Behold! The Newly Crowned Heads
Information was once akin to gold in perceived human value. Carved in stone or hand written on papyrus, it was vigilantly protected and viewed only by those at the highest levels of society. These days, information has shrugged off its ermine robes and lies closer in rank to corn. No longer an elite treasure, it’s more a commonplace commodity. Available easily, endlessly, any time of day or night.
It seems that when one thing transitions out of treasure status, something new is sure to take its place.
I’ve thought a lot about what the ‘new’ replacement may be and have narrowed in on two strong possibilities. The first is attention. Now, attention may seem like a funny choice—with all the social media and communication channels out there, attention would seem to be prolific. Chatter is prolific, immediacy is prolific, scanning is prolific, but focused attention, not so prolific.
We are rapidly becoming the one to three second surveyors. Never mind the one-minute manager…who has that kind of time on their hands?
Our ability to quickly skim and move on is taking a toll on our ability to focus our attention.
Skimming requires a wide, top-level orientation, attention requires a tighter, deeper focus. While it may serve us to scan information at times, we may also be bringing that well-honed behavior into other parts of our life including our human relationships. In that particular realm, scanning and skimming don’t work as well.
The second possible treasure is in response to the commodity aspect or abundance of information. This newer treasure is that of curated information. Essentially, sifting through large volumes of data germane to a particular area and identifying patterns, trends, potentialities or crucial elements. In a world inundated with information and short on time, this endeavor becomes increasingly valuable.
In the information age, information is no longer king. Dethroned through easy and ready access, newer monarchs are now emerging. Attention gets my vote as the most prominent newly crowned head.
People, young and old, are hungry for a deeper and more sincere form of attention.
Not the fast, sugary kind found in much of today’s most habitually utilized communication, but something more significant. The kind that takes time, focus and intention.
When you think about it, it makes sense. The ever quickening pace of time along with the information overload would naturally create a need for a counterweight.
Attention and the process of discerning the ‘essence of things’ are that which we have come to need and desire.
Both provide something we may feel light on—a healthy sense of balance.
Everyone needs and desires focused attention. Our leader clients are no exception. The opportunity to speak candidly with an experienced advisor and be heard, to sort through options, to identify possibilities, to help laser in and achieve clarity—these are critical aspects to effective and healthy leadership.