Change Signal Your Brain's Dangerous Change Blind Spot: Leidy Klotz
Mar 12, 2025
Leidy Klotz, a Professor at the University of Virginia and author of "Subtraction: The Untapped Science of Less," explores the overlooked power of subtraction in change management. He shares how organizations often default to adding rather than removing, hindering effective improvements. Through engaging examples like Lego bricks and Strider bikes, Leidy reveals the importance of recognizing what to eliminate. His practical strategies encourage a mindset shift to enhance decision-making and creativity, empowering leaders to transform their approaches to change.
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Subtraction Blind Spot
- People overlook subtraction as a way to improve things.
- We instinctively add rather than remove, creating a "blind spot."
Lego Bridge
- Leidy Klotz's son, Ezra, fixed an uneven Lego bridge by removing a block instead of adding one.
- This sparked Klotz's research into the human bias towards addition.
University of Virginia Example
- Only 8% of 800 suggestions for improving the University of Virginia involved removing something.
- This demonstrates a strong bias towards addition, even in a strategic planning context.