The faster we go, the more we take on. The more we take on, the more there is to do. Laborsaving devices create more labor. By shortening the time and energy required to complete any one task, these devices free us to do more. We have plunged into a mad rush of activity, aided by high-speed Internet, cell phones, instant messaging, BlackBerries and email 24/7. We work longer hours, with escalating demands. Since the mid-1990s, people have increasingly complained of being chronically inattentive, disorganized and overbooked. It could be that there is a kind of environmentally-induced attention deficit disorder. For most people, it goes away with rest and vacations. ADD expert Dr. Edward M. Hallowell describes people has having severe cases of modern lifea condition he dubs Attention Deficit Traits (ADT). Its an epidemic in many corporate cultures that promote a fast multitasking environment. Organizations are sacrificing their most valuable assetnamely, the imagination and creativity of the brains they employby allowing ADT to infect the organization, according to Dr. Hallowell, author of CrazyBusy (Ballantine 2006). Its not that hard to eradicate the problem once you identify it. But it may be difficult to convince people to abandon a habit that initially feels satisfying: over activity. Adrenaline Rush For many people, working fast is fun. Using email, BlackBerries and other devices provides constant stimulation. Some people enjoy the adrenaline surge: it feels exciting. We fuel our brains with caffeine to experience a rush and sharpen the edge. But living life faster and coveting more data wont increase your sense of fulfillment. While these behaviors may temporarily charge your emotional battery and get your energy flowing, they wont deepen your connections to what really matters. We take on too much because we like the stimulation and attention that accompany being wanted and needed by others. We create the overload we complain about and crave it when faced with moments of stillness. Losing Connections to What Matters Most We expect our brains to keep track of more than they can handle, and then find ourselves losing and forgetting thingsimpatient, anxious, worried and plagued by short attention spans. Were caught in a frenzy, frustrated and often furious. We may be saving time, but losing what really matters most to us. Modern work life, for all of its timesaving conveniences, is sapping our creativity, humanity, joy and, occasionally, our sense of humor. Its time to stop and look at whats happening. The speed of our lives threatens to destroy our most important connections. Unless we deliberately set aside time for what matters most, the quality of our personal and professional lives will erode. When this happens, we find ourselves less energetic, optimistic and enthusiastic than beforeand we dont even know why. We may think we are just too busy or disorganized, or ascribe it to growing olderor simply to life itself. What Leaders Can Do All too often, companies cause Attention Deficit Traits in their work groups by demanding fast, rather than deep, thinking. Employees are encouraged to work on multiple overlapping projects, resulting in second-rate thinking. Even worse, companies reward those who say yes to overload and punish those who choose to focus by saying no. Theyre overly infatuated with fast-acting individuals who multitask and work long hours, often to their personaland the companysdetriment. Firms that ignore ADT symptoms in their employees will suffer its ill effects: People underachieve, create clutter, cut corners, make careless mistakes and squander their brainpower. As demands continue to mount, a toxic, high-pressure culture produces high illness and turnover rates. Personal Solutions Find time in each day to reconnect with your core purpose and values. Then find time to devote to connecting with the people that matter to you. If you say family is important, then make time to spend with them. And make that time count. Turn off email, cell phones, and electronic devices during relaxation, exercise, and family times. Unless you are an emergency doctor, or the President, nothing should be allowed to interfere with these important restoration times. For most people, recreation, learning and family times should never be interrupted except for special circumstances. Studies have shown that down time is necessary to be really productive and creative. You should be in control of how you allow electronic devices to be used. While it may be more convenient to email a colleague or friend, human interaction has been shown to engage the brain in a more satisfying way. We may be living in a fast-paced, electronic information age, but we still have stone age brains that depend and thrive on social contact. There is no electronic device to replace the satisfaction that comes from human interaction. |
