The Case of the Bored Geeks
A problem or another mismanaged opportunity? I was talking, before I got distracted, about the silly idea that Geeks suffer from AD/HD. The “symptom” was that they could not maintain attention throughout a meeting. I contend that this is an opportunity. But only for innovative thinkers. The kind of people who get bored in meetings. And ask themselves what is wrong with this picture.
Naturally, they ask themselves this question in middle of the meeting. When they should be attending to what is being said. Obviously, these are people who fail to recognize the symptoms of AD/HD.
But back to the opportunity of offered by those bored Geeks. Who could benefit from it?
Management. What is the hourly pay rate for a Geek? I will guess it is well over $100/hour, including overhead. So a meeting of ten Geeks costs $1,000/hour. Is it really worth that price to pay Geeks to be bored? Treatment: Insist that your first line supervisors report cost and effectiveness for meetings.
First line supervisors. Where are your Geeks most productive? In their tech work or in meetings? Treatment: Be specific about the results you expect to get out of a meeting. Decide on the most efficient way to get those results. Get advice from the Geeks. Be flexible about methods. Report to your management about how much Geek time you are saving.
Geeks. Do you know what you are supposed to get out of a meeting? Do you know what you have to do to get it? Do you notice in meetings what is keeping you from getting it? Do you do something about whatever is keeping you from getting it? Treatment: If you don’t know the answers to these questions, ask around. Be sure to ask whoever called the meeting. Be sure to ask these questions in meetings whenever you notice your attention has lapsed.
Business consultants. They already provide advice and training on how to run effective meetings (and on other effective means of communication). Geek management seems to be an underserved market. Treatment: Look for a way to market more effectively to high tech businesses. Don’t as me how. You are the consultants. But one suggestion: hire people who are part Geek. Be sure they speak Geek without a muggle accent.
The doctor who raised this issue noted the difference between passive and active attention. I would liken this to the difference between state statements and quest questions. Or the difference between TV and computer games or computer programming. Maybe even the difference between Aristotle and Aesop. Or the difference that Kierkegaard might see between being driven and driving. Or the difference Geeks might see between being bored and taking charge.
So is the case of the bored Geeks really an opportunity? Only for those who see it that way.
Naturally, they ask themselves this question in middle of the meeting. When they should be attending to what is being said. Obviously, these are people who fail to recognize the symptoms of AD/HD.
But back to the opportunity of offered by those bored Geeks. Who could benefit from it?
Management. What is the hourly pay rate for a Geek? I will guess it is well over $100/hour, including overhead. So a meeting of ten Geeks costs $1,000/hour. Is it really worth that price to pay Geeks to be bored? Treatment: Insist that your first line supervisors report cost and effectiveness for meetings.
First line supervisors. Where are your Geeks most productive? In their tech work or in meetings? Treatment: Be specific about the results you expect to get out of a meeting. Decide on the most efficient way to get those results. Get advice from the Geeks. Be flexible about methods. Report to your management about how much Geek time you are saving.
Geeks. Do you know what you are supposed to get out of a meeting? Do you know what you have to do to get it? Do you notice in meetings what is keeping you from getting it? Do you do something about whatever is keeping you from getting it? Treatment: If you don’t know the answers to these questions, ask around. Be sure to ask whoever called the meeting. Be sure to ask these questions in meetings whenever you notice your attention has lapsed.
Business consultants. They already provide advice and training on how to run effective meetings (and on other effective means of communication). Geek management seems to be an underserved market. Treatment: Look for a way to market more effectively to high tech businesses. Don’t as me how. You are the consultants. But one suggestion: hire people who are part Geek. Be sure they speak Geek without a muggle accent.
The doctor who raised this issue noted the difference between passive and active attention. I would liken this to the difference between state statements and quest questions. Or the difference between TV and computer games or computer programming. Maybe even the difference between Aristotle and Aesop. Or the difference that Kierkegaard might see between being driven and driving. Or the difference Geeks might see between being bored and taking charge.
So is the case of the bored Geeks really an opportunity? Only for those who see it that way.
posted by Selby Evans at 12:29 PM
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