We can totally tell you are distracted

A little bit of leadership guidance and old-fashioned, respectful, common sense.

Most of us are very aware of the impact of distractions when we are in the physical workplace.

• If Jenny is presenting and Johanna picks up her phone, both are usually aware pretty quickly of the disrespect to Jenny in that moment.
• If John and Johanna are talking in the hall afterwards and Johanna suddenly opens her notebook and starts reading her notes from 3 days ago about something completely unrelated, we recognise that distraction as not professional.
• If John is deep in concentration writing a report and Jim shouts for him from the other side of the floor, we can tell that’s distracting!

And yet, in the virtual environment I often see people get distracted and keep behaving from what seems to be an assumption that no one will notice. Trust me folks, they notice! When you’re in the meeting and a notification pops up and you just quickly reply to that email – the other people in the meeting notice. Even if you don’t have your camera on, we can hear in your voice that your focus has shifted elsewhere. When you’re listening to someone else present, but you’re actually looking at your own slides for the next meeting, we can see and hear that you’re not really listening. If you’re asking someone a question and then immediately focus on the other screen, we can see that you’re not waiting for the answer.

And a big warning – if you’re wearing glasses, we can often see the reflection of the screen that shows us your attention is elsewhere!

Attention is one of your most precious resources as a professional and it is your responsibility to choose where that attention goes.

• If you only need to be in part of the meeting, excuse yourself and choose to put your attention elsewhere.
• If you don’t need to be there, pay attention to figuring out who does, and effectively communicate why you won’t be attending.
• If something is genuinely urgent, communicate that with your peers and excuse yourself. If it’s not, switch off those distractions and choose your focus.
• If you are using your second screen for notetaking, let people know that. 
• If you are distracted by animals / deliveries / random machines suddenly screeching outside your window – hey, that’s the real-life vulnerability we have learned to love about the virtual environment – and we can manage it!

Communicate your distraction with respect and choose where you put your attention next.
Please, stop convincing yourself that you can quickly answer this and no one will notice. We notice, and it does have an impact.