05/08/2024
In my journey as a Growth Acceleration Coach for IT Professionals, I have worked with hundreds of IT professionals and discovered a common challenge: "I am unable to work with focus on any given task and that causes stress."
This issue arises due to numerous parallel activities: incoming email notifications, messages on Teams chats, phone calls, and social media alerts, among others. Working in such an environment certainly leads to feelings of overwhelm and stress. However, I have found three quick steps that can help you work with focus and concentration, get more done, and feel satisfied with your output:
Step 1: Create a Sense of Urgency
Before starting any task, decide on the tentative time it will take to complete and note this in your notebook along with the start time (e.g., 9:30 am, 10:30 am). You can use any app like Pomodoro to remind you of the urgency or can simply use timer in the computer.
Step 2: Eliminate Distractions
Set up 'Busy' or 'Do Not Disturb' mode on Teams (if you're using Microsoft tools), put your phone on mute, turn off notifications, or switch to flight mode. Creating a distraction-free environment is crucial. For instance, one of my clients, a software developer, found that silencing notifications during coding sessions significantly improved his productivity and reduced errors.
Step 3: Begin Working with 100% Focus
Start working on the task with full focus without worrying about what is happening around you. One of my coaching clients, a project manager, shared how dedicating time blocks to critical tasks helped him complete projects ahead of schedule and with higher quality. By immersing yourself completely in the task at hand, you engage deeply and produce better results.
By following these three steps, you will notice a significant change in your performance and how you feel about your work. You'll be more productive, less stressed, and more satisfied with your output.
Ready to unlock your potential and achieve performance excellence? Drop me a message for a Clarity/Discover Call.