Organizational ADD

Does your organization have Attention Deficit Disorder? Are people off in many divergent directions? Do your meetings sprawl and meander, with no decision or intent?

In Boundaries for Leaders, Dr. Henry Cloud says, “As with the treatment of ADD in children, what's required of leaders is as simple (and as hard) as getting the brain of the organization to attend, inhibit, and remember.”

He tells the story of a CEO who was fed up with her organizational ADD and walked into a meeting saying…OK, team. Here’s the topic. We’re not leaving the room until we make a decision. No other topics.

When someone (as this team often did) started getting distracted with extraneous issues, or discussions that weren’t relevant, she brought it back.

“That’s off-topic for today. Let’s get back to answering the question!”

And they did it!

By attending to what’s important, inhibiting distraction, and creating a flow of working memory, she helped her team leave the meeting feel invigorated and excited about the future.