The only way to confront the ongoing time deficit and overcome the seemingly constant demand on our time is to develop a self-awareness of how we are focusing our attention. Identifying our focus as a ‘mental muscle’ is helpful when we want investigate, what is for many, a constant state of time deficit. Furthermore, we must recognize that our attention has become a highly valuable commodity, our ability to focus becomes a highly valuable skill – and if we don’t use it, like any skill, we will lose it.
In today’s fast-paced business world, our natural tendency is to just push through getting things done, but like any muscle training, we must be aware of the signs and/or signals that our cognitive functioning is being compromised. Such signs or signals include, but are not limited to, mistakes, forgetting, momentary blank-outs, and our mind wandering to a negative place.
Graham Allcott, in his book ‘How to be a Productivity Ninja’, talks about different levels of attention that change from day to day, even from moment to moment. Recognizing one’s own different levels of attention and having tasks ready at hand for processing in each different attention level, can be key for successfully completing a productive day.
It is important to understand too that our brain has evolved to pay attention to scarcity. If we consider our time to be a scarcity (and in today’s working world, it usually is), our mind will voluntarily wander to a state of overwhelmed paralysis – of not enough time to accomplish task.
Developing a mental thought model such as Positive Presence™ can create the habits necessary for a clear focus by creating positive and time rich thoughts. When we are in a positive flow of energy (positive thoughts and feelings) that is when we possess the clarity and focus that we need for lazer-like attention – the clarity and focus that comes with a position of confident, Zen-like calm.
Knowing what’s important – to you, your boss, your staff and your organization’s mission – then paying attention to the way you are responding to time demands at work and/or at home by ensuring you are in a positive energy flow, is the one sure way to create time-abundance.
Catherine is the President and CEO of CORPORATE HARMONY, providing virtual solutions for leadership development and organizational culture change. Her leadership and coaching experience as a Project Manager in an ever-changing, fast moving technological organization with unrelenting demands drove her to the realization that a positive mindset and strength-building behaviors are essential for today’s complex and chaotic organizational systems. CORPORATE HARMONY’s virtual platform of programs, coaching and performance measurement, is an innovative online technology of tested proprietary content. The world-class content of CORPORATE HARMONY’s Positive Presence Program develops the skill of ‘Positive Presence’ and the necessary ‘Positive Presence Behaviour Competencies’ for maintaining a positive and energized mindset and increased performance in today’s complex work environment, and leading to a culture of collaboration and connection. Catherine’s vision for Corporate Harmony is to bring the skill of “Positive Presence” to the corporate world as it becomes more complex, ambiguous and chaotic. Catherine is uniquely positioned to impact organizations’ productivity and long term success, with her powerful vision of eliminating bad stress from every workplace around the globe, bringing purpose into the people equation to promote healthy, productive and meaningful work cultures and turn the tide on the neglect of mental health on a global scale. Catherine is author of the book: “CORPORATE HARMONY – The Performance Link for Today’s Modern Organization” Catherine can be reached at: Catherine.Osborne@corporateharmony.ca or go to ‘contact us’ on our website www.corporateharmony.ca. Catherine is available for consultation, and can be reached by 519-695-3407.