Performance Distractions are Everywhere

Are distractions negatively impacting your performance?
Do you ID performance distractions ASAP?
Are you managing your distractions well?

Last Monday I wrote about “utilizing excellence as the spirit of your work” click on this sentence to learn more about this performance strategy. This week, I have already had 3 out of 4 clients tell me they are distracted and aren’t able to complete their action items we agreed upon. This, of course, fascinated me! Is it simply a sign of spring finally arriving or is there more going on behind the scenes?

Performance Distraction Negatively Impact YOUR Performance

Research reveals that once you are distracted, it actually takes 20-22 minutes to gain the same level of productivity momentum your were at right before you were distracted. Of course this doesn’t even guarantee you will be able to gain the same level of performance! If you have 3 distractions in one hour, that hour isn’t going to be nearly as productive as it would’ve been without the distractions. Wow, this means that only 3 distractions can take you so far off your charted course that you may not even get to your destination in the hour as you had intended!

Identifying Performance Distractions

Everyone has different distractions. New variations of distractions present themselves to us often. But what about the more common distractions most of us contend with routinely? Do you respond every time your phone rings or lights up? Are you constantly checking your email? Do you “zip” through your Facebook account more than once a day and spend as much time as you’d like there? Do you stop what are you doing because the mail arrived? Do you allow others, who are walking by you, to distract you from your productivity? All these little distractions continuously erode at your performance and render you less productive than you intended.

Distraction Management Improves Your Performance

Do you know how to manage distractions? In contemporary times, I notice the cell phone as the greatest distraction to one’s productivity. I confirm, it is important to be responsive; however, it doesn’t mean that you need to salivate and answer every time your phone tries to get your attention! Have you thought about turning it off for 1-3 hours each day? If you were in a meeting or visiting with your Grandma you would have your phone off. Why not do it periodically throughout your work day?

I continue to hear the same two time bandits appearing for all types of Business Leaders: other than meetings, which many not be something you can manage, the first time bandit is email and the second time bandit is cell phones. Remember back in the day there were receptionists? Well, times are different and most of us need to figure our how to manage all our activities without burning out. This is no small task!

Have you considered making appointments with yourself throughout the day to work on your projects?  What about going stealth for a couple of hours in the morning and/or afternoon for a couple of hours to efficiently move through your appointments and projects. What about conducting all follow up communications within one hour prior to lunch, or after lunch, and then at the end of the day again- just going back to back until it is complete. Have you considered having a meeting as a walk-around (ideally outside)? What about just not answering the phone until you finish your project?

These are very simple solutions to performance distractions. I suggest your try a few of these, one at a time, and assess if your productivity improves. If so, your performance will noticeably improve! Incremental change to break old habits will serve you well. Just start today and be patient. If you slip and fall back into old patterns, just pardon yourself with a “Do-Over” like when you were in grade school 🙂 Hint: Optimizing performance doesn’t need to be complex to be impactful. Start today with one thing, then in two week add another strategy.

Your Business Rescue Coach wants to know: Which new action are you going to start this week to optimize your performance? Share in the comment sections so we can learn from each others 🙂

 THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR BUSINESS!

If you or your business needs rescuing on this particular topic
or any other Business Strategies we have been discussing,
please reach out to Maggie (262) 716.7750, Central Time, for YOUR No-cost Consultation

Blessings of Success to YOU ~
Maggie Mongan, Brilliant CEO & Founder
Brilliant Breakthroughs, Inc.
Direct Dial: 262-716-7750
LinkedIn: MaggieMongan