MURA: The Terrible Acronym That Can Transform Your Work

Let's be honest—simplifying work is hard. Everyone loves to talk about it, but where do you even start? Enter MURA. Yes, it’s a clunky acronym, but trust me, it packs a punch. For every project, task, or process, run it through the MURA checklist:

• Minimal – Is it as minimal as possible? Trim the fat.

• Understandable – Is it clear? Can someone “get it” in one sentence?

• Repeatable – Is it consistent? Could a process make it smoother?

• Accessible – Is it available to the people who need it?

It's like a litmus test for cutting out the unnecessary and simplifying daily work. Take Fidelity as an example—they applied MURA to their contracts, cutting the length in half, removing jargon, and standardizing everything into an accessible template. Overnight, they saved tons of time by reducing the need for clarifying calls and emails. Not too shabby for a four-letter acronym!

Putting MURA into Action
Think of MURA as a quick checklist. Say you’re working on a weekly report that usually involves ten steps. Ask: is this report:

• Minimal—could it be done in fewer steps? 

• Understandable—can someone digest it quickly? 

• Repeatable—is there a template? 

• Accessible—can everyone find it easily? Streamline it, simplify the language, make a template, and save everyone a headache.

Why MURA Works
MURA isn’t just an acronym; it’s a mindset. It pushes you to rethink complexity and make room for clarity. So, next time you’re bogged down in a project, think of MURA. By focusing on Minimal, Understandable, Repeatable, and Accessible, you’ll transform how you work—one streamlined step at a time.