I began working for a large corporation as a junior attorney. Wanting to be successful, at meetings I watched my bosses, mostly senior managers as well as my peers. The skill that seemed to be most prized was the ability to contribute a quick, confident answer to questions posed by senior executives. My boss was a master at the quick, confident answer. In many cases, however, his answers were dead wrong. But, amazingly, after these oracular statements no one questioned his answer and more curiously, co-workers accepted his responses as gospel. Bold confident statements led me to believe that the way to success was to be: “often wrong, but never in doubt.”
Media and the Digital Age
Media and the digital age have only further validated and intensified this syndrome: a shooting occurs on a military base, the stock market soars, the dollar declines, the President of Iran threatens to unleash nuclear weapons against Israel or the House passes a health care bill. Apparently instant analysis is required. Fox, MSBC, Bloomberg and other media outlets each have a gaggle of experts always on call to provide instant commentary and analysis. Moments after the tragic shootings at Ft. Hood, the networks had former generals, and psychiatrists, and professors specializing in terrorism and Islam on the air providing instant analysis. The government cautioned that a full investigation was necessary and that the public should not jump to conclusions, but there was the media “jumping” away.
Email, BlackBerries and Instant Messaging
Once upon a time when clients and managers communicated via letters, one would wait for an assistant to open the mail, prioritize the most important matters, and place mail neatly in folders in an “in-box.” A day might consist of reading incoming letters and pleadings, research, drafting a response, reviewing the response with colleagues and superiors and sending a well thought out coherent response. If one was ambitious, one might answer three to four letters and pleadings per day.
Computers, email and BlackBerries have radically changed workplace communication. Now managers and lawyers each day are bombarded with a hundred or more emails, text messages and instant messages. Like an insistent child, each of these inquiries “demands” an immediate response. Gone are thoughtful, well reasoned, literate responses. Depending on dexterity and a thumb free of tendinitis, responses are produced at the speed of light. Unanswered emails are a badge of shame. Responses can run from “thx,” “ttyl,” to more eloquent two sentence responses. There is no pause for mature reflection, conferences with colleagues or re-draft of thoughts or writing. The new mantra is ready, aim, respond.
Think More React Less
Clearly, as a society we would get better answers and make better decisions regarding our most pressing problems if we were more thoughtful. Instant analysis and immediate answers in meetings should be questioned. Bring back thoughtfulness, modesty and the ability to begin one’s response with “I don’t know” or “let me give this more thought and get back to you.” A little modesty and humility would go a long way. In short, we should think more and react less.
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