Too Much of a Good Thing is Still Just TOO MUCH

With technology moving faster than the speed of light these days, we can get answers, and information faster than every before. We have computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones. Any information we want is LITERALLY at our fingertips. Answers are a good thing, right? …not if the answers and information come faster than you can sort, process or use it.

A recent workplace productivity survey from World One reveals that the biggest contributor to employee ineffectiveness is information overload. No matter your position, your level, you location or your workload, over 75% of employees feel overwhelmed and demoralized.

Over 1,700 white collar workers in 5 countries were surveyed regarding their experiences and attitudes toward information in the workplace. The study revealed that information overload is a remarkably widespread and growing problem among professionals around the world, and one that exacts a heavy toll in terms of productivity, performance and employee morale.

As professionals get too much information, too quickly, they get driven to an “information breaking point” where they can no longer process the information and, instead, they shut down. Since they can’t stop the flow of information, the pace continues, leaving them to feel insufficient to manage the information. This attitude leads to poor performance and morale on the job. As a result, their production suffers and the quality of their work diminishes over time.

Furthermore, this information overload leads to a constant “plugged in” condition in our personal lives. We are rarely without our smart phones, electronic devices or computers. When was the last time you were completely “unplugged” for more than 24 hours?

When looking at professional, and personal, productivity, we must consider the very real impact that information overload is having on our state of mind and quality of our work. Sometimes too much of a good thing is just too much.

CALL TO ACTION: Consider where you might be experiencing information overload–on the job and in your personal life. What are some strategies you might use to manage the information better at work? Set up a day, or weekend, where you “unplug” at home. What did you notice about the quality of your life, “unplugged?”