I just returned from a trip to Hawaii with my family where I didn’t open my laptop once, didn’t check a single email, and my screen time for the week dropped by over 50% from a normal week at home. It was one of the best vacations I’ve taken (granted, Hawaii is pretty awesome by itself), and I feel so connected to my wife and kids as we return home and start back into work and school.
Have you ever taken a vacation like this? I highly recommend it! In fact, I would challenge you to take all of your vacations like this. Doing that is going to require some trust and delegation, which you can learn more about in my next blog.
Some people call it “being in the moment,” but I really think that the reason it was such a great vacation was FOCUS.
In an era of unprecedented distraction, the ability to focus has emerged as a critical skill; some are calling it the new currency. As digital notifications, social media, and endless streams of information vie for our attention, those who can maintain focus are positioned to excel, both professionally and personally. This blog explores why focus is the new currency and how it can be cultivated to unlock potential and strengthen relationships.
By eliminating distractions, I was able to give my full attention and full focus to the people who are most important to me. Research has shown the impacts of eliminating distractions on the depth and richness of relationships. By giving undivided attention to family, friends, and partners, individuals can build trust and intimacy. Focused interactions demonstrate care and respect, laying the foundation for lasting bonds. I know my children will remember our trip fondly―not only because it was Hawaii, but because they had my undivided attention―so I had to ask myself:
“What else could I improve if I could harness this focus?”
Relationships, personal growth, and wellness are all on my list.
As a leader, it is hard to think about taking on any of this without thinking of the time commitment required to be successful at all of these things―but that is the beauty of what I’m suggesting. My goal is to reduce the total amount of time I spend on everything by honing my focus to remove distractions. Research studies have found that when interrupted, it takes people up to 23 minutes to regain focus. What if I could remove three distractions from my day? I would have over an hour of my time freed up for other things!
Now, how can I actually improve this for myself throughout the day with emails, texts, calls, Zooms, and notifications pinging constantly? I’ve learned a few great tricks from our Signature Faculty, my own team, and our Signature Premier program.
- The Power of 3
During one of the sessions in our Signature Premier program, we refocus the senior executives on their top 3 priorities. We ask them to write down what those top 3 are and to review their calendars to see how much time each week they are actually dedicating to those things they say are the most important for them. It is often eye-opening how easily their weeks get hijacked and shifted away from their top 3.
One of my Signature team members uses a simple to-do list with a couple rules: she only allows it to have 3 things on it at one time, and she makes sure they are concrete tasks, broken down so that they can be completed that day. She will tell you that it is amazing how much you can accomplish in one week, or even one month, if you focus on completing those 3 things each day. I can attest that her performance proves its effectiveness!
- Minimize Distractions
In our Signature Select program, participants do an exercise that involves rethinking their calendars to identify when they have their best energy, then focus and schedule strategic or priority items during those times. This helps to minimize distractions as they work on their most important priorities.
One of our faculty members also recommended using the “Scheduled Summary” feature on iPhone. It holds your notifications (I let text message and phone calls through) and only delivers them on a schedule (mine is set to deliver once per hour). I have used it for two years now, and it eliminates so many distractions throughout my day, allowing me to stay more focused during meetings and on key tasks.
Another one of my Signature team members utilizes her schedule to create focused work hours. She likes to start her workday early and review all of her emails before the start of the day’s meetings―that way, she can provide her full attention to the meetings to be productive.
- Practice Mindfulness
Incorporating mindfulness practices into your routine can enhance your ability to focus. Techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, and mindful walking can train your mind to stay present and improve concentration. Just like training any other muscle memory, your brain needs practice staying focused on one thing at a time!
I challenge you to join me in focusing on FOCUS. If you struggle to make it through a meeting without being distracted, commit to one meeting where you remove whatever normally distracts you (put your phone out of reach, close Outlook, or close all your browser windows). See if you can fully focus on the meeting for one hour. You may find that you are far more engaged―I find that those meetings usually end early.
Expand your focus from there. I think you’ll find that your productivity goes up (fewer hours to complete the same amount of work), your decision-making happens more quickly (clarity and decisiveness improve), and your relationships deepen (others will appreciate your attention).
This year, we will be expanding our session in our Premier program to include Focus as the New Currency more broadly than in previous years because, in both business and life, focus will be what sets good leaders and great leaders apart. In the age of distractions, those who master the art of focus will lead richer, more impactful lives.
Looking to improve focus in yourself and your team? Check out our Signature Select offerings to learn new skills!
About The Author
Robert Seymour: Partner & COO, Signature Leaders
Rob is a strong business operator with a passion for advancing women in leadership. This passion stems from watching Carol’s career evolve, and observing the challenges that his wife Michelle faced, and others still face, as women advancing in their careers.
Carol’s unique approach to addressing these challenges, focused on providing the highest quality development experiences, compelled Rob to join Signature Leaders.
As Partner and COO of Signature Leaders, Rob drives operations, sales and marketing strategy, content development, and strategic initiatives. Rob oversees the team members at Signature Leaders responsible for program delivery and the Signature Collective, which focuses on alumni engagement. He manages about a dozen of Signature Leaders’ strategic client accounts, and he builds new offerings to meet the needs of all Signature clients. He also writes for Signature’s blog, and he edited and managed the production of Carol’s first book, Wisdom Warriors: Journeys Through Leadership and Life, which provides candid stories from over 70 accomplished business leaders, who share their hard-earned experiences to benefit the leaders rising through the ranks behind them.
In 2013, Rob began serving as the CFO for Signature Leaders while working full time as a Manager in Accenture’s Health practice. As a management consultant, Rob navigated clients through process and organizational changes during large-scale technology transformations.
Rob earned a BS in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, where he pitched for Penn’s Varsity Baseball Team for four years. He and his wife, Michelle, live in Los Angeles with their daughter (Blake) and son (Bowen). Rob enjoys coaching sports for his children’s teams, playing golf, finding ways to stay fit, and taking on new challenges in the form of home improvement projects.
