HR Weekly Digest - Distractions

DISTRACTION
Definitions: “The process of diverting the attention of an individual or group from a desired area of
focus and thereby blocking or diminishing the reception of desired information”
One major requirement for individual or group effectiveness is focus. It is only when one is focused
that one can realize distraction. Focus is vital for both individuals and organizations performances. The
silent killer of focus is distraction, and it comes in different guises- people, opinions, events, etc., they
are major forms and avenues of distraction or can be otherwise referred to as distractors.
At individual level, people, opinions, events, and various enticing activities asking for your time and
other resources, but are antithetical to your goals and objectives could be the distractions you must
guard against. The same applies at the organizational or corporate level.
Some Distractions can have far reaching and dire consequences to the individual or group, for
instance, student mixing cultism with studying, and Eve listening to the serpent in Eden.
Depending on whom you are and what you want to achieve, the following can be distractions:
1. People related: provocations, discussions not connected to your goal, discouraging words and
comments, unconstructive arguments, nagging, complaints
Solution: Never take immediate decision at the face of such occurrences; otherwise, you might risk
your focus.
2. Event related: side attractions, excuses, disappointment, interruptions, news.
Solution: when they show up, take your mind off them as quickly as possible, and give attention to
things that matter at the moment.
Overcoming Distractions: Define your personal or official targets daily, and have a To-Do list for a
guide. You can assign time frame to those deliverables, even when nobody supervises you with them.
You will hardly have important pending(s) on your desk, except if such was not communicated to you
before.
Prioritize, using the following guide: Important + urgent; urgent – important; important – urgent; in
allocating your time and other resources daily, monthly or even annually.
Never leave for tomorrow what could be done today. It helps you to keep a clean desk as well as
saves you from being under avoidable pressure.
Appraise yourself regularly, and run your mind on your targets to remind yourself of tasks and
agreements you may have missed.
Discipline yourself emotionally, so you curtail inappropriate actions and reactions since you may need
to work with people whose views and interests are different from yours.