Finding focus in a busy virtual world

“Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings” said Jane Austen in Mansfield Park

In my first blog I talked about the beginning of the first lockdown all those months ago now; I wrote that many people had time to reflect and focus on what was important.  The flip side of this is that an awful lot of people have been busier than ever. No break, no boundaries and limited human contact outside of immediate family. Whilst some rules have relaxed and many of us have made the most of spending time with friends and extended family, for most office professionals the human (in-person) connection is still missing.  I know that I certainly miss having time face to face with others at work.

Without a return to the office any time soon, how can we make sure that we continue to focus on what is important and also focus on the human element that is critical for keeping people engaged and motivated at work?

I have heard so much recently that people are “living at work” and the daily grind it starting to take its toll.  The number one for me is to make time for connection.  There are no longer “water cooler conversations” where we get a chance to check in on people or have that informal chat about what we are thinking, sense checking or debating ideas.

I hear frequently that whilst technology has been superb at keeping things moving and even new ways of working created, people are tired of the screen.  For those of us that used to commute, we have also lost that time where our mind would wander, often mulling over strategies or plans for the week or day ahead.

Coaching requires people to make time in their schedule. It is not always easy, there are always pressing or urgent matters to deal with.  However, every time, at the end of a coaching session individuals are glad that they carved out the time for the conversation.  Coaching helps to clarify thinking, focus thoughts, and prioritise what next.  Coaching serves to motivate and boost energy.

If there is one thing that people need right now, it’s energy.

We all need energy to lead, energy to think differently and energy to focus on what really matters.  Even if you think best when you are on your own, the support and wisdom of a colleague can often help you to validate or refine your own thinking.

As Nancy Klein says “A manager’s ability to turn meetings into a thinking environment is probably an organisation’s greatest asset”.

So how do we do this when we can’t physically get together? What needs to happen to give permission for people to carve out time to connect and think in this virtual working world?

Even before this global pandemic, busyness was often taken as a sign of status, with a culture of long hours in many organisations to prove capabilities. In a time when jobs are at risk and people feel insecure the natural tendency is often to work more, focus on “doing” and less time spent “thinking”.

An article by Harvard Business Review in 2018 summarised the work of Martin Reeves et al. “How to regain the lost art of reflection”.  It highlighted that improving the quality of your ideas requires unstructured, reflective thinking.

Great ideas and innovative thinking rarely arise from looking at a screen

Ideas come from the random conversations, the thought in the shower or on the commute to / from work. When your desk is literally a few steps away from your bedroom and you don’t see people to bounce ideas around you need to find ways to re-create this space.

The truth is, we have to schedule the time. This may feel more formal and forced but it is the only way in this busy virtual world that we can take a step back and work out if we are heading in the right direction or focusing our time on the right activities. If we do not, there is a danger that we will end up, as Jane Austen summed up, in “a quick succession of busy nothings”.

It is also worth considering how you have the conversation; does it have to be in front of a screen looking at each other? Could you have a telephone conversation, or better still, take the telephone conversation outside, so that you each get some fresh air whilst you talk?

Just recently I had the privilege of completing one of my Advanced Coaching modules outside in Richmond Park with Damion Wonfor at Catalyst 14.  We were reminded of the power that green space and fresh air can have on your thinking and well-being, all so important as we move into the winter months, for most of us continuing to live and work in the same environment.

Over the summer I discovered that I could paddle board on the Thames close to home. Whilst this is not official work time, I often find myself thinking through challenges or opportunities at work; I know for my husband that running has the same effect for him.

Think about your schedule and what works for you.  Build in time for 1-2-1 conversations and thinking; and remember, that time doesn’t have to be at your desk to be valuable. In fact, you are likely to be more productive if you spend some of your working day at somewhere other than at your desk!