How to Get Off the Leash

We live with continuous bombardment of interruptions – phone calls, emails, texts, Facebook messages, people dropping by, etc, etc rinse and repeat.

They can all seem equally important and demanding. We don’t want to miss anything, disappoint someone or fail somehow because we’re not fast enough to respond to everyone at the moment they want it. But maybe we need to question whether the pressure to ‘multitask’ is valid.

Are we allowing ourselves to be trained into an ADD way of living? Are we allowing others to expect from us what is actually an unreasonable rate of response? In other words, are we the big dog or the puppy?

Our brains can only focus on one thing at a time. That is the truth and there’s a heap of research to back it. When we hop spastically from one interruption to the next we slow down productivity, accuracy and most importantly real connection to humanity. For more on “How Multitasking Hurts Your Brain (and Your Effectiveness at Work)” check out this Forbes article.

Insist on one thing at a time. Purposefully set your intention and focus on what’s right now. Protect your time and energy; it’s really all any of us have. Turn off the sound on your phone while you’re working. Be bold and turn off those ever-tempting instant notifications. You’re not ignoring anyone; just check notifications when it fits in your time and ability to give full attention. It’s OK to control the input in your life. We can respect the needs of others without allowing ourselves to be yanked around like a puppy on a leash.

Remember, a leader is the big dog – neither a lone wolf nor a puppy.

I help organizations build whole-hearted communities through ‘half-assed’ leadership. We work together in three ways: speaking, consulting, and executive coaching. Step up from the ordinary…. Contact me today.