Confused by Information Overload
19 Nov 09, 12:00 a.m.
|
Comments
(1)
The failure of Resilience starts with confusion and progresses through disengaged and withdrawal to vulnerable and distress. The article describes the impact of technology and information on this failure of Resilience with evidence from a large number of technology research groups and corporations.
Resilience - individual and business - begins when we are calm, steady and engaged. This base underpins physical, emotional and cognitive attributes of Resilience. So let's group some of Hemp's evidence into the Death Spiral starting with Confusion:
1. Interuptions eat up 28% of the workday
2. Knowledge workers switch tasks every 3 minutes
3. We turn to e-mail 50 to 100 times per day
4. Ringing phones and e-mail reduce IQ by 10 points (twice the reduction of cannabis)
Clearly, we are being slam-dunked into confusion all day long. How can we hope to create resilient, hotspots of productivity? Then consider how Disengaged we are:
1. 85% of work e-mails opened within 2 minutes
2. It takes 24 minutes to get back on task after an e-mail
We might each carefully reflect on how much time we are disengaged and trying to get back on task. And then consider this evidence of withdrawal and vulnerability.
1. E-mail apneoa (suspension of breath) has become common
2. Many suffer decision paralysis from on-line silence following e-mail requests
3. Blackberry orphans is a new term for parental neglect
While you are surely not as badly affected, we have to confront this reality and many large organisations are right onto it with the cost of information overload at US $900 billion per year. What of the personal cost to ourselves, our family and experience of reality. The massive benefits of modern technology may be outweighed by the cost.
A visiting alien might mistake our phones for a smoking replacement. Our behaviour has many elements of addiction. We check on waking, through all parts of our day (every 3 minutes?) and before sleeping. Perhaps a third of us leave them on at night. Losing a phone or connection provokes extreme anxiety (withdrawal).
I am pondering how this affects my experience of real surroundings. What might I be missing? When was I last absorbed in an unbroken two hours of flow? What subtle signals am I missing; facial expressions, group energy, my senses, appreciation of surroundings, or depth in relationships. What else could arise, unfold or enrich if I could give a little more of my calm, engaged attention.
How does one sleep; a life have spirit; a job become rewarding; a business become productive; a family bonded; or a planet saved, while we skip through rapid-fire, shallow, transactional bursts that leave us agitated and anxious?
Perhaps you might like to add your experience but is my "A-list"
1. Switch your phone off well before bedtime and keep it off until after breakfast
2. Practice switching your phone off - all meetings, important tasks and meal times
3. Only open your e-mail server three times per day for a maximum of 30 minutes
4. Switch off all alerts on your devices - pings, notes and lights
5. If you can visit or phone to communicate do so
6. Have an e-mail free day once a week
7. Forbid meetings for a certain part of the day
8. Protect your family and help your children master technology
Like any recovering addict, the risk of relapse is high. Carefully considered agreement in the office, your team and in your family can help you stay on the wagon. Become an agent for calm, engaged Resilience. Look forward to your suggestions.
Date Published:
19/11/2009