How Not to Lose Focus When You Need it Most

Welcome to part two of my Learn to Dance on Jell-O series. This installment covers ways to focus your attention on results.

Too Much Too Soon

David and Michael launched a very successful start up. They decided to bring a series of products to market – an ambitious task for even the most seasoned organization. Once they had the four products in development they realized that they had taken on too much. They were blinded by the prospects of success. They didn’t pay attention to all of the requirements of the launch.

David admitted their lack of focus. He was willing to pare down the product development from four to one so they could manage their resources better. Michael had a passion for all four. He was willing to ignore the risk. He didn’t want to scale back. The constant distractions of unexpected obstacles and financial stress generated conflict when they needed to zero in on how to address the issues and move forward. The growing stress cost them more time, money, and good will. In the end, none of the products came to market.

How to Regain Focus

We’ve all been there. During difficult situations, our emotions cause us to be reactionary when we should be responsive or proactive. We lose sight of the big picture. But how do we regain our focus when we need it most?

Let me offer a working definition of focused attention, and provide three ways to improve it.

Focus and attention are two separate concepts. Focus is how we concentrate; attention is where that concentration resides. We can lightly focus our attention on a problem. It is possible to be hyper concentrated one moment, and then deeply relaxed with our focus the next.

Here are three graceful moves for improving focus and attention.

Gather your attention. How can you bring all of your energies together in one place at one time? This is analogous to beginning a problem-solving process by agreeing to define the problem as a group. Not three people being in problem analysis, two solving it while some are off thinking about the next meeting.

Try this: Give all of your attention to one task at a time, sequentially moving decisively and consciously between actions.

Avoid multi-tasking. Focus on one object of attention crisply and decisively. The critical aspect of this skill of placing is having the focus and keeping it there. This is similar to any training where concentration is required; we call it the “sit and stay” technique. It is analogous to teaching your children to sit and stay with their homework even if it is unpleasant, and they feel like doing anything but the homework.

Try this: Next time you are talking to someone, give him or her your full, undivided attention for whatever period you feel you can. Don’t do two things at once.

Make conscious shifts in attention. Lift the focus off of where your attention is and place it somewhere else consciously and intentionally.

Try this: In the next workweek, break up your day into 45 minute time periods. Work hard, focused, and concentrated. After 45 minutes take a five-minute break to close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Try to relax the muscles around your eyes, shoulders, jaw and neck.

What Would You Do?

Consider these scenarios. How would managing your attention play a major role in achieving the results you want? Share your observations in the comments.

1. Your staff has a mind of their own about what is important. On top of that, a few co-workers resist direction. Do you give them freedom, or do you rein them in?
2. You spent all weekend working on a deliverable from your manager. When you arrive to complete the final clean up, there’s a note on your desk instructing you to stop working on the project and focus elsewhere. Your feelings about this redirect might get in the way in giving your best effort to the new priority. How do you shake off the negative feelings and place them where they need to be now?
3. You are working in a place that has many sounds and loud voices. How do you gather laser-like attention in the midst of the hustle and bustle?

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