Thinking straight

According to one body of research, our brains can process around 126 bits of data per second. An average conversation uses 40. In order to assimilate additional information, we "chunk" it into convenient packages, determined by our cultures, upbringing and experience. It's where biases, prejudices and the like come from. Pre packaged thinking.
In many organisations, we add to this through standardised processes and systems (even worse, the organisations that educate our children do it). It ensures we get consistency and are not surprised.
The issue is that this makes all organisations more or less equal. Processes and systems can be plagiarised - we call it benchmarking. it becomes a race to the middle.
The thing that really differentiates organisations is their ability to think new thoughts - original thinking that uses some of the 86 available bits left over after the conversation (more if we shut up more and don't interrupt)
Original thinking can be uncomfortable to those who rely on standardised responses, or a joy to those of more anarchistic persuasion - but it is the one thing that will differentiate more than any other.
Look after your anarchists.

Comments

[Sarah McCartney]

So can we measure how many bits our own brains use in an average conversation? I'd love to know.

[richard@eatonbank.com]

The estimate comes from the work done by Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi on "Flow". you can see an extract here on TED. http://tinyurl.com/c75496

I don't have the orginal research - but I'm looking for it..........