Leading Means Concentrating — And Focusing
Leading a company during a time of crisis (or multiple crises) isn’t just about making the right decision. It’s also about concentration and focus.
As I write this, I’m talking to my business partner and reading about an early-stage startup that seem promising. I’m also reading numerous articles about racial injustice, protests, and COVID-19.
Which is problematic.
According to studies, the human brain can truly focus on just one task at a time. It screens out distractions that make it harder to accomplish what we’re already doing. That’s why multitasking is not only counter-productive, but it can lead people to display negative emotions on top of stress, according to a study published last month. The researchers found that negative emotions have a “contagion” effect: “Emotional contagion can spread in a group or workplace through the influence of conscious or unconscious processes involving emotional states or physiological responses.”
What’s more, burnout is linked to constant interruptions.
But CEOs need to be tracking multiple initiatives simultaneously, whether that’s managing customer expectations; managing a supply chain; managing relationships with business partners; keeping employees safe and secure; managing cash and liquidity; observing and reacting to the external environment; digitizing older businesses; making sure the right people are in the right roles as you rapidly change your organization; not to mention making sure that big, important, and sensitive societal issues — including racial injustice — are addressed in a serious and thoughtful way.
The key, for any CEO, is to do all of these things without multitasking. Focusing and concentrating on one project at a time is more effective, especially during remote work.
Dandapani, the Hindu priest, entrepreneur, and monk for 10 years, says that to develop unwavering focus, we need an intense desire for it. Only then will we able to hold awareness with single-pointed focus.
And only then can we effectively lead an organization.
#multitasking #negativity #tension #workplaceculture #workplacewellbeing
