The human brain

The human brain is the most complex manifestation of intelligence in the universe. The brain is composed of an astounding 86 billion neurons which generate 50,000 thoughts per day (on average). Our brain's memory has the potential capacity to hold 2.5 million gigabytes of data. Shaped by 200,000 years of evolution, the human brains exemplifies brilliant design worthy of inspection.

Source: Beyond Adversity, 2014

What if your company was a brain?

Grossly oversimplified, the human brain has two main parts:

  • Neocortex: planning, thinking, movement, perception, language, vision

  • Limbic system: our emotions, behavior, long-term memory, sense of smell

Additionally we have the cerebellum (14 above) and the brainstem. The lower part of the brainstem is called the medulla oblongata which controls our breathing, heart rate and blood pressure (pretty important, right?). At your company, what departments or groups best represent the various parts of the brain? Who does the strategic planning? Who "keeps the motor running"? Who represents the eyes, ears and voice of your company?

What the brain doesn't do

What if your medulla notified you every time it was time to take a breath. . . 23,000 times per day?

What if you consciously had to pump your heart. . . 115,000 beats per day?

Thankfully, your brain doesn't do this. Phew! But this is where the brain metaphor starts to get interesting: internal communication. Why? Because companies today have an insatiable desire to over-communicate which decreases productivity/output.

Signal vs. noise

Most executives would agree: the modus operadi of business today favors noise over signal. Across email, apps, chat and internal systems, the typical knowledge worker receives over 400 signals each day!

As a result, most executives are on neural overload with dwindling attention spans to prove it. Did you know our attention spans have shrunk 33% over the last 17 years to only 8 seconds? 

Below are a few methods to:

  • Turn the volume down.

  • Enable relentless focus on your biggest goals.

  • Reduce distraction.

  • Delegate to increase trust.

Methods executives use to stay in control

 

1. Meticulous management of notifications

  • Select only certain people for which you will receive notifications, e.g. CEO, other executives, direct reports

  • Eliminate notifications (on desktop and mobile) from automation/machines

  • Reporting

    • Daily stats (do you really need this at all?)

    • Weekly stats

    • Monthly stats

    • Quarterly stats

    • Annual stats

2. Categorization of things that truly need your attention as priorities:

  • Client emergencies

  • Board-level matters

  • C-level communications

  • Significant Competitive intel

  • New product launches / new milestones to celebrate

  • Sensitive HR issues

  • Helping with a big deal

Tip: have you tried the Ivy Lee method? In the evening, write down the 6 things you need to accomplish the following day. Historical fun fact: Once this method was implemented at the executive level of Bethlehem Steel in 1918, the boss (Charles M. Schwab) was so impressed that he paid Ivy Lee a fee of $400k in today's dollars for his consulting efforts.

3. Create a culture of effective communication

  • Slack/chat guidelines: please, please consider this

    • Do you really need to @here / notify the whole channel

  • In-person meeting guidelines (examples from Google, Apple, Amazon and Facebook)

    • When to meet in person

    • When NOT to meet in person

    • Why are we meeting? Agenda, intention, outcome

  • Personal ownership over the breadth of your message