Overloaded Circuits

Frenzied executives who fidget through meetings, miss appointments, and jab at the elevator’s “door close” button aren’t|crazy—just crazed. They’re suffering from a newly recognized neurological phenomenon called attention deficit trait (ADT).|Marked by distractibility, inner frenzy, and impatience, ADT prevents managers from clarifying priorities, making smart decisions, and managing their time. This insidious|condition turns otherwise talented performers into harried underachievers. And it’s reaching epidemic proportions.|ADT isn’t an illness or character defect. It’s our brains’ natural response to exploding demands on our time and attention. As|data increasingly floods our brains, we lose our ability to solve problems and handle the unknown. Creativity shrivels; mistakes|multiply. Some sufferers eventually melt down. How to control ADT’s ravaging impact on performance? Foster positive emotions by connecting face-to-face with people you|like throughout the day. Take physical care of your brain by getting enough sleep, eating healthfully, and exercising regularly. Organize for ADT, designating part of each day|for thinking and planning, and setting up your office to foster mental functioning (for example, keeping part of your desk clear at|all times).|These strategies may seem like no-brainers. But they’ll help you vanquish the ADT demon before it can strike.