The Silent Skill: Managing Attention in a Distracted Workplace

In an era of constant notifications and endless meetings, attention has become one of the most valuable resources for any team. Great managers know how to protect and direct their team’s attention toward high-impact work.

Signs attention is being lost:

• Projects stalling due to multitasking.

• Team members constantly switching priorities.

• Meetings that feel unproductive or unclear.

How to manage attention effectively:

1. Limit context switching—group similar tasks together.

2. Set “focus hours” with no meetings or interruptions.

3. Make priorities visible so everyone knows what matters most.

4. Lead by example—model focused, distraction-free work yourself.

Attention management isn’t about doing more—it’s about protecting the mental bandwidth needed for meaningful progress.