Do more with less
Meaning: To achieve better results with fewer resources, typically after budget or staff cuts.
The quintessential corporate directive during austerity. After layoffs or budget cuts, remaining employees are told to 'do more with less.' Universally resented by workers who hear it as 'work harder for the same pay.'
Examples
- After the layoffs, we were told to do more with less. 裁员之后,公司要求我们少花钱多办事。Después de los despidos, nos dijeron que hiciéramos más con menos.リストラの後、少ない人数でもっと成果を出せと言われました。구조조정 후, 적은 인원으로 더 많은 성과를 내라는 지시를 받았습니다.
- The new CEO's motto is 'do more with less' — which just means longer hours. 新CEO的座右铭是'少花钱多办事'——其实就是让你加班。El lema del nuevo CEO es 'hacer más con menos', que básicamente significa más horas.新CEOのモットーは「少ない資源でより多くを」です。つまり、もっと長時間働けということです。새 CEO의 좌우명은 '적은 자원으로 더 많이'입니다. 결국 더 오래 일하라는 뜻이죠.
- Every year they cut the budget and tell us to do more with less. 每年他们都削减预算,然后让我们少花钱多办事。Cada año recortan el presupuesto y nos dicen que hagamos más con menos.毎年予算を削られて、少ないリソースでもっとやれと言われます。매년 예산이 삭감되면서 적은 자원으로 더 많이 하라는 요구를 받습니다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: budget cuts, restructuring, management directives
Tone: demanding, tone-deaf
✓ Do Say
- We need to find ways to do more with less.我们需要想办法少花钱多办事。Tenemos que buscar la forma de hacer más con menos.より少ないリソースでやりくりする方法を見つけなければなりません。적은 자원으로 더 많이 할 방법을 찾아야 합니다.
- It's about doing more with less.关键是要少花钱多办事。Se trata de hacer más con menos.少ないリソースでより多くを、ということです。적은 것으로 더 많이 하는 것이 핵심입니다.
✗ Don't Say
- Deeply unpopular with employees — saying it to overworked teams is insensitive.这句话深受员工厌恶——对已经超负荷工作的团队说这话很不近人情。Es muy impopular entre los empleados: decírselo a equipos sobrecargados es una falta de sensibilidad.社員から非常に不評。過労のチームにこの言葉を言うのは無神経。직원들에게 매우 반감을 사는 표현입니다. 과로하는 팀에게 이 말을 하는 것은 배려가 없습니다.
Origin & History
General management principle, but often attributed to Peter Drucker. Became a corporate cliché during recession-era cost-cutting in the 2000s–2010s.
Cultural Context
Era: 2000s–present
Generation: Working adults
Social background: Professional / White-collar
Regional notes: Corporate America — all regions
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