Let’s face it—corporate life can be ridiculous. From endless meetings that go nowhere to procedures that seem designed to complicate your life, it’s like someone somewhere forgot what “common sense” even means. If you’ve ever found yourself shaking your head at office absurdities, Martin Lindstrom’s The Ministry of Common Sense will feel like the breath of fresh air you didn’t know you needed.
This book doesn’t just point fingers; it shows you how to fix the mess with a mix of humor, real-life stories, and actionable strategies. Let’s dive in.
Why Does Common Sense Go Out the Window in the Office?
Lindstrom starts by asking a question we’ve all pondered at some point: Why do intelligent people collectively make decisions that are so… dumb? The answer lies in layers of bureaucracy, fear of failure, and an obsession with rules. These layers create a culture where people avoid making the logical choice because it might ruffle feathers or take longer than blindly following a policy.
And that’s where the idea of a “Ministry of Common Sense” comes in. Imagine a group of people whose sole job is to eliminate the unnecessary chaos in your workplace. No more endless email chains for a simple decision, no more forms to fill out just to take a day off. Doesn’t that sound dreamy?
Why Read This Book?
This isn’t just a book for managers or C-suite executives. The Ministry of Common Sense is for anyone who’s been caught in the corporate grind and thought, “There’s got to be a better way.” Here’s why it’s worth your time:
- It’s Relatable. If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at office inefficiencies, this book will make you feel seen.
- It’s Funny. Lindstrom’s anecdotes will have you laughing out loud—even when they hit uncomfortably close to home.
- It’s Actionable. Unlike books that just critique, this one gives you a roadmap to fix the madness.
What You’ll Take Away – A Roadmap to a More Sensible Workplace
Lindstrom’s The Ministry of Common Sense isn’t just a witty critique of corporate absurdities; it’s a guide to creating workplaces that actually work. Let’s break down what you’ll learn and how you can use it to transform your professional life.
Identify and Eliminate Unnecessary Complexity
Workplaces are breeding grounds for complexity. It creeps in when no one’s looking—through well-intentioned policies, over-engineered processes, and the infamous “we’ve always done it this way” mindset. Lindstrom teaches you how to spot these inefficiencies by asking the right questions:
- Does this process serve a clear purpose? If not, why is it still in place?
- Are there simpler ways to achieve the same outcome?
He shares examples of companies that streamlined everything from HR forms to customer service protocols, saving both time and money. You’ll learn techniques like conducting “friction audits” to pinpoint where things go off the rails. The best part? You don’t need to be a CEO to start simplifying—anyone can advocate for smarter processes in their corner of the office.
Build a Culture That Prioritizes Common Sense
Culture isn’t about free snacks or open offices—it’s about how people think and work together. Lindstrom emphasizes that the best organizations encourage employees to question the status quo. If something doesn’t make sense, people should feel empowered to speak up without fear of reprimand.
You’ll discover ways to foster a culture of common sense by:
- Creating psychological safety: Encourage teams to share ideas and concerns without judgment.
- Recognizing common sense in action: Celebrate when employees find simpler, better solutions to everyday problems.
- Challenging groupthink: Teach your team how to avoid falling into the trap of “this is how it’s always been done.”
When common sense becomes part of your company’s DNA, employees feel more engaged, and everyone wins.
Communicate Without Adding More Noise
We live in a world of communication overload—emails, Slack messages, meetings, and now video calls. But how much of this communication actually helps us get work done? Lindstrom explains that most workplace communication isn’t about clarity; it’s about covering bases and avoiding accountability.
To combat this, the book provides practical strategies like:
- The one-question rule: Before sending an email or scheduling a meeting, ask yourself, “Is this the best way to achieve my goal?”
- Shorter, clearer emails: Stop burying key points under walls of text. Learn how to write concise, actionable messages.
- Better meetings: If you’ve ever sat through a meeting wondering why you’re there, you’ll love Lindstrom’s tips on running purposeful meetings—or avoiding them entirely when an email would suffice.
By cutting through the noise, you can reclaim hours of wasted time and focus on what truly matters.
Align Leadership with Reality
A recurring theme in the book is the disconnect between leadership and employees. Executives often create policies and initiatives that sound great on paper but are completely impractical in the real world. Lindstrom argues that the best leaders are the ones who stay in touch with what’s happening on the ground.
You’ll learn how to:
- Gather real feedback: Stop relying on sanitized reports. Talk to employees directly to understand their pain points.
- Test policies in the wild: Before rolling out a new initiative, see how it works in practice.
- Lead by example: Show your team that you value simplicity and common sense by modeling these behaviors yourself.
Embrace Empathy as a Superpower
One of the book’s standout lessons is that empathy is the cornerstone of common sense. When you truly understand your employees, customers, or colleagues, you’re far less likely to make decisions that frustrate or alienate them.
Lindstrom shares ways to cultivate empathy at work, such as:
- Walking in someone else’s shoes: Spend a day shadowing employees in different roles to understand their challenges.
- Listening actively: Create spaces where people feel heard and valued, not dismissed.
- Designing with the user in mind: Whether it’s a customer interface or an internal policy, consider how it impacts the people who will use it.
Empathy isn’t just good for morale; it’s also good for business. It leads to better decisions, stronger relationships, and more innovative solutions.
Real-Life Examples That Will Make You Laugh (or Cry)
Lindstrom sprinkles the book with hilarious—and frustratingly relatable—stories:
- The Over-Engineered Expense Policy
One company had a 27-page guide on how employees could claim travel expenses. The kicker? Nobody ever actually read it. Employees routinely got their claims rejected for minor errors, creating a loop of frustration. A simpler approach saved time, money, and sanity. - The Silent Office Email War
Ever hit “Reply All” by accident and regretted it instantly? One organization decided to solve the problem with a mandatory training course on email etiquette. (Yes, you read that right.) Lindstrom argues that a little common sense could have avoided wasting everyone’s time and money. - The Infamous Door Handle
A bank spent thousands of dollars designing a sleek new office with one glaring issue: nobody could figure out how to open the doors. Employees ended up holding meetings outside until someone finally addressed the design flaw.
Why This Matters
By applying these lessons, you’ll do more than just streamline your workday—you’ll contribute to building a workplace where common sense and empathy lead the way. Whether you’re tired of bureaucracy or looking to make a meaningful impact, these strategies will help you get there.
So, which of these changes would you love to see in your workplace? Let’s talk about it in the comments!
Join the Conversation!
So, what’s the most ridiculous work rule or process you’ve ever come across? Share your story in the comments! And if you’re ready to cut through the nonsense and make work life a little more human, grab a copy of The Ministry of Common Sense.
Together, let’s bring a little sanity back to the workplace.
5 quotes from The Ministry of Common Sense by Martin Lindstrom
📖 “Common sense is like oxygen: the higher you go in a company, the thinner it gets.”
This quote highlights how the farther up the corporate ladder you climb, the more out-of-touch decision-makers often become. Leaders can lose perspective on how their choices affect people on the ground.
In simple terms: The higher up you are, the easier it is to forget what real people deal with every day.
📖 “Most corporate insanity is created by well-intentioned people following bad systems.”
Lindstrom reminds us that most inefficiencies aren’t caused by villains—they’re caused by people trapped in flawed processes who don’t feel empowered to change them.
In simple terms: People usually mean well, but the systems they work in make things worse.
📖 “We’ve become so obsessed with avoiding risk that we’ve created workplaces where doing the right thing can get you into trouble.”
Rules, protocols, and red tape often discourage people from using common sense because it’s “safer” to follow procedures blindly—even when they clearly don’t make sense.
In simple terms: People stop thinking for themselves because they’re scared of getting blamed.
📖 “If you want to fix your company, stop talking to the top and start listening to the front lines.”
The best insights come from the people closest to the problems—those interacting with customers, handling processes, and living with the consequences of corporate decisions.
In simple terms: The smartest fixes often come from everyday employees, not executives.
📖 “A lack of empathy is the root of most stupid decisions.”
Lindstrom drives home that when leaders forget to consider the human side of business—employees, customers, or colleagues—that’s when the worst decisions happen.
In simple terms: Bad choices happen when we forget how our actions affect real people.
