Are you paying attention?
I recently read two articles that I found interesting – one about the myth of multitasking and the other about emotional contagion. They got me thinking about just how powerful paying attention is as a leadership tool.
Multitasking
The article on multitasking described how biologically we are incapable of attending to multiple tasks – our brains are not wired to do it effectively. When we multitask, we are performing each individual task poorly. When we are with people and we are “listening” but simultaneously ticking off a to-do list in our head, glancing at our phone, reading through the paper the person is talking about – we are listening less and less the more we are processing other things. Not only are we devaluing the person by not paying attention, but when we add to the conversation, our thoughts will not be as good as they could be because by multitasking we are not bringing our best intellectual brain to the table.
Emotional contagion
The article on emotional contagion aligned with other studies I have read about how people in close proximity – even complete strangers – pick up each other’s emotions. In the work context, the person who is top in the hierarchy is the one whose emotions will prevail. So, when the boss is in a bad mood, the team will be too. When people are in bad moods, creativity and innovation are stifled. By not managing our emotions, we are not bringing our best emotional brain to the table.
Both of these articles were a great reminder about how as leaders, it is important to attend to your intellectual brain and your emotional brain. Your people deserve your best emotional space and your best intellectual involvement.
Paying attention
Great leaders pay attention, to people and their ideas. When people feel truly valued, they will give their best in response. Great leaders create connection, people feel genuinely heard. Finally, great leaders create a “safe” emotional space where people are not protecting themselves but can turn their energy into teamwork and achievement.
Things you can do to focus your attention:
1. Mind your mood
Check-in with yourself. Your emotions are contagious, think about what you are trying to create and whether your current mood is useful. If you are not in the greatest headspace, do what it takes to get yourself there. Take a quick walk, listen to music, get some fresh air.
2. Get focussed
Turn off your phone, blank your computer screen, or leave your office entirely. Don’t multitask when you are with people.
3. Stay Focussed
If you find your attention drifting, bring it back. Mindfulness is a learned skill, so keep practising.
4. Know your limits
Research says that most people can only focus for around 25 minutes, so 30 minutes is ideal for meetings. If your meeting is longer, take a “focus break”, have a mental stretch and then get back to it.
5. Listen actively
Ask questions, paraphrase, explore ideas – but do it gently. Don’t critique, criticise or push your own ideas.
Think about your team – are you giving them your best intellectual and emotional attention?
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
This article was updated in 2019
Rosalind Cardinal is the Principal Consultant of Shaping Change, a consultancy specialising in improving business outcomes by developing individuals, teams and organisations.
Ros is a solutions and results oriented facilitator and leadership coach, with a career in the Human Resources and Organisational Development field spanning more than 20 years. Ros’ expertise spans leadership development, organisational culture, team building, change and transition management, emotional intelligence, organisational behaviour, employee engagement, strategic direction and management.
Ros is a Certified Member of the Australian Human Resources Institute (CAHRI), a member of the Australian Institute of Training and Development (AITD) and a Professional Member of the Australian Association for Psychological Type (AusAPT). She holds a Graduate Diploma in Human Resources from Deakin University, an Australian Human Resources Institute Professional Diploma in Human Resources and has completed the Australian Graduate School of Management Executive Program, Strategic Human Resource Management.
Hi Ros,
thanks for this article.
We are working primarily with remote teams helping to improve collaboration and communication and attention is a big issue. We have always looked at it more form how to get people’s attention and less from what what it does to teams when you decided to GIVE more. I will surely look at this other side more in the future.
The article on emotional contagion (and any other articles that go in that direction) sounds like an interesting one in this regard. Could you share the URL?
Thanks, Stephan
@sdohrn
Hi Stephan,
Thank you for your interest in my article. The development of emotional intelligence (problem solving with, and about emotions) is key to leaders bringing their best to the table. I have written a number of articles about it on my blog – you may be interested in taking a look. http://www.shapingchange.com.au/putting-emotions-to-work/
A good article on emotional contagion is at https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-science-work/201410/faster-speeding-text-emotional-contagion-work.
I can be contacted via my website if you would like to discuss further – it is a fascinating subject and has profound implications for the way we work.
Ros
Thanks Ros!