Editorial
In the realm of knowledge work, focus is hailed as a cornerstone of productivity. “Distraction is a destroyer of depth," wrote Cal Newport in his book Deep Work.
On the other hand, connection and exploration is equally lauded. “Everyone is digging deeper into their own trench and rarely standing up to look in the next trench over, even though the solution to their problem happens to reside there,” according to Daniel Epstein.
We've all heard about the importance of deep work, staying “heads down” and achieving flow state, but we're also keenly aware of the value of staying connected and engaged with our colleagues and organizations, as well as the industries we work in. It's a challenge many of us face daily. Ultimately, two things can be true at the same time in our modern workplaces:
- Information overload has undermined our ability to focus.
- Innovation requires connection, exploration and serendipity.
How do we navigate the equally valid and sometimes contradictory needs for deep work and meaningful connections at work?
Fighting for Focus
Knowledge workers want to do their jobs well with minimal stress and noise. Digital distractions are a well-established threat to focus. Evidence that constant connectivity and input threatens our health and happiness continues to emerge; multitasking, meeting-filled calendars and constant notifications contribute to stress and burnout. An OpenText study published in 2022 revealed that eight in ten (80%) respondents were experiencing information overload, driven by factors including constant information input and app sprawl. And a Gartner statistic cited in Harvard Business Review found that 38% of employees receive an “excessive” amount of communications within their organization.
Related Article: Stop the Endless Chatter on Messaging Apps
The Case for Connection
However, deep work is not the zenith for employees. They're also looking for a different kind of “deep” — real emotional and intellectual connection. They want to feel like they're contributing to their organization's vision and projects. According to Gallup, a sense of connection with colleagues, even the notion of having a best friend at work, is critical to job satisfaction.
Furthermore, today's knowledge workers aren’t just punching the clock. They want to learn, grow and explore new horizons. Staying in the loop, knowing what's happening in the organization and the industry, is important to them and their career development. They rightly sense that tunnel vision can hold them back from developing new skills and growing professionally. We also know that knowledge workers thrive on the wisdom of their colleagues from all corners of the company, and that mentorship and shared knowledge matter.
The Balance
Organizations that implement strategies to optimize attention, minimize distractions and foster meaningful engagement are more likely to thrive. Balance is key. So how do we get this right?
First and foremost, leadership must define and communicate values and priorities. Otherwise, it's impossible to decide how to create and control the organization's internal attention economy.
Leadership must also invest carefully toward anything that is going to compete for the attention of employees. Initiatives and change are costly, both in terms of development and in terms of the attention economy. Can we set guardrails without hampering exploration and moonshot ideas? Organizations must truly listen to employees and recognize that priorities should be influenced by grassroots efforts. It's important to acknowledge that some people will want to invest in deep work, even at the expense of connection, and vice versa.
If we're operating in an environment governed by clear priorities and expectations, and we acknowledge the needs of different types of thinkers, we are well positioned to create a thriving and purposeful attention economy within the organization.
Digital Workplace Design: Practical Tips
What are some practical tips for balancing focus and connection? Let’s explore some commonly occurring connection mechanisms, and how we can design them to protect focus.
Connection mechanism: Knowledge hubs
A knowledge hub is a dynamic and interactive digital platform or space where an organization's knowledge, expertise and resources are consolidated, curated and shared. They can be browsed or searched. Effectively designed knowledge hubs are portals into the shared digital brain of the organization.
To protect focus when designing a knowledge hub, align the search and browse function with existing organizational frameworks, and take care not to introduce new or competing frameworks. Support employees in their quest to find the right information at the right time through controlled vocabularies, search tuning and robust resource description.
Connection mechanism: Instant messaging apps
Instant messaging apps in the organization serve as real-time communication tools, enabling employees to exchange messages, collaborate and seek quick answers to work-related queries. These apps streamline communication and facilitate rapid decision-making, enhancing team connectivity and productivity.
To protect focus, establish communication norms, such as the definition of urgent and non-urgent message needs. Encourage employees to use status settings to indicate when they have entered focus time and should not be disturbed.
Connection mechanism: Digital discussion forums
Virtual forums allow employees to connect asynchronously with others; these forums may exist through Teams, Viva Engage Communities, Slack Channels and more. Forums provide opportunities for relationship building, serendipitous discovery, silo busting and knowledge transfer.
To protect focus, allow employees to select the communities that are most meaningful to them. Communities should offer rules of engagement, including clarity about the type of posts that are encouraged and within scope. Employees should be empowered to select their notification preferences.
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Connection mechanism: Email newsletters
Internal email newsletters are commonly used within organizations to disseminate updates, important information and announcements to employees. They keep the workforce informed about company news, events, and relevant developments.
To protect focus, define the cadence and set clear expectations about the type of content included. Target your email communications to ensure that only pertinent messages are sent.
Connection mechanism: Intranet homepage
An intranet homepage is the central web-based hub within a company's private network, often serving as the main entry point for employees to access the digital workplace. The intranet homepage provides quick access to essential news, opportunities and information relevant to employees.
To protect focus, frequent updates are needed to ensure that the homepage content does not become static noise. When supported by the intranet platform, audience targeting reduces the presence of distracting, irrelevant content.
Connection mechanism: Knowledge share meetings
Knowledge share meetings are scheduled gatherings where employees come together to exchange expertise, insights and experiences. These meetings allow individuals to share valuable knowledge, learn from their peers and collaboratively contribute to the organization's collective learning and growth.
To protect focus, attempt to share knowledge in regularly scheduled sessions, avoiding one-off sessions that can contribute to meeting creep. Offer a clear meeting purpose and ensure that the topics are not outside the scope of the meeting series. Provide agendas so that attendees can decide which meetings are most valuable to them. Avoid too many organization-wide invites, and instead allow employees to opt in to a recurring meeting series.
Related Article: Designing a New Rhythm of Collaboration for the Modern Workplace
Conclusion
In the evolving landscape of knowledge work, the delicate equilibrium between deep focus and meaningful connections is not just a challenge but a dynamic opportunity. Organizations that master this balance, recognizing the nuanced needs of diverse thinkers and aligning strategies with clear priorities, can cultivate a thriving attention economy. As we explore tips for harmonizing focus and connection, it becomes evident that the future of productive knowledge work lies in the skillful navigation of these dual imperatives — a journey that promises not only efficiency but also a deeper sense of purpose and collaborative innovation in the workplace.
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