The Hidden Factor That's Debilitating Your Team

Leaders: Pay Attention, or Else!

You've likely heard about the high cost of workplace injuries, bullying, low morale, and high turnover. But outside of those obvious workplace villains, there is a silent, more pervasive productivity killer that is lurking in every cubicle, boardroom, and work-from-home office around the world. And it's claiming almost 35% of your company's productivity, with 60 hours wasted per employee, per month.

Chances are, you've already encountered it today, likely within the last 11 minutes. Behold the much-maligned, ever-present, nearly-unavoidable: distraction.

In today's fast-paced, hyper-connected world, distractions are everywhere. Emails, social media notifications, and constant interruptions can quickly derail focus and obstruct your leadership effectiveness. But there are some tactics you can use to help you and your team stay focused. It all starts with the brain.

What the Neuroscience Says

The brain's prefrontal cortex, responsible for executive functions like decision-making, planning, and self-control, is crucial in maintaining focus. When you concentrate on a task, this part of the brain filters out irrelevant stimuli and helps you pay attention. 

Unfortunately, distractions lurk at every turn. Every alert, ring, or buzz taps into your brain's "fight or flight" response, which must divert focus to assess potential threats, regardless of their actual danger. Other types of distractions, such as messages from friends, cute cat videos, daydreaming, and online shopping activate your brain's reward center and release dopamine (a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward). These factors give distractions their power as they lure you away from your primary task.

While technology usually gets the blame for distractions, the root of the problem can also be internal. Feelings like boredom, loneliness, anxiety, stress, depression, and unresolved conflict cause us to seek out diversions from moments we'd rather not face. Technology is just the easiest escape route. Before you can summon the willpower to put down your device, you'll need to address these underlying issues.

The Personal Cost of Distraction

For leaders, the personal cost of distraction is substantial. Constant interruptions diminish your ability to think critically, make sound decisions, and lead effectively. Distractions erode work quality, extend project timelines, and increase errors. They can make it difficult to maintain a clear vision and strategic direction, impacting your team's performance and morale. 

Distractions also take a toll on mental well-being, leading to stress, anxiety, and burnout. Leaders who are perpetually distracted may struggle to balance professional responsibilities and personal lives, exacerbating stress levels.

The Ripple Effect on Organizations

Unfortunately, distractions aren't just a YOU problem. Their impact extends to your entire organization. Your propensity for getting distracted can set a precedent for your team, normalizing distractions and making deep, focused work rare. This cultural shift decreases overall productivity, innovation, and engagement. And it is contagious.

Distractions don't just steal your time. They can also take a toll on your ability to communicate clearly—leading to misunderstandings, misalignment, and inefficiencies. Remember the cost of distractions mentioned earlier? The 35% loss in productivity translates to a drain of up to $248,000 per year, for a company with 10 employees. But that figure doesn't account for the additional cost of mistakes, stress, and low morale that distractions can cause. 

How to Ditch Distractions for Good

Now that you know why distractions are so powerful and how destructive they can be, let's take a look at what you can do about them. 

•  Address Internal Feelings: Address the underlying emotional and psychological issues that may be driving you to seek out distractions. Engage in mindfulness practices, therapy, or set aside time to process feelings and resolve conflicts instead of seeking out diversions.
•  Prioritize Deep Work: Set aside specific times for deep, focused work where interruptions are minimized. Use techniques like time-blocking to allocate dedicated periods for essential tasks.
•  Practice Mindfulness: Engage in mindfulness practices such as meditation to train your brain to sustain attention and reduce susceptibility to distractions. Even a few minutes of mindfulness daily can significantly improve focus and mental clarity.
•  Make Your Desk Distraction-Free: Design your workspace to minimize distractions. Turn off non-essential notifications, use noise-canceling headphones, and organize your physical and digital space to reduce clutter.
•  Be SMART: Use SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) objectives to set clear, actionable goals. Break down larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps to maintain focus and track progress.
•  Leverage Technology Wisely: Use tools and apps designed to enhance productivity, such as task managers and focus apps that block distracting websites.
•  Practice Digital Detox: Regularly disconnect from digital devices to recharge and prevent information overload. Designate specific times for checking emails and social media to avoid constant interruptions.
•  Share Your Knowledge: Provide training on time management to help employees better navigate interruptions.
•  Foster a Focused Culture: Establish cultural norms around acceptable noise levels and interruptions. You can even create designated quiet spaces or times of the day in your workplace.

Distractions pose a significant threat to your leadership effectiveness and your organization's success. But when you understand the neuroscience of focus and implement these brain-based strategies, you'll take a big step toward defeating distractions: the hidden, debilitating factor that has been impacting your whole team.

About the Author

Sandra McDowell, MA, PCC, CULC, CPHR

As the founder and voice behind eLeadership Academy™, Sandra McDowell helps leaders and organizations increase performance and well-being by leveraging neuroscience insights to harness the untapped power of the brain.

About eLeadership Academy™

Exclusive to credit unions, eLeadership Academy™ is the only online training solution that provides accessible, actionable training to develop high-performance CU leaders. We are on a mission to help build leadership and coaching bench strength within the system because we know credit unions are a force for good, and their leaders are the catalyst for member and employee experience. For more information, visit www.eleadershipacademy.com or contact [email protected].