Avoiding Distractions: Beware of Shiny Objects

We all face distractions at our work every day, and sometimes even every hour. Recent research by Udemy?shows that 70% of workers feel distracted at work, with 16% feeling they’re almost always distracted. Distractions lower our productivity, sap our energy, and lower our situation awareness as well.?

Distractions can be a major hindrance to building better situation awareness, particularly when dealing with wicked problems in business settings. Here are some strategies for avoiding distractions and building better situation awareness:

1. Minimizing distractions in the physical environment can be helpful for building better situation awareness. This might involve finding a quiet space to work, turning off notifications on electronic devices, or setting aside specific times to check email and messages.
2. Prioritizing tasks and focusing on the most important issues can help individuals avoid distractions and maintain better situation awareness. This might involve using time-management techniques such as the Eisenhower Matrix or creating a to-do list with clearly defined priorities.
3. Practising mindfulness involves being fully present and engaged in the current moment. By practicing mindfulness, individuals can avoid distractions and maintain better situation awareness. This might involve techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or visualization exercises.
4. Taking regular breaks can help individuals recharge and avoid burnout, which can be a major distraction in complex problem-solving situations. This might involve taking a short walk, practicing a hobby, or engaging in other activities that help individuals relax and recharge.
5. Staying organized can help individuals avoid distractions and maintain better situation awareness. This might involve using tools such as calendars, to-do lists, or project management software to keep track of tasks and deadlines.

By avoiding distractions and building better situation awareness, individuals can more effectively tame wicked problems in business settings. This can lead to more effective problem-solving, better collaboration and communication, and ultimately, improved outcomes for all stakeholders involved.

For example, let's say a business is facing a wicked problem such as declining sales due to increased competition and changing consumer preferences. To address this problem, the business might need to gather input from multiple stakeholders including customers, suppliers, employees, and industry experts. To build better situation awareness and avoid distractions, the business might take the following steps:

1. Minimize distractions. The business might create a quiet space for meetings or establish "no interruption" periods during the workday to allow employees to focus on problem-solving.
2. Prioritize tasks. The business might use time-management techniques such as the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize tasks and focus on the most important issues related to declining sales.
3. Practice mindfulness. The business might encourage employees to take short breaks throughout the day to practice mindfulness techniques such as deep breathing or meditation to help them stay focused and engaged.
4. Stay organized. The business might use project management software to keep track of tasks and deadlines and ensure that everyone involved in the problem-solving process is on the same page.

By avoiding distractions and building better situation awareness, the business can more effectively gather input from multiple stakeholders and develop solutions to address declining sales. This might involve implementing new marketing strategies, improving customer service, or diversifying product offerings to better meet changing consumer preferences. Ultimately, by taming this wicked problem, the business can improve its competitiveness and achieve better outcomes for all stakeholders involved.

'Shiny object syndrome' is a phenomenon where entrepreneurs and business leaders get easily distracted by new and exciting ideas or opportunities, often leading to a lack of focus and progress on existing projects or goals. This can be a major challenge for entrepreneurs or leaders looking to build and grow their businesses, as it can lead to wasted time, resources, and missed opportunities.

To avoid shiny object syndrome and improve focus and situation awareness, entrepreneurs can take the following steps:

1. It's important for entrepreneurs or leaders to define clear goals and priorities for their business and make sure that they are aligned with their overall vision and mission. This can help them avoid getting side-tracked by new ideas or opportunities that don't align with their core objectives.
2. Entrepreneurs or leaders should set boundaries and limits for themselves to avoid getting distracted by shiny objects. This might involve setting aside specific times for exploring new ideas or opportunities, or setting limits on how much time or money they are willing to invest in these pursuits.
3. Practicing mindfulness techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or visualization exercises can help entrepreneurs or leaders stay focused and present in the moment, reducing the temptation to chase after new and exciting ideas.
4. It can be helpful for entrepreneurs or leaders to seek outside perspective from mentors, coaches, advisors, or peers to help them stay focused and avoid distractions. These individuals can provide valuable feedback and guidance on which ideas or opportunities are worth pursuing and which ones should be avoided.

By avoiding shiny object syndrome and maintaining focus and situation awareness, entrepreneurs or leaders can stay on track and make progress towards their goals. This can lead to better decision-making, increased productivity, and ultimately, greater success in their business endeavours.

Be well. Be wise. Beware shiny objects.

Clive