The ability to concentrate on one task or idea without distraction or interruption is an increasingly rare skill. A world filled with sound bites, tweets, and abridged messages makes sustained attention exceedingly difficult. Bombarded by the constant inflow of information, we actually prime ourselves to be distracted.
I don't need it to be too quiet. But I do need a clean workspace, free from clutter and I have to face a wall - something with no view directly in front of me if possible. In college, I couldn't study at the open tables in the library. I'd find those tiny three-sided cubes with high walls
Sep 9, 2023·edited Sep 10, 2023Liked by Admired Leadership
Valid points.
We must discover our own "creative cocoon (Goleman. FOCUS)" if we wish to find/do our best creative work.
One challenge is in frontline work. Individuals/leaders still believe multitasking is a legitimate skill (the brain literally cannot do two things successfully at once. It is mental juggling at best). We can't tell our clients to leave us alone and still stay in business. We have to follow a "cover and move (Willink and Babin. EXTREME OWNERSHIP)" approach, and execute.
Three things work for me
- keeping my phone downstairs
- my amazing new noise cancelling headphones
- only having the relevant files open on my laptop
I don't need it to be too quiet. But I do need a clean workspace, free from clutter and I have to face a wall - something with no view directly in front of me if possible. In college, I couldn't study at the open tables in the library. I'd find those tiny three-sided cubes with high walls
Valid points.
We must discover our own "creative cocoon (Goleman. FOCUS)" if we wish to find/do our best creative work.
One challenge is in frontline work. Individuals/leaders still believe multitasking is a legitimate skill (the brain literally cannot do two things successfully at once. It is mental juggling at best). We can't tell our clients to leave us alone and still stay in business. We have to follow a "cover and move (Willink and Babin. EXTREME OWNERSHIP)" approach, and execute.
Thank you for your time.
As I read this, my son is practicing on his drums in the basement.
Working from home on a Saturday, Jamie? :)
At heart, we are a community of best practices... so we are eager to hear your own.