Reducing Cognitive Load

Just like an overloaded truck that can be difficult to control and are at risk of tipping over at a sharp turn, our brains are at risk of running amok if we don’t check in at the weighing station from time to time. 

Our unconscious brains can process millions of bits of information, but our conscious brain can only process about 40. By reducing cognitive load, we allow ourselves to focus better and reduce mental fatigue which prevents burns out and leads to improved productivity. We can also significantly enhance learning efficiency and problem-solving skills by freeing up mental resources for deeper understanding and creative thinking.  It is key to creating better products and improved user experiences.  We no longer rely on mental shortcuts to make decisions using cognitive filters and heuristics which often results in implicit or unconscious bias. 

Reducing Cognitive Load for YOURSELF

Steve Jobs was famous for reducing cognitive load by wearing the same black turtleneck and jeans every day.  Clara Shih, CEO of Salesforce AI, reduced cognitive load while working on her start-up Heresay Social by living a predictable 3 minutes and 22 seconds away from her workplace.  Other ideas:

• Turn off the noise.  While social media and news feeds are a way for us to connect with the world, unless it’s directly aligned with your work, it will not only distract you but can also cause more anxiety for issues that are out of your control. This is especially true in the morning so I now charge the phone overnight in the living room, not the bedroom.
• Write it down.  When I can’t sleep, it’s usually because I have too much that I’m trying to hold in my head.  Once I write it down - either journaling or adding it to my to do list - then I can relax knowing that it’s available for reference later.
• Set a timer.   We are typically juggling multiple priorities and tasks.  To prevent multi-tasking, I set a pomodoro timer to allow myself intense focus for 30-45 minutes at a time.  I also group of activities together in that alloted time period (e.g. checking emails and calendar.)
• Keep a routine.  Rather than recreating our to-do list, we can set our days on autopilot.  My kids know there’s always five things they need to do every morning - change, brush teeth, get backpacks ready, take vitamins, and eat breakfast.  No fuss, no muss.  
• Declutter your desk.  Your desk is a symbol of your mind.  Keep it clean.

Reducing Cognitive Load for YOUR TEAM

The job of the manager is to determine what and how much payload goes on the back of the truck for the team to drive from point A to point B.  

• Give space to think and do.   Once the goals are set, release the team to execute and set up processes for them to communicate and ask for help as needed.  Interruptions can cause disruption to the flow and creates more load.
• “Don’t lick the cookie”  This is a phrase I picked up from Bob Sutton while listening to The Friction Podcasts.  Don’t claim possession of projects without any intention of following through and worse yet, without the resources to be able to complete the task. When the truck is full, another cookie can break the scale.
• Bring people in at the right time.  We think we are being inclusive when adding people to meetings or brainstorming sessions.  However, it can also feel like “wasted” time if the ideas don’t come to fruition.  It’s like asking the truck driver to wait for 3 hours while we debate what goes on the truck.
• State the “Why?”  Change is inevitable.  When we ask our teams to pivot from what they’re working on to take on new more pressing tasks, it’s important to know the why to provide more context.  Otherwise, our teams will be using mental energy to guess if they’re meeting the goals and filling in the gaps on specs on their own.
• Shut up and Listen.  When the team is stuck, sometimes they just need to offload what is on their minds.  By listening with curiosity, we may discover hidden or unintended issues that are weighing down the team.  We don't have to be the smartest one in the room. The solution our team has are often better than our own because they have the most context.

It takes work to reduce cognitive load and it often doesn't come naturally. It's easier to say "yes, add on" instead of "not now, my plate is full." The upfront investment and periodic check-in at the weigh station will result in longer term sustained high performance and help keep yourself and your team focused and heading in the right direction. Keep on truckin'!