Five reasons ‘information flow’ needs to be better and faster

Think of “information flow” as the signals your brain sends and receives to engage in a conversation, drive a car, process data to solve a problem or to respond to a threat. Millions of bits of information and instructions are processed every second to create the coordinated ability to multitask and get results. Any disruption in the flow of information can be life-threatening. A company functions very much the same. The objective is to get results through the coordinated efforts of teams of people. Just like your brain, your company needs massive amounts of information flow to deliver consistently excellent results. Extraordinary results require even more.

I often ask seminar attendees, “What is the most asked question in the history of leadership?” The answer is, “How many times do I have to tell them?” Everyone chuckles, but it’s the reality of how inadequate current information-flow systems are that rings true.

Companies, small and large, are like complex organisms that require massive amounts of information flowing in all directions. Insufficient or missing information chip away at the company’s ability to consistently deliver quality results. The causes are directly tied to poorly designed systems, lack of leadership, procrastination, indifference and accountability issues. All are self-inflicted. All are curable.