Great Circle

How much information do you have to manage each month?

Sometimes there’s so much coming at you that gaining anything from it is like drinking from a fire-hose! If you can’t turn down the volume of info, here’s some tips for absorbing the best from it without drowning:

1.    Have a specific reason for taking on the info. Getting clear on the “Why do I need to know this?” question can be a great place to start. Try a question (as simple as “How can I do XYZ more effectively?”) which you continually ask as you listen or read; this will enable your mind to draw out the most relevant bits from the torrent.

2.    Design your process of interaction with the info: will you journal, blog, mind-map or talk it through with someone else? In other words, how are you going to engage with the information and make the good stuff stick? (This is like chewing your food)

3.    Categorise it. Don’t try to absorb info from different categories each day. If you can, devote your learning and sifting to one category in a day, rather than splitting your attention. (For instance, your report-reading on one day, personal development the next)

4.    Don’t hoard interesting info: filter it, file it, then throw it away after a few weeks or months if it’s no longer where you’re at.

5.    Leverage your learning style: do you learn best by reading, by action then reflection, or visually? You may be better off to forget the book and buy the CD or DVD of the material, or to diagram your notes rather than scribbling bullet points.

6.    When you’ve finished that book, article or DVD – write yourself a one sentence summary of its relevance and/or application to your situation.

7.    Ask yourself again, “WHY do I need to know this again?”

A Minute of Coaching

• If you were to cut out the least important material that you find yourself reading every month, what would that be?

• So why do you read it?