ILLUSTRATION BY RUTH MACAPAGAL It is not uncommon for a lot of our clients, from ultra-wealthy business owners to Fortune 500 CEOs, to juggle two to three cellphones while in a meeting. Attention deficit is the silent success killer that is the root cause of a lot of bad boardroom decisions. Leaders are continuously told to innovate, strategize and think big.
Yet, while most business owners, CEOs and executives focus on expanding their vision for the future, there’s an invisible force at play that is undermining their ability to do so: shrinking attention spans. It’s a silent disease that seeps into our daily routines, fueled by the very gadgets and platforms we rely on to stay connected. And while it’s subtle, the impact is profound.
This is why Steve Jobs was notorious for calling out anyone who did not pay attention, even for a second. Think about it: the brain we use to build multimillion-dollar companies is the same brain we use to compulsively check our phones for the latest update. This paradox has never been more apparent.
We demand focus, long-term vision and strategic decision-making from our executives, but at the same time, we condition ourselves to crave the next dopamine hit—a notification, a quick scroll through a social media feed, or a brief text message. Dopamine, often called the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, is released when we experience something pleasurable, like checking that latest notification or receiving an email. This quick fix is addi.