With the amount that we are all connected to a steady stream of information through the internet and smart phones, it seems that being able to focus has never been more difficult in our society. The second we try to begin a task, it always seem like your pocket buzzes, there’s a knock on the door, or an email that seems to be begging for your click. Before you know it, thirty minutes are gone and progress on your original task is minimal.
Robert J. Shiller, a Nobel Laureate, once said, “The ability to focus on important things is a defining characteristic of intelligence.” As leaders, our teams rely on our ability to act wisely, including the way that we utilize our time. Despite the way it seems that distractions can seem to pull us in other directions, we still have agency over where we focus our attention. This week, I hope you’ll join me in recommitting yourself to choosing to focus the finite amount of time we each have toward wise activities, whether at work or at home. It’s not simply about getting more done- it’s about adding value to each of our tasks!