth that cuts through the noise:
Simple wins. Short sticks.
That is why my upcoming leadership book ("IT IS about LEADERSHIP... NOT JUST MANAGMENT") is short, direct, and applicable for a variety of positions. It reflects the very approach I take when coaching emerging leaders and training professionals across industries — keep it short and simple (KISS).
Not because people cannot handle complexity, but because the right people appreciate clarity. We do not need to fill it up with fluff to help others.
That’s where “keep it short and simple” comes in — not as a slogan, but as a strategy.
Train, Coach, Mentor — But Say Less to Do More
When you are mentoring a future leader or developing a team, ask yourself:
Say less. Mean more. That is real leadership development.
Why Short and Simple Training Works
I use this mindset in every training room, speaking engagements, and one-on-one coaching sessions.
From frontline supervisors to executive leadership teams, the impact is the same — the clearer we communicate, the faster we lead change.
That is why the approach I have built over decades is simple by design and powerful in execution. As the CEO of Doizaki on Leadership LLC, and a leadership trainer who has worked with military teams, law enforcement, and corporate professionals, I have learned a truth that never changes:
Leaders do not need more information. They need clarity.
The Problem: Overcomplication Weakens Leadership
We’ve all seen it. The 60-slide training deck that buries people in theory. The 300-page book full of vague leadership jargon that takes months to sort thorough and put into practice. The meeting that could have been one sentence and one strong decision.
These things don’t build leaders — they confuse them.
When leadership training gets bloated with buzzwords and fluff, it fails to create confidence. It becomes more about checking boxes than building people.
That is why simplicity is not a shortcut — it is a discipline. It’s the practice of trimming the fat and focusing on what actually moves the needle in leadership development.
Why My Upcoming Leadership Book Is Short — On Purpose
My upcoming book is no accident. It is designed with intentional short content because we do not need another 300-page theory guide (like textbooks I used when teaching in the classroom). We need tools we can use right now.
Just like leadership itself, the book is about:
It is the same model I use when developing high-impact leadership teams across the public and private sectors. It works.
My new book isn’t long.
The book mirrors how I train in real life:
If you cannot use it Monday morning with your team, it does not belong in the book. It is leadership on the ground — in the office, on the streets, in the boardroom, and in the field.
The goal? To make leadership a habit, not a high-concept idea.
How to Coach and Train Using Simplicity
Here’s how you apply this mindset in leading, coaching and training:
1. Break It Down to the Core Message If someone cannot repeat the leadership concept back in one sentence, it’s not clear enough. For example:
“Be visible. Be fair. Be consistent.”
That is a leadership principle I have taught to frontline supervisors and executives alike. Everyone remembers it. Everyone can act on it.
2. Use Real-World Scenarios Cut the generic case studies. Instead, give trainees scenarios they can relate to:
“Your team is burned out. Morale is low. You walk in Monday morning. What do you say in 5 words or less?” It’s a challenge — but it’s also a powerful teaching moment.
3. Reinforce, Don’t Overload Repetition beats complexity every time. Don’t try to cover everything in one session. Cover one thing well — and make it stick.
4. Use 24-Hour Action Rules Ask your leaders to apply something within 24 hours. When the application is fast, retention goes up, and confidence builds. Keep the theory in your back pocket — lead with action.
Mentoring Future Leaders? Less Talk. More Direction.
Mentoring doesn’t mean doing the work for them. It means helping them build confidence through clarity. Next time you are mentoring someone, try this:
Mentorship should build ownership — and ownership only grows when the message is simple enough to apply.
The Warrior Mindset: Clarity Under Pressure
In the Marine Corps, we were trained to execute under pressure with clarity, confidence, and speed. Those aren’t just battlefield skills — they’re leadership skills.
The corporate world often talks itself in circles. But great leaders — the ones people trust — they don’t ramble. They communicate in impact. They act with purpose. And they lead with simplicity.
That’s why I developed my own leadership philosophy around this warrior mindset: Say less. Mean more. Act now.
Final Thought:
Great Leaders Do Not Over-Explain
They guide with intention, speak with clarity, and develop others by keeping it simple enough to act. That is the foundation of every program I build and every page I have written in my book.
If you are training others to lead, you do not need more jargon — you need more clarity.
Let us simplify leadership, together
Simplicity Is not a Shortcut — It is a Standard
If you are coaching others, leading a team, or mentoring the next generation of decision-makers, you do not have to make it complicated to make it count.
In fact, the best leadership often comes down to one powerful sentence.
When you speak clearly, people follow. When you train with simplicity, people grow. When you lead without confusion, people execute with confidence.
So, whether you are building your next leadership program or preparing to step up yourself, remember:
Short and simple is not weak. It is warrior-level leadership.
Want a copy of my upcoming short leadership book — built for action, not theory? Follow me here on LinkedIn to be notified when it drops. For coaching, training, or speaking inquiries, message me directly doizakionleadership@gmail.com or visit doizakionleadershipllc.com.
Please share this with others that may find it helpful.
#LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipCoaching #MentorToLead #KeepItSimple #DoizakiOnLeadership #RandallDoizaki #WarriorMindset #TrainToLead #ExecutiveTraining #LeadershipTools
Clear Instructions