Are you focused ?

It is pretty amazing what you can do when you are focused and concentrated on what you are doing. This street artist, amidst the bustle of 1000s of people walking buy, creates T-shirts by drawing simple straight lines in different colors without any ruler or guide. Just his very steady hand. In a handful of minutes, he creates a unique T-shirt that is almost impossible to copy. If he would just lay them out for sale, there wouldn't be much interest. But by showing his skill, these commodity T-shirts become hot designer products. He is definitely enjoying "flow" (Csíkszentmihályi). In very little time, he is creating real value.

Let's take this story and reflect on how we typically do when we are working in a team. At the end of the very busy day, how much value have you really created for yourself, the team you work in or your organization ? How much of your working time have you been in "flow": focused on the things you need to do ? And how distracted have you been by what is surrounding you ?

There is the magic pull of the electronic gadgets in our hands. When they buzz or beep, we feel important, wanted and eager to contribute. We like to think something "urgent" is wanting us to take care of. In reality there are very few urgencies that need to be addressed in the minute that follows. And what urgencies get dealt with by shooting off an email ?

More fundamentally, when we are in a team discussion, we are often just waiting for the other to stop talking to get our point in. A typical way to start is "Yes but ..." which means pretty much "I haven't heard what you just said but listen to me !". Active listening is called like that because it requires effort. Staying focused and asking yourself W.A.I.T (Why Am I Talking?) is what brings real value to the team, not the amount of airtime each gets.

Remind yourself about your level of focus a few times during the day ... Ask yourself "For the last hour, how focused have I been ?". And re-calibrate !