"I have A.D.D. What's your reason?"

(excerpt from my upcoming book, Get Out of Your Own Way)

Over the last quarter century we have methodically become victims of an A.D.D. (Always Doing Doing) Culture. Our busyness has replaced the benefits of margin, pause and sanctuary. We are weary, fragmented and, even though some people argue that we have become more efficient through multi-tasking, there is an arguable case that we are becoming less effective.

EFFICIENT = Doing more things better.

EFFECTIVE = Doing better things more.

One example worth mentioning involves my connection to a private counselor and lower school teacher from a high profile private K-12 school in Nashville. The recent school years have revealed a troubling trend that is appearing across the United States: first through third grade children are collectively the most misbehaved groups in the last two decades. More and more children exhibit an inability to sit quietly during reading or project work, act out in overtly aggressive ways, are confrontational and do not seem to respond readily to imposed consequences for negative behavior. A discussion with the counselor, who also counsels families through his private practice, revealed noting that common characteristics within these children’s family units are jam-pack activities (sports, music lesson, ballet, tutoring), excessive time playing computer and video games, cars with DVD players occupying travel time instead of conversation and parents to a “stress level” trying to make sure that their child is exposed to all the opportunities for their growth and education. Some troubling outcomes: more young children are being medicated for ADD/ADHD and symptoms of depression[1], on average one in three children are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD or other learning challenges in classrooms of thirty children, emotional development is 30% lower than non-ADD children, they indicate defiance and non-compliance behavior and indicate learning growth development challenges[2].

Arguably, the last two decades have moved us toward “dehumanization through technology”: the quicker, more, digitally improved, cooler entertainment and generally right now generation. Still, there are simultaneous indications of a positive trend that brings good news to leaders and organizations looking for a new breed of customer citizens: Its what I term the Age of Re-humanization. Some current characteristics that might support an opposite trend are:

• You cannot (yet) duplicate a face-to-face meeting, handshake, hug or the sensations at a live event;
• People are developing a selective, TiVo-like mindset: “I don’t have time to read a lot anymore, but I do want to and will read those things that directly relate to me, are useful and help me to become a better version of myself”;
• More than at any other time in recent history, people are searching for meaningful stories to join: brands, organizations, groups, institutions of faith - they hunger for ways and places to be seen, known, appreciated and loved;
• Today's and tomorrow's consumers are seeking real, sensorial brand experiences that they can touch, hear, smell, taste, see and share with like-minded people and their "tribes."

HI POINT: Consumers are moving away from seeking more “stuff,” the commodities with which they have over-crowded their lives; they now hunger for and are seeking new kinds of relevant and meaningful experiences that will enhance the context and trajectory of their lives. They are forming tribes of like-minded people to share common values that create opportunities for growth, security and a more rewarding life. They will demand these characteristics from employers, brands and organizations they endorse and/or with whom they will merge their stories.

SO WHAT? What part are you playing in leading a re-humanization movement in your organization?

We're listening, so drive by and let us know what you think. We're in the "HImpact Column" at www.HImpact.me.

Driven - Brian Kagan


**FREE BOOK PREVIEW -- If you want an advance look at my upcoming book? I will gladly send you the intro and first chapter, EMAIL ME from this email...and if you want more I'll send you more. I'd treasure your feedback.



[1] The gruesome statistics include preschoolers as now the fastest growing market for anti-depressants with at least 4% considered clinically depressed. And over the past decade and a half, the number of teen and young adult (ages 12-25) abusers of painkillers has grown from 400,000 in the mid eighties to more than 2 million in 2000. Article from helium.com about over-medication http://www.helium.com/items/589237-are-our-children-being-over-medicated

[2] The Statistics of ADHD, ADD by the numbers - a summary of the research of Russell Barkley,Ph.D., 2009 http://www.additudemag.com/adhd-web/article/623.html