My old boss used to drive me crazy. There were many times I would sit in his office giving him a project update, only to be interrupted mid-sentence while he answered his phone.
Being young and sassy at the time, I’d eventually walk out thinking, “Hey, if you don’t value my time, I’m not going to hang around wasting it by listening to you chat on the phone. I’ve got more important things to do.” I’m not sure he ever realized why I’d often leave halfway through a conversation.
Many years later, I recall sitting in my own office talking to a new member of staff about a sensitive matter. My phone rang at a crucial moment. I apologized and swiftly turned off the device. She encouraged me to take the call, but I declined, saying that she was my priority right now. The caller could wait.
Much to my surprise, my colleague seemed to tear up. Puzzled, I gently asked her why. “Well,” she replied, “Until now, I’ve never had a manager think I’m that important.”
Focus as a Core Value
These two contrasting experiences are partly the reason I believe so strongly in focus as a basic leadership skill.
I still remember the annoyance I felt towards my easily-distracted boss . Likewise, I’ve never forgotten the moment I learned that undivided attention on another person—albeit for just a few minutes—can have a profound and positive affect.
And that’s why focus is a core value of my company. Here’s how I describe it:
Focus: We give our full attention to each leader and team. We demonstrate confidence and focus through our knowledge, commitment, and energy. We are steady and strong. We convey competence.
I want those who work with us to know that their needs are the focus of our thoughts. Always.
The Fluid Nature of Focused Leadership
Of course, there are several ways to interpret focus. The dictionary defines it as paying attention to one particular subject, situation, or person at a time. Daniel Goleman, author of several wonderful books on emotional intelligence, describes it as directing attention to one of three broad buckets: yourself, others, and the wider world.
Both these definitions highlight the fluid nature of this talent (yes, I believe it’s a talent you can develop). Focus is not about fixating on one particular aspect of your role or job, such as meeting a sales target or underspending your budget.
In fact, single-point focus can eventually become a real problem for leaders as it has the tendency to demoralize teams (“our boss only cares about the budget”) and create a toxic environment (“I’m not a sales rep so I don’t matter”). It can also result in missed opportunities. After all, if you’re so focused on just one thing, how can you see what’s going on around you?
Focus as a talent is all about being able to shift attention to the right place at the right time, and successful leaders tend to excel at this. But why do most of us find this so difficult to do?
Why we lack focus in the workplace
Whether you’re a front-line manager or a senior executive, there are many demands on your time and so it’s easy to get distracted. Technology doesn’t help either. Our inboxes and smartphones are constantly delivering emails, messages, and notifications, all of which seem to be urgent. Focusing on what we’re doing is almost impossible when we’re constantly being interrupted.
This information overload is a genuine problem, and not just for leaders. It adds to our workload and can even lead to indecision and anxiety. Who has time to read a 20-page report these days? We skim and scan to extract the interesting or important stuff and move on.
Add to that the expectation to multitask, even though the human brain isn’t wired this way, and it’s easy to see why we’re losing our ability to focus.
Knowing what needs your attention
To have any chance of directing our attention to where it’s needed—and keeping it there—it’s useful to go back to Goleman’s triad of awareness (i.e. focusing on yourself, others and the wider world). He asserts that if you don’t find a balance between these three, you become rudderless, clueless, and maybe even blindsided.
So, how does that triad of awareness translate into everyday practice? Let’s see:
- Sometimes you have to pay close attention to either the job at hand or your inner voice. The former is important to do a task well and to complete it on time. The latter is useful when you’re unable to decide using only rational processes. Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio calls these internal messages somatic markers. You and I call it our gut feelings. Either way, these are the moments when you tune in to yourself. Learn to be self-aware.
- At other times, you have to concentrate on other people. This is not always as easy as it sounds, especially in the workplace. I bet most of us are guilty on occasion of only half-listening to a colleague. We might nod and utter platitudes in (hopefully) all the right places, but at the same time we’re running mentally through all the things we need to do before we go home or constantly glancing at our phone as messages roll in. Therefore, set aside your to-do list, turn off your phone, and give your colleague your full attention.
- Finally, there are times you need to consider the wider world. Goleman suggests that leaders with a strong outward focus are not only good listeners but also good questioners. They’re open to new ideas and alert to opportunities. Bu that isn’t possible if you’re focused on only yourself or your team. So, make sure you set aside a little time each week to let your mind wander freely, ask searching questions, or follow fresh paths.
If you can find a balance between these three focus areas, your effectiveness as a leader will be greatly enhanced.
The Benefits of Focused Leadership
By now you’re probably getting a good feel for the benefits of being a focused leader, but let’s list the main ones nonetheless:
- You can improve your working relationships
Paying undivided attention to others is not only good manners. It’s a demonstration of empathy of empathy, which has practical value in the workplace, including motivating staff, overcoming conflicts, and helping your team develop. - You can be more productive
Studies show that multitasking can actually reduce our efficiency by as much as 40%. This is because we have to shift mental gears whenever we switch tasks, which takes time. Concentrating on one task at a time actually increases your work rate.
- You can solve problems more easily
Focus gives you not only clarity of mind but also more time to solve complex issues. By eliminating distractions, you’ll be able to step back to see the bigger picture and find a suitable solution. - You’ll feel more positive and energetic
Too much chatter in your head can make you feel anxious. It also sucks all the mental and physical energy out of you. By focusing on what’s important, you’ll produce better outcomes, which will decrease your frustration and increase your confidence.
Let’s take more notice of one another
Whenever the topic of focus comes up in my leadership workshops, I’m reminded of my own positive and negative experiences as an employee and as a manager. So many of today’s leaders are struggling with similar issues. But I’m convinced that, if we learn to pay more attention, especially to our colleagues, we’ll all be better off for it. What do you think?