What I’m noticing is my ever-decreasing attention span when I’m doing ‘deep thinking’ kind of work. It’s been a gradual creep and now I’m admitting I am easily distracted and if I’m not careful, I’m checking LinkedIn (because that’s work related hey!) or FB or Insta or the family chat or the news app or….something….anything!!! Not because I’m looking for anything in particular. Don’t worry I’ve analysed that – is it I’m looking for connection? Inspiration? Motivation? Distraction?
What I think it’s about is an unconscious need for (or reliance on) action and constant activity. And as a result, my deep thinking muscle has atrophied.
And I’m not alone. A number of my coaching clients have recently shared a similar struggle. They’re in back-to-back meetings every day and when they do have space, they feel restless. The quiet is too quiet and the work that actually matters is too slow to feel productive. It all feels hard and they get caught up in the simple things they can tick off the to do list.
Sound familiar?
My take is that the “back-to-back” culture we’ve created might look productive on paper, but it’s eroding our ability to think deeply, strategically, and creatively – the exact mindset leaders need right now.
So, I’m rebuilding my deep work muscle – slowly and consciously. If this resonates, you may want to try my experiments too. I’ve also noted a couple of books you might find helpful at the end of this newsletter.
Here’s what I’m experimenting with:
- Phone in another room. I keep my Apple Watch on for urgent calls or texts, but the phone stays out of reach and Do not Disturb is on when needed.
- Block time and set goals. I’m protecting 90-minute blocks for writing and thinking. Each block has a focus and a goal (word count, decision made, concept clarified).
- “Defrag” before I begin. A 10-minute breath practice or slow walk before a deep work session. Like rebooting the nervous system.
- Rewriting my self-talk. I’ve stopped saying “this should be easy” and started saying “this matters enough to deserve effort.”
It takes discipline to be free from distraction and some days are better than others. But I am noticing real shifts in the quality of my thinking and the quality of my presence.
In other news…
EOFY is looming and I’m seeing a different energy this year. More of my clients are locking in their Team Alignment Offsites now – some paying early to use remaining budget, others securing dates with invoices in July. Either works.
What I’m really noticing is that these leaders know that now is the time to re-set their teams.
Because:
- Complexity is increasing
- Markets are moving fast
- And there’s no room for misalignment at the top
These leaders are aligning their teams around purpose, sharpening focus on 5 (not 25) priorities, and consciously shaping the culture they want their teams to embody.
One client said to me recently:
“It’s a gamble. But we have to pull out all stops in this market, and I can’t see how else we’ll deliver [to our parent company] if I don’t upskill the leadership and set clear parameters for how we operate as a team.”
I assured him, it’s not a gamble. It’s a strategic decision. And it’s exactly what high-performing leadership teams are doing right now.
If you want to talk about how to set your team up for success in FY26, I’m here, book a time to chat. Let’s make sure your team isn’t just busy, but aligned, focused, and ready to lead.