We’ve
all
heard
the
chatter
about
our
dwindling
attention
spans.
But
do
we
truly
grasp
the
extent
of
this
issue?
It’s
a
shared
struggle
that
many
of
us
are
navigating.
Let’s
consider
how
much
content
contends
for
our
attention.
On
a
typical
workday,
I
receive
between
200
and
300
emails,
100
to
200
text
messages,
100
or
more
instant
messages
across
various
social
media
platforms,
and
over
50
voicemails
on
both
my
cell
and
work
lines.
The
only
way
to
manage
this
much
input
is
to
triage
what’s
essential
and
what
is
not
and
do
my
best
to
respond
as
quickly
and
succinctly
as
possible.
This
process
may
be
effective
for
managing
my
inbox,
but
it
hinders
my
ability
to
pay
attention
and
communicate
effectively.
And
in
all
of
our
hands,
our
smartphones
are
daily
and
hourly
chipping
away
at
a
fundamental
skill:
paying
attention
and
focusing.
No
matter
how
much
we
work
on
our
listening
and
attention
skills,
our
phones
pull
us
toward
distraction,
reaction,
and
a
lack
of
focus.
And
invariably,
even
if
we
work
on
listening
and
paying
attention
to
others,
there’s
little
hope
that
we
can
get
others
to
do
the
same.
We
must
acknowledge
that
most
of
the
people
we
deal
with
are
perpetually
distracted,
overwhelmed,
and
drowning
in
emails,
phone
messages,
instant
messages,
news
notifications,
and
other
matters.
Because
we
are
all
overwhelmed
with
so
many
incoming
messages
and
notifications,
we
play
an
essential
role
in
not
adding
to
the
cacophony.
This
is
what
I
do
to
facilitate
communication
with
others
who
are
already
overwhelmed
by
it.
First,
adapt
to
your
audience’s
preferred
communication
method.
Whether
it’s
voicemails,
emails,
text
messages,
or
instant
messages,
meet
them
where
they’re
at.
Second,
I
get
to
the
point
and
use
bullet
points.
Sometimes
longer
communications
are
unavoidable,
but
that
does
not
mean
you
cannot
do
everything
you
can
to
shorten
and
streamline
them.
I
typically
start
an
email
with
a
topic
sentence
that
outlines
what
I’m
delving
into,
then
provide
a
series
of
titles,
subtitles,
and
bullet
points
that
the
reader
can
easily
follow
and
refer
to
later
if
needed.
My
communications
are
not
meant
to
benefit
me.
They
are
intending
to
help
the
recipient,
and
to
do
so,
I
want
to
make
it
as
easy
as
possible
for
them
to
identify
and
process
the
information
I
am
conveying.
Third,
I
avoid
digressions,
anecdotes,
humor,
and
related
issues
unless
the
situation
absolutely
calls
for
it.
My
job
is
to
get
in,
share
information,
and
get
out.
I’m
not
trying
to
receive
an
award
as
a
humorist
or
a
Pulitzer.
I
am
perpetually
aware
and
appreciate
that
I’m
intruding
on
someone’s
attention
and
time,
and
I
want
the
intrusion
to
be
as
limited
and
painless
as
possible.
A
caveat
is
warranted.
The
communications
I
speak
of
are
business-related.
It’s
easy
to
transfer
these
pointed
and
direct
communications
into
your
personal
relationships.
Please
don’t.
Your
family
and
friends
want
to
hear
from
you.
They
want
to
talk
to
you.
They
don’t
want
yes-or-no
answers.
They
want
something
more.
So
often,
we
lawyers
bring
our
work
home
with
us,
cross-examining
and
interrogating
our
families
at
the
dinner
table.
Let’s
not
apply
our
business-style
communication
to
home
or
to
friends.
In
addition
to
written
communications,
let’s
address
our
oral
communications
with
others.
Again,
the
focus
is
on
getting
to
the
point,
answering
the
questions
posed,
and
providing
solutions
and
resolutions
clearly
and
positively.
So
often,
I’ve
been
on
business
calls
or
on
Zoom
or
Teams,
and
someone
is
overextending
their
welcome
by
discussing
unrelated
items,
not
getting
to
the
point,
and
prolonging
the
conversation.
Perhaps
they
think
that
the
more
they
talk,
the
more
in
control
they
are
or
the
better
they
will
be
remembered.
They
will
be
remembered
for
all
the
wrong
reasons. I’ve
never
been
in
a
meeting
where
someone
said
I
wish
it
were
longer.
Or
I
wanted
that
person
to
have
talked
more.
You
have
more
impact
with
the
less
you
say.
If
you’re
always
talking,
people
are
listening
less,
and
when
you
make
a
strong
point,
others
are
likely
to
ignore
it.
Say
only
what’s
needed
and
move
on.
Remember,
in
all
forms
of
communication,
less
is
more.
Getting
to
the
point
is
key.
Making
information
digestible
and
easy
to
process
is
crucial.
There
are
times
when
soaring
oratory
is
required.
But
for
the
rest
of
the
time,
keep
it
short
and
to
the
point.
Your
audience
will
appreciate
the
clarity
and
brevity.
Frank
Ramos
is
a
partner
at
Goldberg
Segalla
in
Miami,
where
he
practices
commercial
litigation,
products,
and
catastrophic
personal
injury. You
can
follow
him
on LinkedIn,
where
he
has
about
80,000
followers.