The Hidden Power of Less: How Subtraction Can Transform Your Professional Life

Why Your Brain Wants to Add Another Meeting but Really Needs to Delete Your Entire Calendar

In a world obsessed with “more”—more features, more meetings, more metrics—it’s easy to forget that the most elegant solutions often come from stripping things away. A groundbreaking study published in Nature reveals why this oversight happens and how it quietly sabotages our work. Titled “People systematically overlook subtractive changes”, the research by Gabrielle S. Adams, Benjamin A. Converse, Andrew H. Hales, and Leidy E. Klotz from the University of Virginia uncovers a profound cognitive bias: when tasked with improving something, we default to adding elements rather than removing them.

Across eight experiments, participants were asked to enhance everything from Lego structures to mini-golf courses and even recipes. Without prompts, they overwhelmingly suggested additive changes—like slapping on a windmill or extra spices—while rarely considering subtraction, such as ditching a sand trap or an unnecessary ingredient. Even when subtraction would clearly outperform addition, it was overlooked. The researchers attribute this to our brains’ desire to manage cognitive load: brainstorming additions feels safer and more intuitive, but it leaves superior, simpler alternatives on the table.

This isn’t just lab trivia; it’s a lens into why professionals burn out, teams bloat, and companies churn out bloated products. As the study notes, “Defaulting to searches for additive changes may be one reason that people struggle to mitigate overburdened schedules, institutional red tape and damaging effects on the planet.” In the high-stakes arena of work, where time is finite and complexity is the enemy, embracing subtraction isn’t optional—it’s revolutionary. Let’s explore how this bias plays out in your career and practical ways to flip the script.

The Addition Trap: Why Your To-Do List (and Team) Keeps Growing

Picture this: You’re leading a project that’s veering off track. The knee-jerk response? Schedule another meeting, hire a consultant, or layer on more software tools. Sound familiar? The Nature study shows this isn’t laziness—it’s wired into us. In one experiment, participants under high cognitive load (think: deadline pressure) were even less likely to spot subtractive fixes, defaulting to additions that compounded the problem.

In professional life, this manifests everywhere:

• Overloaded Schedules: We pile on tasks to “stay productive,” ignoring that removing low-value commitments—like that weekly status update no one reads—could free up hours for deep work.

• Bloated Teams and Processes: Companies add headcount or rules to “fix” inefficiencies, creating red tape that the study links to institutional drag. Remember the last time a “streamlined” workflow ended up with 12 approval steps?

• Product Overkill: Designers and marketers cram features into apps or pitches, assuming more equals better. Yet, as the research hints, subtraction often yields “superior alternatives” that delight users with simplicity.

The cost? Burnout, missed opportunities, and a nagging sense that things could be better if only we looked differently.

Subtraction in Action: Real-World Wins from the Workplace

The beauty of the Nature findings is their applicability. The experiments used everyday tasks, mirroring the creative problem-solving we do daily. Cues as simple as “removing pieces is free” doubled the rate of subtractive ideas in some tests. Translate that to work: Explicitly prompting “What can we cut?” during brainstorming can unlock efficiency.

Here are three scenarios where subtraction has powered professional breakthroughs, inspired by the study’s insights:

1. Streamlining Your Workflow: Less Email, More Impact

Professionals spend up to 28% of their week on email alone. Instead of adding a new inbox app, try subtraction. Audit your inbox: Eliminate auto-replies, unsubscribe from non-essential newsletters, and batch-check once daily. One manager I know slashed her email time by 40% by deleting recurring threads—echoing the study’s recipe tweak where removing one atypical ingredient simplified the dish without losing flavor.

Result? Reclaimed time for strategic thinking, reducing cognitive load and boosting output.

2. Team Dynamics: Pruning for Peak Performance

In team settings, addition bias leads to “kitchen sink” projects with every stakeholder’s pet idea. The Nature researchers found people need multiple chances to spot addition’s flaws; apply this by running “subtraction sprints.” Dedicate a meeting to listing what to remove—redundant roles, outdated tools, or even low-ROI clients.

A tech firm did this and cut their feature backlog by 30%, accelerating release cycles. As the study suggests, this counters the “limited number of ideas” we typically consider, opening doors to atypical (but effective) cuts.

3. Career Growth: Editing Your Personal Brand

Job hunting or networking? We add buzzwords to resumes or rehearse more talking points for interviews. But subtraction sharpens your edge. Trim your LinkedIn profile to three core achievements; cut filler from your elevator pitch. The experiments showed subtractive changes shine when components are atypical—highlight your unique “removals,” like leading a downsizing that boosted morale.

Leidy Klotz, a co-author, argues this bias explains environmental inaction: We add green tech instead of subtracting waste. Similarly, in careers, subtracting distractions (e.g., social media doom-scrolling) amplifies focus, leading to promotions and fulfillment.

Breaking the Bias: Practical Strategies for a Subtractive Mindset

The Nature study isn’t doom-and-gloom—it offers antidotes. Cues work, cognitive load matters, and awareness alone shifts behavior. Here’s how to integrate subtraction into your routine:

• Cue It Up: Start meetings with “What should we eliminate today?” Use tools like the “subtraction checklist”: For any improvement task, force one removal.

• Lower the Load: Tackle big decisions when fresh—post-coffee, not 5 PM. The experiments showed high load amplifies the bias.

• Experiment Boldly: Track one week of “subtractive Fridays,” where you veto additions. Measure the wins: Did output rise? Stress drop?

• Cultural Shift: In your org, champion “less is more” leaders. Share the Nature paper in your next team huddle—it’s a conversation starter.

The Bottom Line: Subtract to Add Value

Our brains are addition machines, but professional success demands subtraction artists. As the Nature study illuminates, overlooking cuts isn’t a personal failing—it’s a systemic one, with ripple effects from packed calendars to planetary peril. Yet, by cueing subtraction, we access simpler, stronger paths forward.

Next time you’re “improving” at work, pause: What if the fix isn’t more, but less? Try it. Your future self—lighter, sharper, and ahead of the curve—will thank you.

Inspired by “People systematically overlook subtractive changes” (Adams et al., Nature, 2021). Dive deeper here.