By John Paschall, Servant Leader 

Wherever You Are…Be All There

You and I live in a society and a world obsessed with multi-tasking – doing more with less, and doing more and more and more all at the same time.  We are ALL guilty of this.  See if any of these strike “close to home” with you.

At work, how many of these have you tried to do at the same time?

*  read e-mail

*  answer e-mail

*  talk to a co-worker in your office

*  listen in on a conference call

*  try to finish your lunch

*  text a friend or family member

*  work on a report

*  review a report for an upcoming meeting.

If you checked all eight, you do NOT win the prize today!

In the car, how many of these have you tried to do at the same time?

*  drive

*  listen to the radio, cd, etc.

*  try to change the radio, cd, etc.

*  talk to someone else in the car

*  listen in on a conference call

*  read e-mail

*  answer e-mail

*  eat your lunch

*  text

*  read a report

*  read the paper

*  complete your personal grooming

*  discipline your kids

Let’s all be honest…most of us have tried to do at least six of these during a normal commute to work or while traveling between offices.

We could certainly engage now in a conversation about safe driving or how to work more efficiently in the office.  There is no doubt that we fill our schedules so full, both at work and at home, that to even have a chance to keep up, we feel pressured to do at least three things at once…all the time….all day long.  Many of us claim to be experts at multi-tasking and thus become experts at getting more items checked off of our list each day.

Can we really be honest with each other?  The fact is, that despite our assertions to the contrary, as humans we are truly only able to completely focus and give our undivided attention to ONE INDIVIDUAL thing at a time.  So if we are constantly shifting our focus between 6 things every 10 seconds, how efficient and effective can we really be? 

I can say this because I’m guilty.  Guilty at the office.  Guilty at home. Guilty in the car.  Yes! I am a chronic multi-tasker.

I know that some of our jobs require us to quickly move from one item or issue to another.  Believe me, I understand.  Every day our Package Sorting Operations at UPS were a 3-4 hour exercise in controlled chaos.  Sometimes our office environments may seem to be the same.  Just for a moment however, will you allow me to be the voice of reason?

One of the most insidious affects of chronic multi-tasking is that it can make us TERRIBLE LISTENERS.  If we become terrible listeners, guess what?  We become TERRIBLE COMMUNICATORS.  I have seen myself fall into this trap when co-workers and colleagues step into my office.  Sometimes I have to physically force myself to stop what I’m doing, put it down, and physically focus on the person who has stepped in to discuss some important point.

When we fail to listen and fail to communicate effectively, we can easily then, fail to be good servants and good leaders.  How does it make our co-workers and employees feel when we are constantly busy while they are speaking to us and WE NEVER LOOK AT THEM?  Does that validate or invalidate them and what they have to say?  Does it make them feel better or worse?  Does it make them feel valued or discounted?

Our kids have a great way of handling this.  For a very young child, if they are speaking but they cannot see your face, they feel that you are not paying attention to them or hearing what they are saying.  So what do they do?  They will grab our face with both hands and turn it so that they can see you and you can see them…says a lot doesn’t it?  Thank goodness our employees don’t do that – there would be a lot of daily face-grabbing!

I know we are all busy. I know that we lead busy lives.  Despite that, wherever we are, let’s work to be ALL THERE – fully engaged in the moment, fully listening and looking at the person who is speaking and fully investing in the person and the moment – not only to get all we can out of it, but also to give all we can to the person and to the situation.

Here is the secret benefit – if you will do this on a regular basis, some incredible things will happen:

*  your family, friends, spouse, and others will feel more valued

*  you will actually enjoy each moment of the day more

*  you will be less stressed throughout the day and at the end of the day

*  you will get twice as much out of every conversation because you will have fully listened to the other person, picked up on their tone of voice, body language, etc.

*  you will make your fellow employees and co-workers feel as if you have listened and heard them completely – and you have!

*  You will avoid potential problems of miscommunication.  You will solve problems more quickly. People will be convinced that you are a great communicator and they will connect with you more easily and completely.  I will even bet that you will make more sales and close more deals!

Practice it this month.  Where ever you are and whatever you are doing – be all there!  Let me know what happens.  My hunch is, you will be amazed by the results!

Best wishes as you continue to build your better business.  Call us whenever we can help and have a great month!