Strategies for Creating a Focused Team Environment

Leaders waste more energy on divided focus than any other activity. I learned this the hard way in the SEAL Teams. During a training evolution, I was juggling radio communications, coordinating multiple teams, and making split-second calls. And I wasn’t doing any of it well. My commanding officer pulled me aside: "Mac, you're everywhere and nowhere. Focus or you'll miss the critical moment." He was right. I was spread so thin I couldn't see the patterns emerging right in front of me. This isn't just a military problem. I see it daily with my executive clients: → Scanning emails during strategy discussions → Mentally rehearsing a presentation while their team shares crucial updates → Attention bouncing between five urgent problems, solving none completely The cost isn't just productivity. Your leadership presence evaporates. Your team's trust erodes. In high-performance environments, attention isn't just a resource. It's your competitive advantage. When you focus fully: → You notice micro-expressions that signal team tension → You spot connections between seemingly unrelated data points → You make decisions from clarity rather than reaction Most leaders know this. Few practice it consistently. The difference isn't knowledge, it's discipline. The solution isn't complicated: 1. Practice intentional monotasking. Whatever deserves your attention deserves your FULL attention. 2. Create attention boundaries. Block time for deep work with zero notifications. 3. Build a daily mindfulness practice. Even 5 minutes trains your focus muscle. 4. Batch-process inputs. Schedule specific times for email and updates rather than letting them hijack your entire day. In my 17+ years as a SEAL, the leaders I trusted most weren't just the smartest or toughest. They were the ones who could maintain complete presence amidst chaos. They showed up fully. Their attention wasn't divided. Their focus created a gravity that pulled teams together. What deserves your full attention today? ——— Follow me (Jon Macaskill ) for leadership insights, wellness tools, and real stories about humans being good humans. And feel free to repost if someone in your life needs to hear this. 📩 Subscribe to my newsletter here → https://lnkd.in/g9ZFxDJG You'll get FREE access to my 21-Day Mindfulness & Meditation Course with real, actionable strategies.

Why Leaders Must Put Down Their Phones—And What to Do About It We check our phones dozens of times a day, but the real cost isn’t just lost time—it’s lost leadership. Groundbreaking research from The University of Texas at Austin and others shows that just having your phone nearby—even if it’s off—reduces your brain’s available cognitive capacity and focus. 💡 Participants who had their phones in another room scored up to 11% better on cognitive tests than those who had their phones on the desk. For leaders, this “brain drain” is especially dangerous. When your attention is fragmented by your phone, you: • Miss subtle cues from your team • Struggle to make high-quality decisions • Model distracted behavior that your team will copy • Undermine trust and presence—key ingredients for influence and inspiration Constant phone use also stunts leadership development. When you’re always available, your team becomes dependent on you for every decision, stifling both their growth and yours. 💡 Research shows phone distractions can lower work efficiency by up to 20% and increase error rates after interruptions by over 20%. What Can Leaders Do Right Now? ↳ Keep Your Phone Out of Sight: Place your phone in a drawer or another room during deep work or meetings. Out of sight, out of mind. ↳ Turn Off Non-Essential Notifications: Mute all but critical alerts to reduce temptation and interruptions. ↳ Schedule Phone-Free Work Blocks: Set specific times for focused, phone-free work. Use timers or “focus mode” features. ↳ Model Digital Discipline: Show your team what real presence looks like. Be fully engaged in conversations and meetings—no phones allowed. ↳ Create “No-Phone” Zones: Establish clear boundaries for device use during meetings, brainstorming sessions, and one-on-ones. ↳ Use Technology to Fight Technology: Leverage apps that block distractions or track your phone usage to build better habits. ↳ Take Real Breaks: Encourage yourself and your team to take breaks without phones—go for a walk, journal, or connect face-to-face. Leadership in 2025 demands more than multitasking and constant connectivity. It requires deep focus, presence, and the ability to inspire others—qualities that can be eroded by unchecked phone use. The science is precise: putting down your phone is one of the simplest, most powerful ways to reclaim your leadership edge. Follow Joshua Miller for more tips on coaching, leadership, career + mindset. #leadership #executivecoaching #technology #mindset

Back-to-back meetings can crush your week. Your calendar is packed.  Your focus is shredded. Your 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 work slides to Friday. What if one weekday had ZERO meetings? 🟢 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀: → No-Meeting Wednesday is a team rule. → One day with no standing meetings. → Use it for deep work, planning, and decisions. → Plenty of companies try one focus day each week. → They report more output and calmer teams. 🔵 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀: → Less bouncing between tasks. → Better thinking time. → Cleaner handoffs. → Less burnout risk. → You finish the work you start. 🟣 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝘁: → Pick the day and protect it on the shared calendar. → Set the rules: no recurring meetings, emergencies only. → Shift updates to async notes or a short Loom. → Limit Slack and email pings. Try quiet hours. Measure results: docs shipped, stories closed, decisions made. Review individual wins in the next staff meeting. ▶️ 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀: Lead by example. If leaders book over it, the team will too. Give a script for pushback: “Let’s move this to Thursday. Wednesday is for focused delivery.” Start with a 4-week test. Survey the team. Keep what works. ▶️ 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿-𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 Try a split: meetings before 11, focus after. Or rotate the day by function. If you work across time zones, protect one shared block for focus and schedule meetings outside that block. ▶️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 → Draft the compensation plan. → Build a headcount model. → Clean your SOPs. → Write tough messages with care. → Ship one thing that moves the business. Would your team commit to one meeting-free day each week? #HR #DeepWork #Productivity ♻️ I appreciate 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 repost. 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝗥 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀? Visit my profile and join my newsletter for weekly tips to elevate your career! Stephanie Adams, SPHR #Adamshr #Hrprofessionals #humanresources #HR #hrcommunity Adams HR Consulting