How It’s Done

At Avery Dennison, simplifying and prioritizing is more than just checking off tasks. It’s about consistently asking ourselves a few critical questions:

• What are the most important outcomes we need to deliver?

• Which efforts will create the greatest impact on those outcomes?

• What can we stop, delay, or scale back to focus on what truly matters?

Our approach is to look beyond the immediate challenges and step back to see the bigger picture. This is essential when leading through complexity. We need to "pull up from the details" and focus on aligning our teams around the most important objectives, ensuring everyone is clear on what needs to be done and why.

A Cultural Imperative

Simplifying and prioritizing isn’t just a personal responsibility—it’s a cultural imperative. As leaders, it’s up to us to model these behaviors and create a culture where teams feel empowered to say “no” to distractions and focus on delivering high-impact results. As Tony Blair wrote in his influential book, A Journey, “The art of leadership is saying no, not yes. It is very easy to say yes.” This doesn’t mean ignoring challenges as they arise, but it does mean resisting the temptation to constantly shift direction or add new priorities without clear alignment.

At Avery Dennison, we've seen firsthand how a focused approach can drive significant results. Whether it’s through our digital transformation efforts, operational excellence initiatives, or the innovation happening across our teams globally, the common thread is that success comes when we prioritize what matters most and execute with clarity.

A Call to Action

As we continue to push forward in our digital and operational journey, I encourage all leaders to ask themselves: Are we simplifying and prioritizing effectively? Are we ensuring that every initiative we pursue aligns with our strategic goals? By making simplification and prioritization core to our daily decisions, we will not only enhance our impact but also cultivate a culture that is more agile, focused, and resilient in the face of change.

In the face of digital complexity, simplifying and prioritizing are the levers that will help us navigate change and deliver real results. Let’s focus on what matters, lead with intention, and inspire our teams to do the same as we continue on our innovation journey.