Neuron Global Changing How Business Leaders Process Information

 
Ross Dawson, in his blog of 27 August 2007, details a number of solutions for business leaders and managers, prefaced by the following observations:
 
Since we are businesspeople, it seems the question should be how can we turn the reality of the new business environment into an opportunity and a competitive advantage?...
 
Sustainable competitive advantage is ultimately about making better strategic and management decisions than your competitors… The increasing globalization and diversification of business means that you can no longer look only at your own industry in your own town. Developments in other countries and industries and in technology could all suddenly and dramatically change the dynamics of the business your companies operate in. Not only has there been a dramatic increase in the availability of information, but you now need to be informed on far broader range of issues in order to guide your companies forward in an increasingly rapidly changing environment.
 
“A very positive attitude,” notes Sedarius Tekara Perrotta, president of Neuron Global. “A business leader with that mind-set would be able to take maximum advantage of the products we offer for fighting information overload.”
  1. Set information objectives. You can't begin to sort through the 'infoglut' unless you know what is most important to you. Putting thought into identifying the key areas you need to be informed on, and prioritizing these by importance and timeliness will let you know what you should be focusing on.
  2. Select your information sources. Once you have a clear idea of your information objectives, you can make a deliberate decision about what sources you will use. Aim to read things your competitors aren't likely to see - get a broad perspective.
  3. Set time aside for reading. Because reading is not urgent, it often doesn't get done. You will make better decisions and be more effective for the rest of your working career if you keep abreast of developments in your industry, the business environment and technology.
  4. Filter aggressively. You have to be ruthless in getting rid of surplus information. Get yourself off mailing lists, use assistants to filter your messages, and use e-mail filtering software… Most information has negative value: if you read something and it's not useful, you've wasted your valuable time.
  5. Be open to useful information. This seems to contradict the last dictum, but both must coexist. Nicholas Negroponte, director of MIT's Media Lab and author of "Being Digital", talks of the 'serendipity factor' in information. If you're too blinkered in what you look at, you may never stumble on the most valuable information and insights.
  6. People are your best resource. In all the hype over Internet, intranets, groupware and push technology, many seem to have forgotten that often the most effective and efficient way of finding information is through people.
  7. Develop your reading and note-taking skills. There are many courses and books available on developing reading speed and comprehension. If you're going to spend a couple of hours a day reading, then it's well worth investing time and money if it can bring even a small improvement in your effectiveness.
  8. Sleep on it! The most useful insights and perspectives often come after your unconscious mind has had the opportunity to sort through and link ideas together.