Your environment is too noisy. According to the marketing firm Yankelovich, in the 1970s, we were exposed to about 500 ads per day. In 2007, they estimated that we were exposed to roughly 5,000. Today, those numbers range between 4,000 and 10,000. And those are just passing transmissions. What about the direct noise that infiltrates our daily lives? Text messages, phone calls, emails, videos, music, podcasts, and conversations. All the information we constantly surround ourselves with to keep busy.
In his interview with Charlie Rose, Fred Rogers said, “I’m very concerned that our society is much more interested in information than wonder. In noise, rather than silence.” Mr. Rogers caught on to an important issue. We have allowed noise to consume our time and are missing out on some pretty epic advantages.
Silence has powerful benefits. Silence can reduce heart rate, blood pressure, and minute ventilation. It can improve concentration and focus. It can reduce stress. And spark some serious creativity. Some research suggests it may even stimulate brain growth.
Today, as a leader, consider how your environment’s noise impacts how you interact with your team and your work. Are you creating moments for yourself to enjoy silence? Are you leaning into quietness to engage in wonder? What would your work look like if you started to embrace silence? Today give yourself the gift of stillness. Take a few moments to practice silence and see what happens.
VOLUNTEER UNIVERSITY NEWS
We recently released our new book: VOL U 101: Introduction to Volunteering. It may sound like an introductory course in volunteer management, but don’t let the title fool you. The book covers everything from volunteer recruitment to retention and everything in between. It’s a fantastic resource for anyone who leads teams. Get your copy HERE.