In the 24 / 7 world we live in, it is commonplace to multitask.
For example, an employee comes into your office and you continue writing your email while listening to what they say.
But are you really engaged?
Research shows there is no such thing as multitasking. In fact, those who think they are the best at multitasking are the worst at doing more than one thing at a time. Take a look at an everyday activity like driving. If you just layer on one more thing, such as listening to the radio, the amount of attention or brain bandwidth going toward driving decreases by about 37%. Consequently, you are not multitasking. You have in fact reduced the amount of attention you are now paying to your driving.
You cannot do two tasks at the same level of expertise at the same time. One task is eventually going to suffer. Imagine someone reading their text messages as they walk along the street. (I know you are grinning, as I am, thinking of this image.) I have seen people fall off the sidewalk, trip over a crack in the road, walk into a pole, or worse, walk into oncoming traffic.
As such, you may find yourself becoming preoccupied with a deadline, checking the time to ensure you are not late to an up-coming meeting, or scrutinizing your phone over a text message while an employee is in your office. A leader coach knows the importance of staying focused.
Instead, listen and observe. In this way you pick up the cues, (both verbal and nonverbal), the employee is displaying that will help you coach them. When you are engaged, you instinctively perceive things that are not explicitly said. It may be the employee’s facial expression, body language, or tone of voice that will communicate how they are feeling or whether they are committed to the course of action. When you stay in the moment and remain focused, you pick up additional information that will help you be an effective leader coach.
When you find yourself multitasking when interacting with an employee or team member, take a moment to stop, listen and observe. This is how a leader coach leads by example.
SAGE Alliance, a Leadership Performance Company; provides executive coaching, team-building, industry leading assessments, workshops and speaking on topics including: building a high-performing team through coaching, developing and optimizing your top talent, delivering commanding communications, creating a lasting impression, making a greater impact through personal branding for executives and high-potentials – for both team and individual leaders.
Shelley Hammell, is the president, CEO and author of You Think You’re Coaching, But You’re Not! available HERE, and is available for book signings and speaking engagements.