Leadership Learning Series #25 How Much is Too Much

January 10, 2018

Daniel Simon

Prerequisites:

  1. Listen to the Radio Lab programHow Much is Too Much
  2. ReadThe Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two: Some Limits on Our Capacity for Processing Information.by George A. Miller

Session:

There were no slides for the session. The intent was to have as robust a group discussion as possible. I started off with a summary of my own interest in the topic and some successes and failures in handling multiple topics at once. An example of a study done in the early 1900s on crows and how many hunters (five) they could keep track of before their memory was overwhelmed and their behavior changed was given.

The first question, “How much is too much for you? Do you have a too much?” was presented to the group. Topics that were discussed included:

-Grocery stores and the amount of choice there is

-Are more choices better?

-Routine and some of the behaviors of Oliver Sacks from the Radio Lab program

-Everyone has a too much and our responses to being overwhelmed differ greatly depending on the individual. We agreed that we should all be cognizant of those around us for when it becomes evident that our colleagues, family members, and others have reached too much.

At that point the conversation shifted to the second question, “What tools do you use to not get overwhelmed? Topics discussed included:

-Triage

-Use the tactic of “do, delegate, delete” for dealing with emails

-Let others do the work without your input – and don’t complain about the process or the outcome

-Eliminate decisions (Oliver Sacks being on one extreme of this)

-Keep lists, be it on paper or electronically

-Develop processes so others don’t have to take your time to get things done

-Remove technology – as technology may create other distractions and decision points

-Prepare others for your behavior under too much

The discussion continued and organically moved into the fourth question, “What are the implications of this theory in a time when NOAA’s budget is declining?” Topics discussed included:

-The need for strategic plans for cutting parts of the mission

-Attrition/retirement leaves the remaining individuals to carry the burden and creates an environment where too much is normal

At this point, the hour was nearly up. I ended by sharing some information that I had heard about RDML Gallaudet. He works very hard to know people’s names and is exceptionally good at doing so. He freely admits that this skill is difficult and unenjoyable to maintain, but is absolutely worth the price.

Some main takeaways:

  1. Everyone has a point of too much
  2. Everyone shows indications that they are at too much, although indications appear very differently depending on the individual
  3. There are tools to deal with too much including
  4. Triage
  5. Routine and familiarity
  6. Simplification

Original invite including questions:

Power of X,

Please join me and many of our classmates at 1300 on January 10 for the next Leadership Learning Series.

The prerequisites for the session are to listen to the Radio Lab programHow Much is Too Muchand readThe Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two: Some Limits on Our Capacity for Processing Information.

The latter is pretty dry, but has some good data and thoughts.

I have no slides, as my goal is to make this a discussion. Specifically, as I listened to the Radio Lab show many months ago, I was intrigued by how the rational part of our brain has a say in anything given the amount of disparate activities we track at any given moment. Thinking more, I came to realize my own thresholds as they relate to life, work, and my overall happiness. When I reach the threshold of too much, I know changes happen within my decision making processes and my personality (my wife, kids, and coworkers know this threshold, as well). Since I listened to the show, I've focused on how others handle too much and would like to engage in a discussion on ideas to handle the mountain of data coming in and the myriad of activities at the other end.

Some questions for discussion:

1. How much is too much for you? Do you have a "too much?"

2. What tools do you use to not get overwhelmed?

3. Was this Radio Lab program a surprise to you? What did you think about the study of remembering numbers and walking to another room to state them?

4. What are the implications of this theory in a time when NOAA's budget is declining?

Talk to you on the tenth!

Have a great New Year,

Dan