Overcoming Information Overload: How I Navigate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

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In case you missed it. Here are some popular posts from the last week:

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I’ve spoken to thousands of people about this topic over the past 14 years.

So many people tell me they feel overwhelmed by all the information that’s out there.

They tell me:

- It’s tough to filter through everything to find what’s relevant and trustworthy

- It’s hard to keep up with new ideas, new research, and new terminology

- There’s a lot of conflicting information which can be confusing

I empathise with this I really do.

I used to have the same problem until I had an epiphany a few years back.

Since then I tell everyone the same thing and they never complain about being overwhelmed again.

I say there’s no reason to be overwhelmed because not all the information out there is intended for your benefit.

It’s not meant to educate you.

- A lot of the information is intended to entertain you

- A lot of the information is intended to distract you

- A lot of the information is intended to sidetrack you

Once you understand that, not only will you NOT be overwhelmed.

You’ll realise that there isn’t enough high quality educational content out there.

Let me transparent about my HUGE caveat: this is effective if you are seeking information for education on your Inclusion Journey.

I’m not talking about my personal life or yours.

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How I Navigate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Step 1 Low Information Diet

I don’t stop talking about this!

Regular members our audience know that I’m on a low information diet.

That means:

- No newspapers

- No Live TV

- No radio

This makes me less vulnerable to the propaganda that populates Diversity, Equity and Inclusion narratives.

I spoke about this recently when talking about social media.

I said using social media is like food shopping.

When you eat healthy, you ignore most of what's on offer. 

When you eat healthy you don’t go down every aisle in the store.

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Step 2 Pay attention to your consumption

Here are a few tips I use to be intentional about what I consume :

1 Quality over Quantity:

Instead of trying to consume every piece of information out there, focus on high-quality sources that provide valuable insights and actionable advice.

2 Be mindful of the source:

Check the credibility of the source before consuming information.

I prefer people with expertise in that area of Diversity and Inclusion AND who have a track record of producing informative and reliable content.

3 Don't consume too much at once:

This one is SO important.

Avoid information overload by breaking up your consumption into smaller, manageable chunks.

This is one of the reasons why most of our podcasts are less than 10 mins long!

I also limit the amount of time I’m on social media and the amount of time I spend reading.

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Step 3 Distinguish between Entertainment Vs Education

This is a great example of how I avoid overwhelm.

I’ve noticed a pattern in Diversity and Inclusion related content that intends to entertain or educate me.

I use the term “entertain” loosely, sometimes this means agitate or terrify.

Here’s what I’ve observed:

Entertainment:

 - Is about them

- It’s superficial

- Expects you to take things for granted

- Does the thinking for you

Education:

- Is about you

- Offers more depth

- Expects you to ask questions

- Wants you to think for yourself

This isn’t an exhaustive list but you get the point.

On this week's podcast I give an additional tip to and I use this contrast to explain how and why I avoid a common media trope that eats hours of your time.

Honestly it’s everywhere.

If you need more time in your life this is for you.

Check out the full show here.

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Evidence Based Inclusion is a great way to stay on track..

We think of this as thorough system for making better decisions that considers:

 - The Scientific literature

- Data from your organisation

- The stakeholders affected by your decisions

- Professional Expertise

I typically say this allows you to pick up what everyone else has missed.

It’s relevant here because it allows you to miss things that you don’t want to pick up.

I find a lot of the "overwhelming information" does not come from these sources.

This is why I avoid it.

This is why I’m not overwhelmed.

You don’t have to be either.

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One Last Thing: I am not immune from any of this either.

If you think I don’t meet these standards, perhaps you should cut me out of your diet.

However if I do meet these standards, perhaps you should be telling your friends and colleagues about my work.

In any event: I want you to make your own mind up:

I’ve written 1,058 posts in the last 18 months. Check here.

I’ve reviewed 43 books in the last 6 months. Check here.

I’ve published 291 podcast episodes in the last 6 years. Check here.

There’s plenty of room for you to decide:

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As always 

I’m cheering you on. 

Dr. Jonathan 

Whenever you're ready, there are a few ways I can support your Inclusion Journey:

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