I read an article recently while researching the best headphones for online meetings. I’m not a ‘listen to music’ guy, so I typically only use headphones for online meetings. The author of the article thought of everything to help me find the right technology: earbuds or headphones, wired or wireless, how I will use them, what devices I will connect to, and what control options I need. Honestly, I was most interested in quality and price. After I made my decision, I purchased the headphones that the author convinced me I needed. And so far, they have been a nice upgrade from what I had used in the past. As I was preparing to charge them for upcoming meetings, I realized that headphones have a lot in common with great leaders.
The headphones reminded me of two essential principles in leadership:
GREAT LEADERS KNOW WHEN TO BLOCK OUT THE NOISE.
There are moments when leaders need to block out the literal noise around them to get things done. You’ve been there, a crowded coffee shop, a busy airport, or even an office set up with too many extroverts “collaborating.” Sometimes it’s the literal noise that we need to block out. But there’s also the noise many leaders hear all around them when they make decisions. There are always skeptics and doubters, and those who seem to question every decision. This is not always bad, and I am in no way advocating for leaders working only in isolation. I once heard a leader say that those who can’t be questioned will end up doing questionable things. We all need the wisdom of those around us. But there are times when leaders need to know when to block out the noise so they can execute on the right decisions.
Like many leaders, I faced difficult decisions during 2020 as the world navigated a pandemic. What made decisions most difficult during this season of my leadership was the plethora of voices choosing to speak into the issue. In my organization, the decisions I would make would impact many people and many families. And many of these people were listening to government officials, local experts, and others who were unqualified to speak on such a problematic issue. I remember moments when I had to shut out external noise, trust my decision-making, and make the best decision I could for those I was leading.
Great leaders know when to block out the noise because they recognize the impact of their decisions. What rhythms are in place in your leadership that enable you to block out the noise when necessary? What are the practical ways you block out the noise in your leadership?
GREAT LEADERS HAVE A PLAN WHEN THEY NEED TO FOCUS.
My two oldest children are now in college, but I can remember back to their days studying for exams in high school. I was always amazed at how they could focus on their studies while music played on their AirPods. For me, that would be an impossible task. When I need complete focus in my work, I have to eliminate as much background noise and distraction as possible.
There is extensive research on finding the right time for focus and concentration at work. One of my favorite subject matter experts on focus is author and podcaster Carey Nieuwhof. In his book At Your Best: How to Get Time, Energy, and Priorities Working in Your Favor, he writes, “As I studied top performers, I realized they moved way past time management and were highly focused on managing not just their time but their energy. Usually, they had one thing in common: they did what they were best at when they were at their best.”
Nieuwhof argues that there are premium times in a leader’s day when they are at their best for making decisions. Once a leader locks in on the practice of making decisions when they are at their best, they will recognize they are making more focused decisions. The most concentrated leaders are those who remember when they are at their best, and have a plan for making big decisions in that window of focus.
Author and speaker Daniel Pink provides additional scientific evidence on the subject of focus. In his book When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, he writes, “99% of us cannot multi-task.” And when it comes to decision-making as leaders, we need to know when to focus, and our attempts at multitasking often rob us of the clarity of mind we need. Great leaders have a plan when they need to focus. They recognize that they are at their best with great clarity at certain times of the day. They know how to block out the noise and position themselves to give their full focus to their work.
How are you doing as a leader? Can you block out the noise when necessary and give your full focus to your work? Most great leaders work with people and, in doing so, recognize the importance of collaboration and teamwork. But high-level leaders know when to block out the noise and focus. And the ability to do so rightly positions leaders for success.
Cal Newport, author, professor, and foremost thinker in the area of focus, writes about the science of focus in his book, Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World. He explains that what we choose to focus on and what we choose to ignore plays in defining the quality of our life.
Learning to block out the noise and fully focus on what’s most important does more than define your work; it defines your quality of life. And like a great pair of headphones, great leaders know when to block out the noise and focus on what matters most.
Maclane Forbus 