Agreements are often buried under layers of complexity, making it harder for everyone to truly understand what they’re signing. Docusign’s latest blog dives into the importance of creating clear and simple agreements, drawing insights from Stanford professor Bob Sutton’s work on removing unnecessary friction in organizations. 

Bob Sutton shares real-world examples of how simplifying agreement processes can reduce inefficiencies and frustration. He also highlights how AI tools are making agreements more understandable and accessible.

Key Takeaways:

• Embrace Simplicity: Complex agreements often create more problems than they solve. Focus on clarity and simplicity to ensure everyone understands the terms.

• Leverage AI for Clarity: AI can help simplify language in agreements, helping to create documents that are easier to understand without sacrificing meaning.

• Subtraction Mindset: Focus on removing unnecessary elements from agreements to streamline processes and improve efficiency.

• Build a Coalition: Simplifying agreements is a team effort. Engage stakeholders early and build support to ensure successful implementation.

Community Chat: Share your thoughts on these questions or anything else in the comments below

• How do you balance the need for thoroughness and simplicity in your agreements?

• How have you approached simplifying an overly complex agreement that caused more confusion than clarity?  

• Is your team using AI tools to help simplify processes? How’s that going and what’s the impact been?

Share your experiences and tips for simplifying agreements in the comments below