I was doing something the other day (I forget what it was) that involved filters for reducing line noise and amplifiers for boosting signal. Or roughly that, because I forget the situation exactly. But it suddenly struck me that people can either be amplifiers or filters, and which one you are at a given moment defines who you are. The best among us consistently amplify the signal and filter the noise. The worst among us consistently filter the signal and amplify the noise. Most of us are all over the board.

That idea has given me a useful mental tool for thinking about what I say and do. I’m not saying I’m good at it. I’m not one of those that consistently amplifies signal and filters noise. All I am is better at it.

What’s noise? Noise is gossip, negativity, criticism aimed at bringing someone down, complaining for complaining sake, pointless discussions about Charlie Sheen or Kim Kardashian (I still can’t figure out why anyone cares). Noise is anything that diverts the people around me from being happier, smarter, more confident, more efficient, more joyful.

What’s signal? Signal is the latest, greatest, coolest thing you’ve learned. Signal is news about the cause, the candidate you believe in and, possibly, useful, actionable news about the cause and candidate you oppose. Signal is the good word about the best mechanic in town or the friendliest cafe. Signal may be criticism, but well-placed criticism aimed at raising your friend to the next level, at helping her over a hump. It may not be easy for the person to hear, but neither is smoke alarm going off in your house. It’s still signal. Anything that makes the people around me happier, healthier, smarter, more confident is signal. And, yes, as unpleasant as a piercing smoke alarm or some truly thoughtful criticism may be, they can do any and all of those things.

So we always have a choice — do we boost signal or do we boost noise? Do we pass on the latest negative gossip about an co-worker? Do we repeat inanities about celebrities we’ll never meet (or buy magazines that do so, thus ensuring they continue to sit in the supermarket checkout aisle)? Do we tout our favorite cafe (Cool Beans in Oakhurst, California) or merely complain about Starbucks taking over the world? Do we pass along unhelpful criticism for the sake of passing it along (thus amplifying noise) or do we fail to pass along praise because we get distracted (thus filtering signal)?

If we’re going to live to our fullest, we need to be both filters and amplifiers, but each one at the right time. Now that I have that thought in my head, it gives me a tool to use (in my rare better moments) where I can ask myself before speaking “Am I amplifying signal or noise?” or “What signal do I want to amplify right now?” and redirect my conversation to something more useful.

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Filed under: Leadership

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