Written by: Janet Macaluso, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Have you ever complained about busy work distracting you from strategic, high-impact projects and planning? You’re not alone!
Responding to emails, daily fire-fighting problems, or jumping from one thing to another are often attempts to clear disorder in our frenetic 21st-century lives.
However, an emotional unease lies underneath the surface of constant busyness - a distraction-prone monkey-mind interfering with important leadership work. Consequently, we jump to the flurry of "Whack-A-Mole" alternatives.
Here's the problem. A Clearing Disorder slowly steals away energy, time, and focus unless we practice deliberate Self-Observation and Self-Management. Unintentionally, we drain our power to make constructive change and impact in the world. The beneficiaries of our strategic work - the very people and causes that could benefit - miss out on our potentially game-changing plans, ideas, and options.
"Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years." - Bill Gates
The root cause of a Clearing Disorder? We're often carrying around undetected low-level anxiety. Consequently, fear-based emotions and fretfulness drive behaviors, decisions, and attention.
Undiagnosed, a Clearing Disorder is like a secret co-signer on your bank account. It withdraws our influence capital, robbing the world of the value our disciplined work can offer.
Take Chad, for example. Several years back, I saw this play out during a series of leadership workshops we co-facilitated. Before participants arrived, Chad would enter the conference room and consistently fret about the setup. Rushing around the room, he'd fine-tune the tables and chairs – a smidge to the left or right.
Eventually, I asked him about his auto-pilot behavior.
Upon his reflection, it became evident: Chad had pre-public speaking nervousness! Reshuffling the room setup was an unconscious attempt to "clear the disorder" of his inner anxiety.
The Best Prevention? Early detection.
Might an undetected Clearing Disorder hamper your success? To assess your risk, conduct a self-screening test.
Ask yourself, "Do I..."
Rely on the WYSIWYD prioritization system — What You See Is What You Do?
Interrupt important work projects by checking my inbox or texts?
Lack energy or time to focus on the critical projects?
If you see yourself in this behavior, don't worry—below are three ways to support you.
1. Psychological Preparation. Manage emotional energy.
Identify the best pre-work activity — meditation, yoga, walking, running, etc., to raise or lower your Chi (energy)
Make a list of all the things taking up headspace
Clear your physical space — close the door, turn off phone and notifications
Boost your ambiance — a pot of green tea, soft music, noise-canceling headphones
2. Creation, not ReaCtion – Where do you place the "C"?
Remember that every time you delay the gratification of distracting yourself, you're strengthening your neuro-network connections for more vital self-discipline, which build other healthy habits
Check out "Got Impulse Control?" article for more information
If you're a leader, consider whether you ask your team to make changes or acquire extra information to manage your anxiety
3. Evaluate Your Focus.
For a week, assess how you spent blocks of time - mornings, afternoon, evenings
Dedicate a specific percentage on deep work – days, weeks, months, quarters, years
Take frequent breaks to conserve physical and mental energy
With these strategies in your toolkit, you will be building the neuro network muscles to go for more extended periods of focused work instead of running from one activity to another. The results will be transformative.
Janet Macaluso, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine After a 25-year corporate career developing executives, teams, and organizations, Janet founded Learning2LEAD, a Regenerative Leadership Development practice based in Cambridge, USA, and Malaga, Spain. No stranger to personal regeneration, Janet reinvented herself from a college dropout to a flight attendant and aerobic instructor to an award-winning coach and global executive with three academic degrees. Janet created Learning2LEAD to reflect the life, legacy, and impact she wants to leave. Applying modern science and ancient wisdom, Janet stewards successful mid-life change-makers, leaders, and rabble-rousers ready to transform their "1st-half" successes into "2nd-half" significance.
Whether in virtual workshops or leadership hiking retreats in Spain, Janet nudges clients to move toward their Best Future Self Now - so they can do the same for their people and places. Her mission: To Ban Average!
