Book review: Conquering Digital Overload, edited by Peter Thomson, author of Future Work and Director of Wisework, the leading authority on the Future of Work
Conquering Digital Overload is a fascinating inquiry into the stress caused by digital technology on businesses and society at large and provides some practical tips for leaders to navigate the new digital landscape. It suggests we are drowning in the new ‘always on’ technology that pervades modern life and that for governments and businesses, this is not simply an ICT issue, but rather an issue that goes to the core of what it means to be a leader.
With useful research findings on the effects of digital technology, the book examines the impact it has on every facet of our lives, surfaces the anxiety and stress caused by digital overload and highlights the effects on core activities that were once the preserve of human leaders – providing support, focusing on results, seeking different perspectives and solving problems. Thomson and his 15 co-authors explain how the digital revolution is stripping away the need for expert human leadership. When the internet can provide knowledge and empower groups of people to find their voice, they ask, what is the need for human leaders? They go on to suggest expert human leadership is needed to prevent the tyranny of crowds making populist and yet poor decisions. And to preserve the health and wellbeing of organisations.
We can’t expect governments to regulate effectively. And so – if not you, then who will navigate the complexity of leading an artificially intelligent workforce?
Jeremy J Lewis
Committed to making a difference in developing leaders
January 16, 2018