Thoughts – May 2007

Confident Innovators - Listen to the Thought Pod

“What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence, a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention ...”  Herbert Simon - as quoted in The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss (Crown 2007)

One of the many beautiful rivers I have the privilege of fishing is the Nolichucky. It is a river of large character that both gives life and takes life. It has many fast sections and, because it is fed by many mountain streams, its level can rise without warning. It is these characteristics that prompted our region's Native Americans to call it Nolichucky - 'River of Death.'

The flow of information is vital to an innovative environment ... and a flood of information, and activity, causes confusing damage and death to ideas. I'm more convinced than ever that, right in the middle of the information boom of the 21st Century, we are in a situation of "a poverty of attention." For several years now, I've referred to this condition simply as busyness.

What can you do?

1) Know your Brand and make decisions in its light. Allow only information that supports going deeper in your area of focus and broadens your perspective. Confidently choose learning experiences that teach you new skills and provide new tools that you can shape to the hand of your values and strengths.

2) Guard your time jealously to move closer to your goals. Start with meetings. Provide objectives for each meeting you call and ask for the objective before accepting invites to other's meetings. Let your yes be yes and your no, no. Be confident in saying 'no.'

3) Be confidently creative in leading others to innovate. Expect others to develop and perform from the base of their values and strengths. Facilitate real dialogue to highlight the diversity of thought and collective thinking which feed innovation.

Creating an environment of confident innovation demands that you focus. Take out the enemy - busyness.

 

Past issues of ‘Thoughts’ can be found at BasicApproach.com in the Experience Jeff link
©2002-2007 Jeff Brunson & BasicApproach
 Reprint and further distribution is encouraged with attribution to "Thoughts" by Jeff Brunson, Building Confident Leaders