Introduction
One of the biggest weaknesses of our current generation is the inability to focus. Our productivity is decreasing day-by-day. Why? Well, most of it is due to the distractions we face in our daily life. Among these distractions, the internet is the biggest and most obvious one. For example, just a simple review of the latest movie can lead you down a rabbit hole of various issues ranging from environmental issues to gender politics.
The internet is easily available on devices like mobile phones and tablets. Even if a connection is not available, they still contain numerous offline apps that can easily divert our attention for hours. We essentially carry around pocket-sized distractions with us at all times. No wonder we’re having a hard time focusing.
All these distractions have taken a toll on our attention spans. This is especially true for employees and staff members. If they can’t properly focus then they won’t be able to finish important tasks on time. The end result will be an obvious decrease in productivity.
In this article, we’re going to some things that managers can do to keep their staff members focused on work.
Don’t let employees bite more than they can chew
Staff members can get intimidated by large amounts of workloads. Their motivation level plummets and the gigantic workload always remains at the back of their minds. Start off with simpler tasks. Apply the 80/20 rule: focus on the 20% work that will generate 80% of the result.
Carroll Bryant, blogger and poet known for Last Flight Out and Children of the Flower Power, says:
“Don’t bite off more than you can chew because nobody looks attractive spitting it back out.”
Create a to-do-list
To keep your staff members’ in check, ask them to create a to-do-list. This list should include daily, weekly, and monthly tasks.
To-do-lists help us stay focused on the important tasks and avoid getting sidetracked by other temptations.
Adam Savage, the American special effects designer and television personality, says:
“Mostly I make lists for projects. This can be daunting. Breaking something big into its constituent parts will help you organize your thoughts, but it can also force you to confront the depth of your ignorance and the hugeness of the task. That’s OK. The project may be the lion, but the list is your whip.”
Avoid over-planning
Careful planning increases a project’s chances of survival but it can easily lead managers to fall in the well-known trap known as over-planning. Too many details can overwhelm the staff members and paralyze ideas.
George Patton, a General of the United States Army, said:
“A good plan implemented today is better than a perfect plan implemented tomorrow.”
Use meetings effectively
Meetings can be helpful but only when they’re productive. Many a time, meetings can prove counterproductive as they take time away from actually getting some work done. To make meetings as productive as possible, managers should:
- Only meet if they absolutely have to
- Set a time limit
- Ask staff members to prepare in advance
William Goldman, the American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter, said:
“Whoever invented the meeting must have had Hollywood in mind. I think they should consider giving Oscars for meetings: Best Meeting of the Year, Best Supporting Meeting, Best Meeting Based on Material from Another Meeting.”
Get rid of distractions
As we previously mentioned, distractions like mobile phones are proving to be a big headache for managers. Staff members constantly use their phones at work, going through their social media feed. This results in decreased productivity. Restricting the use of devices like mobile phones during work hours will increase an employee’s focus and productivity in the long run.
Jack Canfield, the co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, says:
“Successful people maintain a positive focus in life no matter what is going on around them. They stay focused on their past successes rather than their past failures, and on the next action steps they need to take to get them closer to the fulfillment of their goals rather than all the other distractions that life presents to them.”
Consider installing an employee monitoring tool
Modern problems require modern solutions. Monitoring tools are one such solution that can help staff members stay focused on work. They can also allow managers to observe the daily progression of their employees. Lots of well-established employee monitoring software are currently in the market. Each tool offers different features and services.
Before buying a time monitoring software, make a list of must-have features. Take some input from staff members as well. After the list is complete, start your search. Make sure to buy the software that ticks all or most of your boxes.
Conclusion
These are just some ways that can help managers keep their staff members focused. Every manager’s style is different. What works for some might not work for others so don’t be afraid of trying different methods.
