We're all knowledge workers these days yet a significant amount of the people attending workshops I run have a remarkably unstructured approach when it comes to the information flow they face daily.
As they have commented over @ http://www.slowleadership.org/
"One of the most prevalent, but least remarked upon, problems of our information-rich age. Today’s technology and management cultures allow anyone to work away busily with every appearance of being productive—even creative—when all they are really doing is treading water."
You can read the full article here - but you'll probably realize that whilst you'd like to let go of your in-box, it would be very difficult indeed. So, rather than drown in information, it is worthwhile to think a little about how you handle the barrage of data coming your way.So what to do? Well, here are some resources and a recommendation:
Resources:
A blog called eLearning Technology has a useful post called: "Personal Learning for Learning Professionals - Using Web 2.0 Tools to Make Reading & Research More Effective" - in brief:
"...there seems to be little information that really helps us understand how we can take control of our personal learning more effectively. There is some stuff coming out around "Personal Learning Environments" for example, take a look at: ePortfolio Model and the Concept Diagram for Personal Learning Landscape."
I recommend reading both the well structured article and checking out the two diagrams suggested in the quote above (the first one is relatively high level, the second much more detailed and specific). Still, both are probably a bit complex if you're used to simply fighting through your in-box without much thought about how to make it an efficient and effective exercise.
So what to do? Well, Harold Jarche, a consultant in Canada, has a much more accessible flow chart showing how he copes with information day-to-day.
Now, I would probably swap out Bloglines for Google Reader but that's beside the point... Read his full post here - and credit where credit is due - this is where I first learnt about the eLearning blog.
Recommendation:
Spend some time today working out your own very basic model of how information flows to you and what you want to do with it. The back of an envelope works well.
Maybe there are some bits missing that you've seen above? Then check out Good Stuff from Google to fill the gaps.
This envelope-diagram might very well turn out to be your lifeboat in a steadily rising sea of information.
And last but not least - a complete irony - check out this very interesting article: Do Learning Professionals Make the Worst Learners?
The social enterprise, Tactical Communications, I have created with a colleague here in São Paulo for local delivery in Portuguese, now has a blog. 
