In the conclusion of my book Read to Lead (BakerBooks, 2021), I argue that the evolution of our brains have been adversely impacted by technology. That books helped rewire our brains in a positive way when they came on the scene hundreds of years ago, and that today’s screens—and the ways in which we interact with them—are undoing much of that rewiring.
One only need to read the book written by today’s guest to confirm my not-so-positive assertion.
He says that living in an age of digital distraction has wreaked havoc on our brains―but there’s much we can do to restore our tech–life balance.
We live in a world that is always on, where everyone is always connected. But we feel increasingly disconnected. Why? The answer lies in our brains.
Dr. Marci, a leading expert on social and consumer neuroscience, reviews the mounting evidence that overuse of smart phones and social media is rewiring our brains, resulting in a losing deal: we are neglecting the relationships that sustain us and keep us healthy in favor of weaker and more ephemeral ties.
As a psychiatrist working at the forefront of research on the impact of digital technology, Dr. Marci has seen this transformation up close and developed a range of responses.
Rewired provides scientifically supported solutions for everyone who wants to restore their tech–life balance―from parents concerned about their children’s exposure to the internet to stressed workers dealing with the deluge of emails and managing the expectation of 24/7 availability.
I hope you’ll click the play button below to learn more about Carl and his work. For a summary, just keep scrolling.
Adam has spent the past two decades studying how people become stuck and how they free themselves to thrive. Here he reveals the formula he and other researchers have uncovered. The solution rests on a process that he calls a friction audit—a systematic procedure that uncovers why a person or organization is stuck, and then suggests a path to progress.
The friction audit states that people and organizations get unstuck when they overcome three sources of friction: HEART (unhelpful emotions); HEAD (unhelpful patterns of thought); and HABIT (unhelpful behaviors).
Despite the ubiquity of friction, there are many great “unstickers” hidden in plain sight among us and Alter shines a light on some exceptional stories to share their valuable lessons with us. Getting stuck, Adam says, is a feature rather than a glitch on the road to thriving, but with the right tweaks and corrections we can reach even our loftiest targets.
I hope you’ll click the play button below to learn more about Adam and his work. For a summary, just keep scrolling.
Let’s say you’re having trouble articulating your thoughts about a particular topic you want to write about, present about, or record a video about.
For those who’ve gone through Note-Making Mastery, you know that one of your first steps might involve looking through what’s already in your central hub or second brain.
Though the website currently touts “create video with our voice,” for now, it’s helping users like me articulate their ideas
Often times you go there to realize you’ve already written bits and pieces on the topic. You just need to connect, in a cohesive narrative, what you’ve already done the work to collect.
But what if there’s nothing there yet?
Maybe you’re in the beginning stages of gestating a new idea. You want to write it down but you know your fingers won’t be able to keep up with your brain.
You could record yourself on your phone, but then there’s the chore of getting it out of your phone later, not to mention being able to make sense of your ramblings.
Enter a new app (currently for iOS only and in beta) called OASIS.
OASIS records your voice, instantly transcribes what you said, AND instantly offers several use cases for coherently sharing those ideas. The interface is simple and looks like this.
Just tap “record” and start talking to capture those fleeting thoughts that so often get away from you
I used it to record about a minute’s worth of thoughts for the very email you’re reading right now. As soon as I tapped “Stop,” I had this on my screen (never mind that Read is spelled as REED):
I get an instant transcript of my recording
What I might do next, is copy and paste the transcript into ChatGPT and precede the transcript with a prompt that looks something like this (hat tip to Dan Shipper for the prompt):
This is a transcript from a writer talking about ideas they might turn into pieces of writing. Please summarize the ideas they had in bullet point form. Don’t include ideas that don’t make grammatical sense or might have been mistranscribed. If there is anything like that, include it in a separate section labeled: Scratch
In fact, I did just that. Here’s what ChatGPT gave me in response:
Ideas:
Explaining the OASIS app to members of the REED to lead community
Using a central hub or second brain to connect past writing about a topic into a cohesive narrative
Starting the writing process by recording thoughts on a phone to avoid finger fatigue
Scratch: None.
Admittedly, this output was not particularly useful in this one-minute sample, but imagine you’ve rambled for several minutes. The more ChatGPT (and OASIS) has to work with the better.
If your transcript is initially difficult to dissect, popping it into ChatGPT with a prompt similar to the one above could make a world of difference in helping you parse your thoughts and ideas, and give you places to go you hadn’t yet thought of.
Back to OASIS.
With just that one-minute ramble recorded into OASIS, I not only got an instant transcript but also suggestions for how I might share my ideas (again, probably more useful with more ramblings):
A sample LinkedIn post and text generated from my ramblings
I scroll up to see a suggestion for a LinkedIn post and a sample text message. If I want to “remix” these initial iterations, I can tap the remix button on the right (or favorite the result, share the result, or copy the result for pasting elsewhere).
As I continue to scroll up, I see that OASIS has also created a “Professional Email,” an “Explain Like I’m Five” message, a “Clarity” sample, a Twitter thread (though there’s not much more than a single sentence with hashtags,) an Outline, and a Blog Post.
All in just a few seconds!
Again, my example is a short one but, for context, here’s the Blog Post that came from my ramblings:
Blog post sample created by OASIS from my ramblings
Needless to say, if you’re the type of person who prefers thinking out loud over typing or writing down your ideas by hand, at least at the outset, I encourage you to check into OASIS (scroll down for details).
Have a great weekend,
Jeff
***
To add your name to the OASIS waitlist, just go here.
I added my email address just this morning and received a text almost immediately inviting me in. You’ll likely be expedited if you take their survey, as I did.
The app is currently in private beta.
This means that if you do get the go-ahead to jump in, you’ll need to download the Test Flight app from the Apple store first.
There are also occasional “at capacity” issues they’re working through.
In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing business landscape, communication is a crucial aspect of success. It enables individuals to collaborate, share ideas, and complete tasks efficiently. However, poor communication can lead to misunderstandings, miscommunication, and decreased productivity. To overcome these obstacles and improve communication in the workplace, it’s essential to understand the barriers that exist and implement effective strategies and techniques.
Barriers to Communication
Communication barriers are anything that obstructs the flow of information between individuals or groups in the workplace. They can take various forms, including language differences, cultural differences, and technology issues. For example, language differences can make it challenging to communicate effectively, while cultural differences can impact nonverbal cues and communication styles. Technology can also create communication barriers, such as unreliable video conferencing software or internet connections. When communication barriers are present, they can negatively impact productivity, morale, and overall job satisfaction.
Overcoming Communication Barriers
To overcome communication barriers, organizations need to prioritize communication and make it a key part of their workplace culture. Encouraging active listening, using clear and concise language, and promoting a positive and open workplace culture can help improve communication and enhance job satisfaction. Additionally, technology can be a powerful tool for enhancing communication and collaboration, but it’s important to ensure that everyone is using the same tools and establish clear expectations for communication.
Improving Verbal Communication
Verbal communication is an essential aspect of effective communication in the workplace. To be effective, it must be clear, concise, and involve active listening. To improve verbal communication skills, you should avoid distractions, ask questions, and summarize key points after a conversation. By implementing these strategies, you can enhance their ability to communicate effectively in the workplace.
Improving Written Communication
Written communication is also a crucial aspect of effective communication in the workplace. To be effective, it must be clear, concise, and avoid ambiguity. To improve written communication skills, use clear and concise language, proofread your messages before sending, and be as specific and concise as possible.
Encouraging a Positive Workplace Culture
Workplace culture plays a significant role in shaping communication in the workplace. A positive and open culture can foster effective communication and collaboration, while a negative or closed culture can create communication barriers and decrease morale. Organizations can encourage feedback, create opportunities for collaboration, and promote diversity and inclusivity in the workplace to create a more open and inclusive culture.
Leveraging Technology for Improved Communication
Technology has revolutionized the way we communicate, offering new tools and platforms for enhancing communication and collaboration in the workplace. From video conferencing to project management software, technology can help you and your team communicate more effectively, regardless of location or time zone. However, it’s crucial to ensure that everyone is using the same tools, establish clear expectations for communication, and encourage regular use of communication tools.
Conclusion
In conclusion, effective communication is a critical aspect of success in the workplace, and implementing strategies and techniques to overcome communication barriers and improve communication skills can have a positive impact on productivity, morale, and job satisfaction. By prioritizing communication, encouraging a positive workplace culture, and leveraging technology, individuals and organizations can enhance their ability to communicate effectively and succeed in the modern workplace.
A few weeks ago here on the podcast, I teased six books you should make it a priority to read in 2023, all of which are set to release within the first six months of the year.
I also mentioned that I hoped to successfully invite each of these authors on to talk about their books.
We spend, she says, an average of just 47 seconds on any screen before shifting our attention. It takes 25 minutes to bring our attention back to a task after an interruption. And we interrupt ourselves more than we’re interrupted by others.
Wow! All news to me!
In Attention Span, Gloria reveals the surprising results from her decades of research into how technology affects our attention. She also shows how much of what we think we know is wrong!
While the concept of “flow” has previously been considered the ideal state of focus, Gloria offers a new framework to help explain how our brains function in the digital world: kinetic attention
She unpacks how we can take control, not only to find more success in our careers, but also to find health and wellness in our everyday lives.
I hope you’ll click the play button below to learn more about Gloria and her work. For a summary, just keep scrolling.
