#favouritemodel No. 9 – Focus model

My #favoritemodel deals with the level of conscious attention with which we move through everyday life. This personal focus determines what we do and how we do it.

At the beginning of the day, we still set ourselves certain goals and know which to-do’s we want to have ticked off by the end of the day. But as soon as the first phone calls and the first small everyday “disasters” hit us, we quickly lose our focus and go with the flow of new impulses. We switch to a kind of autopilot mode in which we follow external or internal distractions and no longer make conscious decisions. The focus model can help us to sharpen our own focus at all times and consciously set it.

Step 1: Set your personal goal, for example: I want to concentrate fully on my employee in the appraisal interview and find out how he or she is doing in the current project.

Step 2: If you notice a distraction from the outside (for example: the phone rings) or from the inside (for example: you suddenly have to think about the next important project meeting, for which you still have to finalize your presentation), it is an important step to first simply notice and perceive these distractions. Meeting distractions with curiosity and appreciation is crucial in order to return to your own focus.

Step 3: If you have consciously noticed a distraction, you have a choice. You can make a conscious decision about your next steps and consciously set your focus again. Do I take the phone call? Do I play through the next meeting in my mind? Or do I turn my attention back to my employee and listen to them with full attention?