As I get older, things start to creak and groan a bit more. Walking has become my daily ritual, not just for physical health but also as a much-needed stress reliever. And who doesn't need more of that these days?
But something has been bugging me on my walks. I see so many people glued to their phones while walking, scrolling or reading, seemingly oblivious to the world around them. I prefer podcasts or audiobooks, always keeping my noise-canceling off and staying aware of my surroundings. Walking while staring at a screen seems like a recipe for disaster – a broken foot or worse (and I know all about breaking a foot.) Besides, I'm out there with my sweet and not-so-protective Pitbull, Freya. If anyone approached with ill intent, she'd probably just try to lick them to death!
It's easy to chalk this up to a lack of situational awareness. But it strikes me as something deeper – a reflection and probably cause of our dwindling attention spans. We're constantly bombarded with information, endlessly scrolling through feeds and reels, living in a world of digital selves.
Some Sobering Stats:
The average human attention span has dropped from 12 seconds in 2000 to a mere 8 seconds today. (Microsoft study)
We check our phones an average of 58 times a day. (Reviews.org)
60% of people spend less than 3 minutes on a single web page. (Contentsquare)
So, what does this mean for those of us in disciplines that don't have the "cool status?"
We're already fighting an uphill battle to get people to pay attention or show up for our meetings. Try to schedule a 4 hour tabletop and you better watch your back in the parking lot. Add to that the virtual environments for many of us. Running a risk assessment, trying to train compliance, it's tough. Now, with attention spans shrinking, it's even tougher.
But we can't give up! I like to look at what other folks are doing and thought of our friends in Marketing. They deal with that same short attention span and having to squeeze their messages into very limited timeframes.
Here are some ideas inspired by marketers, who are masters of capturing attention in a fast-paced world:
Video is king. Instead of a lengthy email, try a quick Loom video to explain a concept or issue. A short video beats a long and complicated email all day long.
Embrace micro-learning. Break down complex topics into bite-sized chunks that are easy to digest. Rather than doing a 2 hour compliance training once a quarter, send weekly "bites."
Offer recordings. If you're giving a presentation or training, make a recording available so people can revisit it later. We all know that Zoom meetings are where we get all our other work done. Better yet, use the power of AI and provide a summary of the meeting highlights as well. I know, people should just pay attention. Well, they don't, and we still need to get our jobs done.
Use visuals. Infographics, charts, and images can convey information quickly and memorably. And please embrace bullet points. Nobody has time or the attention span to read a novel at work.
Tell stories. People are more likely to remember information if it's woven into a compelling narrative. Who doesn't like to hear about cool fraud cases, crazy outages, or the latest cyber risks? (ok, maybe that's just me and my closest friends, but you get my point.)
We need to be realistic: traditional communication methods aren't cutting it anymore. If we want people to truly engage with risk management and its related disciplines, we need to adapt. We need to meet people where they are, in the fast-paced, information-saturated world they live in.
This means making our messages concise, relevant, and engaging. It means utilizing visuals, storytelling, and bite-sized content to capture attention and make information stick.
It's time to evolve our communication strategies and ensure our vital messages don't get lost in the noise.
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