How to Deal With Information Overload - A Leader’s Guide to Managing Communications
Jan 11, 2023
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Hadi Hariri, VP of Developer Advocacy at JetBrains, discusses the challenge of information overload and the importance of interpersonal skills. They explore methods to track relevant information, JetBrain's approach to managing information, and the need for leaders to have a company-wide vision. They also highlight the challenges of sharing and finding information within a company, the importance of effective communication within teams, and strategies for managing information overload to ensure effective communication.
The real issue with information overload is finding the balance between pushing and allowing people to pull information.
Managers play a crucial role in guiding team members on what information to share and mentoring them in communication skills.
Deep dives
Definition of information overload and its impact on work
Information overload in the work environment can have a negative impact as it leads to a lack of awareness among teams and individuals. When there is an excessive amount of information, important details get missed or ignored, similar to how people ignore important information in their personal lives due to too much noise. This can result in teams duplicating efforts or not being aware of each other's work.
Challenges of using tools to manage information flow
Using tools like Slack to manage information flow is not always effective. While these tools aim to consolidate information in a central place, they often result in too many chats, channels, and threads, causing relevant information to be missed. Additionally, as companies grow, each team may use different tools, leading to information being fragmented across multiple platforms. The real issue is finding the right balance between pushing information and allowing people to pull the information they need.
The importance of people in managing information overload
Addressing information overload requires the involvement of people, especially managers and team leads. They have a crucial role in guiding team members on what information to share and how to communicate effectively. It is important for managers to see the bigger picture and help individuals understand what is relevant to others. Additionally, providing feedback and mentoring team members in communication skills can help improve the overall flow of information within the team.
Tips for managing information sharing
To strike a balance in information sharing, individuals should consider the target audience of their information and whether it would be relevant to others. Seeking guidance and mentorship from experienced communicators within the company can help in making informed decisions. Additionally, being conscious of what is being shared, reflecting on its potential impact, and continuously improving communication skills are key practices in managing information overload.
Interview with Hadi Hariri, VP of Developer Advocacy at JetBrains. He talks about the challenge of dealing with the constant influx of information, creating processes to manage information overload, and the importance of interpersonal skills in the workplace.
"Tooling doesn’t help you decide what to push and what to pull, because the issue isn’t rooted in your tech stack. It’s a people problem, and it has to be approached as such.
When we talk about leadership and management, one of the characteristics that a leader must have is being able to see the bigger picture. They don’t just focus on the team they manage, but how their work relates to other teams’ work inside the company, and how that relates to products and services. Having this company-wide vision contributes to deciding what’s important and what’s unnecessary noise for each team."