Managing Information Overload: Techniques for Working Smarter

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this course about? In this course, you learn how to effectively and efficiently manage information. You gain the skills to exploit your intellectual capacity and take advantage of technological tools and advancements. You also learn how to rapidly acquire and retain new data, quickly recall important details, such as passwords and phone numbers, and accurately digest documents and Web pages using speed reading techniques. What is information overload? Information overload occurs when you become burdened and overwhelmed by too much paper-based, electronic and verbal information. Information overload can lead to reduced productivity, added stress, difficulty making decisions, and decreased attention span and memory. To combat this overload, it is essential to adopt effective strategies for managing information. Can I really learn how to manage information? Surmounting information overload can seem like a daunting task. However, techniques for effective information management can absolutely be learned. In this course, you gain the knowledge and skills to accelerate information management and work faster. Tangible benefits include: Reducing unnecessary information and staying on top of e-mail Quickly assimilating new documents Rapidly memorizing business-critical information, including vocabulary survival skills in foreign languages Accurately recording verbal and written information Remembering complex passwords, telephone numbers and names and faces Incorporating your unique thinking style to best handle and communicate information Researching the Internet to rapidly and easily locate information Who will benefit from this course? This course is valuable for anyone who wants to accelerate their information management abilities. Those who work in a fast-paced environment or continually deal with rapid changes would find this course particularly valuable. What background do I need? No special background is required for this course. Will this course help me remember people's names? Yes! Forgetting people's names is a common problem and can be particularly difficult for managers, sales professionals and those who must quickly recall crucial customer information. This course will provide you with easy-to-learn memory techniques, ensuring you successfully and consistently remember names and faces. How is this course different than Course 344? Course 344, Effective Time Management, focuses on setting goals and priorities and applying tools to better manage your time. Course 246 maximizes your efficiency, productivity and effectiveness, taking full advantage of your time. Will this course teach me how to handle e-mail overload? Yes! By learning how to reduce information flow, quickly distinguish critical from unnecessary information and apply speed reading principles, you can significantly reduce the time you spend reading, responding to and filing e-mails. In addition, this course will provide you with tips and techniques for effectively managing your e-mail inbox. How much time is spent on each topic? Content Hours Organizing your approach 1.5 Maximizing your mind's abilities 1.5 Integrating creative brain strategies 1.0 Increasing your ability to absorb information 3.0 Strengthening your memory 2.5 Launching your techniques toolkit 1.0 Times, including the workshops, are estimates; exact times may vary according to the needs of each class. How much of this course is spent in workshops? Approximately 40% of this course is spent performing individual and small group exercises. You practice many of the techniques introduced in this course, such as applying advanced mnemonics, speed reading, mind mapping and profiling your personal thinking style. Will I learn how to speed read? Yes. Accelerating your reading speed is a simple and effective way to sharpen your information management skills. Regardless of your current reading ability, this course will teach you how to train your eyes and scan documents to maximize your absorption and retention of information. Is this course applicable to a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification? Yes. Although this course is not designed as preparation for the exam, it is beneficial to anyone working toward PMI's PMP certification. For those who are currently certified, completion of this course counts as 11 professional development units (60 units must be completed every three years to maintain certification). For more details, please see the Learning Tree PMI Registered Education Provider Q&A. If you are an experienced project manager intending to take the PMP exam, you should take Course 276, Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP®) Exam. In this course you learn essential PMBOK® Guide - Third Edition terminology, tools and techniques. You gain practical test-taking experience through PMI-style practice exams and create your own personal study plan for continued use after the course. How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses? This course, in combination with Course 344, Effective Time Management, and Course 284, Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving, provides excellent foundational knowledge of critical business skills. In Course 284, you learn how to leverage your personal thinking preferences using tools and techniques based on cutting-edge technologies. Other related Learning Tree courses that also sharpen your business skills include: Course 244, Assertiveness Skills: Communicating with Authority and Impact, provides you with the confidence to act assertively. Course 292, Communication Skills: Results Through Collaboration, helps you improve listening skills, deliver effective messages and bridge different communication styles. Course 294, Influence Skills: Getting Results Without Direct Authority, helps you successfully collaborate with others working at different levels and functional groups to accomplish your objectives. In Course 297, Personal Skills for Professional Excellence, you gain a comprehensive and proven set of professional skills to build your reputation for delivering results. Course 345, Delivering Dynamic Presentations, helps you plan and deliver polished presentations with confidence. Course 290, Management Skills, provides a working knowledge of the key aspects of management and practical techniques for eliciting high employee performance.

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